Guitar Shorty Interview: SXSW 2010

The Texas-born, Florida-raised Guitar Shorty, born David William Kearney, built an impressive 60-year music career playing blues guitar with some of the biggest names in music, including Ray Charles, Sam Cooke and Jimi Hendrix. The 70-year-old guitar master is more active than ever and is currently touring the country in support of his his latest album for Alligator Records, 'Bare Knuckle.' Spinner caught up with the energetic guitarist ahead of his SXSW appearance to talk about his history in the music business and what inspires him to continue making music after all these years.

How did you start playing music?

I started when I was 6. I'd steal my uncle's guitar out from underneath his bed and tried to play it and bend the strings like he did, but my fingers were too small and it would hurt my hands. I'd get so mad that I'd stomp around. One day my grandmother heard me crying. She asked me what was wrong and I told her that I hated the guitar and I'd never learn how to play it. She told me to straighten up and keep practicing and eventually I'd learn.

Soon after, my uncle started teaching me. He'd sit me on his knee and show me the right way to press on the strings. My uncle couldn't read, so after he taught me what he knew, my grandmother hired a tutor for me. The tutor, Mr. Washington, started teaching me out of a book and I was so determined to learn that I'd take the lessons and master them within a few hours. I guess I impressed him because one day he said, "Son, you're going to be a better guitarist than me. I'm going to buy the first ticket to see you play when you get your break."

Years later, I got the opportunity to go on the road with Ray Charles and before the first show and I heard a noise behind, and he was standing behind me and waved the ticket and said, "What did I tell you?"

How did you get the name Guitar Shorty?

Once I was in a Tampa club playing and the manager made an announcement that an amazing guitar player by the name of Guitar Shorty was going to play the next week. I'd never heard of the name, so I got nervous because I thought I was being replaced. The next weekend, the manager announced that Guitar Shorty was about to come out. I was so upset and I kept looking behind me at the dressing room, expecting to see a crazy guy come running onstage.

No one came out when he announced Guitar Shorty, so I turned around and saw that he was pointing at me. I was so scared that some guys literally picked me up and put me out onstage. I did 'The Hucklebuck,' 'Boogie Woogie' and 'Three O'Clock in the Morning,' and when it was over with I got a standing ovation. When it was all over, the manager looked over at me and said, 'From now on, you're Guitar Shorty. You stick with that name because it'll bring you good luck." And it has.

How would you describe your sound?

I play the blues and it's all about the emotion, real feelings and things that happen in life. They call me a creator, because I create onstage. If you hear me perform a song one way one night, come back the next and I'll perform it a totally different way. For me, singing and playing the guitar is all about the emotions that I'm feeling. I just can't play a song the same way twice.

What are your musical influences?

Many artists have influenced me throughout my career, and they still influence me to this day. Playing with Ray Charles taught me a lot. One night he asked me to sing one of his songs and I had a cold, so I told him I couldn't do it. He told me, "Son, if you can't sing with a cold, you can't sing without one." So, I went up onstage and sang his song and made it work. I learned a lot from that. Other artists that I've played with have influenced me, like Sam Cooke. John Coltrane is a big influence. Miles Davis, too.

How do you feel about the future of music?

What I've seen and what I've experienced, a lot of record companies don't give the artists the chance to express themselves. That makes me wonder about the future of music. Musicians today, both men and women, have to make money right away and do what the record companies want, otherwise they'll be dropped. Music is all about the creativity and emotion -- if you don't have that, then you don't have anything. You'll get just worn out.

What's in your festival survival kit?

The main thing I take with me everywhere I go is the Word of the Lord. He always guides me and brings me luck.

What's the craziest thing that's happened to you on tour?

I tell you, I've toured a lot, and a lot of crazy things have happened over the years, but this sticks out as a memory. Back in the early '90s, an old lady came to see me when I was playing at a jazz place. She told me that she had heard so much about me and that she didn't like the blues, she was a jazz fan. She told me that changed when I got onstage and she heard me playing the guitar. When I was about done talking to her, she told me that she was going to pray for me and told me, "Son, whenever you sing a song, make sure you put your heart and make it a part of you. That's what you did tonight and that's what got me."

I keep that with me all these years. I never saw her again, but she really showed me how much music can change people.


Meagan Morris is a contributor from Seed.com. Learn how you can contribute here.