Full Name: Geoffrey Arnold Beck
Profession: Rock Guitarist
Biography: Jeff Beck was considered a guitarist's guitarist, widely respected for his innovative work with the English blues-rock band The Yardbirds, and his own Jeff Beck Group.
Beck began playing professionally with Screaming Lord Sutch. When Eric Clapton left the Yardbirds, Beck was recommended by Jimmy Page for the unenviable task of replacing him. Beck’s short tenure in the band, yielded several of their hits including "Shapes of Things".
He embarked on a solo career, employing a then young Rod Stewart as his singer. A serious car accident stymied his musical output. After recovering, he began to pursue more experimental and instrumental jazz-rock fusion sounds. The albums Beck-Ola, Truth, and Blow By Blow best illustrate this period.
He constantly tinkered and experimented with new directions, winning 8 Grammy Awards between 1986 and 2010 for his guitar work.
Beck was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice - as a member of the Yardbirds in 1992, and as a solo artist in 2009.
Born: June 24, 1944
Birthplace: Wallington, Surrey, England, United Kingdom
Generation: Silent Generation
Chinese Zodiac: Monkey
Star Sign: Cancer
Died: January 10, 2023 (aged 78)
Cause of Death: Bacterial meningitis
Married Life
- 2005-09-10 "The Yardbirds" rock guitarist Jeff Beck (61) weds Sandra Cash in Tunbridge Wells, England
Historical Events
- 1965-03-13 British guitarist Eric Clapton quits the Yardbirds due to the band moving away from traditional blues; Jeff Beck becomes his replacement
- 1969-07-03 Newport Jazz Festival, Newport, Rhode Island opens, 78, 000 attend over 4 days; performers include: George Benson; Blood, Sweat, and Tears; Jeff Beck; James Brown; Bill Evans; Sun Ra; Mothers of Invention; Dave Brubeck; Miles Davis; Stephane Grapelli; and Sly & The Family Stone
- 1984-07-13 British guitarist Jeff Beck quits singer Rod Stewart's tour after 7 shows
- 2002-04-13 Rock for the Rainforest benefit concert held at Carnegie Hall, NYC; performers include: Sting, Elton John, James Taylor, Nina Simone, Smokey Robinson, Lulu, Patti Labelle, Ravi Shankar, Anoushka Shankar, Jeff Beck, Wynonna Judd, and Rebecca Del Rio
- 2009-04-04 24th Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees: Jeff Beck; Little Anthony and the Imperials; Metallica; Run-D.M.C.; Bobby Womack; Wanda Jackson; Bill Black; DJ Fontana; and Spooner Oldham
- 2011-02-13 53rd Grammy Awards: "Need You Now"; Esperanza Spalding; Lady Gaga; Usher; Jeff Beck win
Biographies and Sources
- Jeff Beck, Guitarist With a Page in Rock History, Dies at 78 - NY Times
- Legendary rock guitarist Jeff Beck dies aged 78 - The Guardian
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