Rory Gallagher | Artist

William Rory Gallagher was an Irish blues and rock multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer born 1948 in Ballyshannon, County Donegal. Gallagher fronted the blues power trio Taste in the late '60s then went on to perform and record as a soloist throughout the 1970s and 1980s. He was one of the most highly revered blues-rock musicians of his period, and left a catalogue of superb recordings when he died of liver failure aged 47. Growing up listening to Muddy Waters, Big Bill Broonzy and Leadbelly, Gallagher was steeped in the Blues from an early age. Gallagher formed Taste in 1966 initially with Eric Kitteringham (bass) and Norman Damery (drums), who were replaced by Charlie McCracken (bass) and John Wilson (drums) in '68. Taste made two excellent studio albums and some great live albums before Gallagher left in 1970. As a soloist Gallagher made eleven consistently excellent studio albums. After his death there were many archival releases, the best of which is BBC Sessions from 1999. Starting out with his brilliant self-titled debut solo album, Gallagher enlisted bassist Gerry McAvoy and drummer Wilgar Campbell who supported him on many of his performances and recordings. In 1971 he was voted Melody Maker's International Top Guitarist of the Year, ahead of Eric Clapton. Standout albums include Rory Gallagher (1971), Deuce (1972), Blueprint (1973), Tattoo (1973), Against the Grain (1975), Calling Card (1976), Photo-Finish (1978), Top Priority (1979), and the live Irish Tour '74 (1974). During his lifetime Gallagher was a tireless live performer, particularly in his home country. During the heightened periods of political unrest in Northern Ireland, as other artists were warned not to tour, Gallagher was resolute about playing there at least once a year during his career. In 1974, they stayed in the Europa Hotel in Belfast, which was known as "the most bombed hotel in Europe". This approach won him the dedication of thousands of fans, and in the process, he became an inspiration to other aspiring young Irish musicians. Rory Gallagher died on 14 June 1995, at the age of 47 due to liver failure, he was unmarried and had no children. His grave's headstone in Cork is in the image of an award he received in 1972 for International Guitarist of the Year.

Artist Website: rorygallagher.com

Featured Albums: Rory Gallagher

Related Artists: Taste