Albert Lee
b. 21 December 1943, Leominster, Herefordshire, England. Lee is a country/rock guitarist of breathtaking ability. If a poll of polls were taken from leading guitarists in the field, Lee would be the likely winner. During the early '60s he was the guitarist of the R&B-influenced Chris Farlowe And The Thunderbirds. He departed in 1967, as by then offers of session work were pouring in. During that time he joined Country Fever, playing straight honky-tonk country music before recording as Poet And The One Man Band with Chas Hodges (later of Chas And Dave). The unit evolved into Heads Hands And Feet, a highly respected band, playing country/rock. It was during this stage in his career that Lee became a ‘guitar hero’; he was able to play his Fender Telecaster at breakneck speed and emulate and outshine his American counterparts. Lee played with The Crickets in 1973-74 and spent an increasing amount of time in America, eventually moving out there. After appearing on a reunion album with Chris Farlowe in 1975, he joined Emmylou Harris's Hot Band, replacing one of his heroes, the legendary James Burton. During the late '70s and early '80s Lee performed in touring bands with Eric Clapton, Jackson Browne, Jerry Lee Lewis and Dave Edmunds. His solo on Sweet Little Lisa on Edmund's REPEAT WHEN NECESSARY is a superb example of the man's skill. Lee played a major part in the historic reunion of The Everly Brothers at London's Royal Albert Hall in 1983, and he continues to be a member of their regular touring band. He has made only two solo albums, both of which are impressive outings from one of Britain's finest guitarists.