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Pat TraversHeavy blues guitarist
Country:
 Canada |
Content:
- Pat Travers: Biography of a Heavy Blues Guitarist
- Early Career and Struggles
- Recognition and Revival
- Challenges and Renaissance
- Continued Success and Solo Endeavors
Pat Travers: Biography of a Heavy Blues Guitarist
Pat Travers is a renowned guitarist known for his heavy blues-driven rock music. He first gained professional recognition as a lead guitarist in Ronnie Hawkins' rockabilly group. Travers began learning the guitar at the age of 12 after being inspired by the performances of Jimi Hendrix and British rock musicians. At the age of 20, he moved to England where he quickly established himself, formed a band, and even signed a record deal with Polydor.
Early Career and Struggles
Travers released his debut album in 1976, but he struggled to achieve mainstream success. His blues-rock style clashed with the punk music trend of the time. Despite this, he recorded albums such as "Makin' Magic" and "Putting It Straight" before returning to America.
Recognition and Revival
In the late 1970s, Travers released several albums that deviated from the traditional blues-rock formula, which are considered some of the best in his career. His live album "Go For What You Know" in 1979 garnered critical acclaim, and he was featured on the cover of "Guitar Player" magazine in January 1980, being hailed as a "new guitar hero" and one of the fastest guitarists.
In 1981, Travers took a risk and returned to blues-rock with his album "Radio Active," featuring his new band lineup. He then embarked on joint tours with the band Rainbow.
Challenges and Renaissance
In the mid-1980s, Travers faced legal issues with Polydor that prevented him from releasing new albums. However, his live performances continued to thrive. In 1990, after a long hiatus, he returned to the studio and recorded "School of Hard Knocks" with his former bandmates from the early 1980s. That same year, he released his second live album, "Boom Boom, Live at the Diamond Club."
The early 1990s marked a renaissance for Travers as his old recordings were reissued, and previously unreleased archives from over a decade ago were made available. His career flourished during this period when he signed a contract with Blues Bureau International, an international record label specializing in guitar music.
Continued Success and Solo Endeavors
From 1993 until 2000, Travers released highly popular blues-rock albums such as "Just a Touch," "Blues Magnet," "Halfway To Somewhere," "Lookin' Up," "Best Of Blues + Live," "Blues Tracks 2," and "Don't Feed The Alligators" under Blues Bureau International. He collaborated with his wife, Monica, on several tracks.
In 2001, Travers independently released a limited edition album titled "Pat Travers Solo," featuring acoustic solo performances recorded at Nils Lofgren's Guitar Bar in Nevada.
His 2003 album, simply referred to as "P.T. Power Trio," showcased the style of iconic rock trios from the 1960s and 1970s, such as ZZ Top, Grand Funk, Mountain, and Cream. The album included cover versions of songs by these bands.
Throughout his career, Pat Travers has remained a respected and influential guitarist, known for his unique blend of heavy blues and rock.
