A Guitar Legend at Gullbranna

I think that some readers thought of the guitar virtuoso Rex Carroll from the band Whitecross who also played at the Gullbranna Festival when they read the headline of this article. But for both Rex Carroll and me the guitar legend at Gullbranna in Sweden was Leroy Emmanuel who played guitar with the Canadian band Newworldson.

Leroy has worked with some of the greatest entertainers in the history of modern music: Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Edwin Star, John Lee Hooker, T-Bone Walker, Al Green, Sonny Boy Williamson, Funk Brothers, Bohanon, Dionne Warwick, James Brown Band, The Counts, Funkadelics, Sly and The Family Stone, The Commodores, Kool and the Gang, Sister Sledge, Diana Ross, Natalie Cole, Grover Washington, Rufus, Jackson Five, Peaches and Herb, The Dells, Chick Corea, Rufus Thomas, Ben Vareen, Ike and Tina Turner, Ruby and the Romantics, Roberta Flack, the Temptations, Booker T and the MGs, Hot Chocolate, Albert King, Martha and the Vandellas, War and many others.

I recognized Leroy and I took the opportunity to shake hands with him and to exchanged a few words with him backstage. Although he is a Soul, Funk and Rhythm & Blues legend, he was very humble and it was easy to speak with him. It would have been real fun to sit down and talk music and memories with Leroy Emmanuel, but the time was not on our side this time. For me it was the musical highlight of the year to meet and see a legend like Leroy Emmanuel in action.  

Click on the following link if you want to see more pictures from Newworldsons concert at the Gullbranna Festival: http://flic.kr/s/aHsjGG3wWn

Text and photo: © Mikael Good, All Rights Reserved.