David William Kearney, known as Guitar Shorty, was an American blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter.
15 Facts About Guitar Shorty
2.
Guitar Shorty was known for his explosive guitar style and wild stage antics.
3.
Guitar Shorty was born in either Houston, Texas, or Loughman, Florida.
4.
Guitar Shorty was taught by his uncle to play the guitar at an early age, and began leading a band not long after.
5.
Guitar Shorty recorded his first single in 1957, "You Don't Treat Me Right", for the Cobra label under the direction of Willie Dixon, after Dixon saw him playing with the Walter Johnson Orchestra.
6.
Not one to stay in one place long, Guitar Shorty next moved to the West Coast at 19 to play with Sam Cooke.
7.
Guitar Shorty played up and down the west coast and Canada until he met his future wife, Marsha or Marcia, in Seattle, Washington.
8.
Hendrix was so enthralled with Guitar Shorty's playing, he went AWOL several times from his Army base to see him perform.
9.
Guitar Shorty introduced Hendrix to the wah pedal and loaned him one when Hendrix could not afford to buy his own.
10.
Guitar Shorty married Marsha in 1962 and they separated in 1970.
11.
Guitar Shorty again became a full-time musician in 1975, struggling at times to make ends meet.
12.
Guitar Shorty released his album Trying To Find My Way Back in 2019, produced by Jerry "Swamp Dogg" Williams and Larry "MoogStar" Clemons.
13.
Guitar Shorty played lead guitar on Crazy Tomes' single "Livin' on Memories", released in 2020.
14.
Guitar Shorty continued to tour with his band of many years that included Dan Gerass, Crazy Tomes Malcolm Lukens and Wadada Khufu.
15.
Guitar Shorty died on April 20,2022, in Los Angeles, at the age of 87.