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guitarfool2002
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« on: January 27, 2015, 09:31:36 AM » |
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Guitarist and session man Neil LeVang passed away last night. He can be heard on later Beach Boys recordings, and albums by Frank Zappa and a list of other notable artists' records and songs. He was a big influence on me as a guitarist, and before I even knew who he was I remember watching Lawrence Welk with my grandmother and listening to the guitar player, seeing the guy in the band playing every style and performer they brought out. A great guitarist. RIP Neil. From Wiki:
Neil joined the United States Coast Guard in 1951 which took him to Seattle, Washington. There he continued in the music scene playing with "Texas Jim Lewis and his Lonestar Cowboys". He also hosted his own radio show. In 1959, he was hired as a temporary guitar and banjo player on The Lawrence Welk Show when Buddy Merrill left to serve in the United States Army. Welk was so pleased with his ability that he hired Neil on a permanent basis when Buddy completed his tour of duty in 1961. In 1972 he married Janet Hurst and they were married until 1980. Neil stayed with the Welk Band until its final show in 1982. That same year, at the Country Music Association Awards he was nominated for best artist on a speciality instrument, the mandolin. He was also an accomplished studio musician, playing on several records for artists such as Glen Campbell, Frank Zappa, Bobby Darin, Bobbi Gentry, David Clayton Thomas, Neal Hefti ("Batman Theme", Elvis Presley, Dean Martin, Neil Diamond and Noel Boggs.
Neil also performed as a studio musician on many television shows including Little House on the Prairie, The Ed Sullivan Show, The Brady Bunch, The Monkees, Highway to Heaven, Green Acres, Petticoat Junction, and a host of Hanna-Barbera cartoons. He was the featured guitarist with Naomi and Wynonna Judd on the 1985 and 1986 Academy of Country Music Association Awards television broadcast. He was the subject of an extensive career profile by historian Rich Kienzle in the December 2009 issue of Vintage Guitar Magazine.
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