Randy Resnick
Encyclopedia
Randy Resnick is a guitarist who has played with many blues and jazz luminaries, such as Don "Sugarcane" Harris, John Lee Hooker
, John Klemmer
, John Mayall
and Freddie King
. He published a CD of his own music in 1995.
. He began his career playing in Minneapolis clubs, moving to Los Angeles in 1968. There he met drummer Paul Lagos who was working for the band, Kaleidoscope
. Lagos eventually introduced Resnick to Canned Heat
bassist Larry Taylor
and violin player Don "Sugarcane" Harris. The four musicians formed a band called Pure Food and Drug Act
, based on Sugarcane's blues/jazz violin and singing. It was during this period that he developed his tapping
technique. Paul Lagos died on October 19, 2009 in Minneapolis, MN.
After quitting the PFDA, Resnick went on to play with John Mayall
and recorded the album The Latest Edition, with Larry Taylor on bass, Red Holloway, a seasoned jazz player on sax and flute, Soko Richardson
, former Ike and Tina Turner drummer, and High Tide Harris sharing the guitar spotlight with a contrasting, simpler bluesy style. This band toured Europe and Asia in 1974. Although the musicians were all talented, the material was lackluster and the album did not sell. He then went on to tour with John Klemmer. Resnick has retired several times, disappearing for 6 to 8 years and resurfacing in strange places like Bordeaux, France where he now lives.
Resnick was mentioned in the Eddie Van Halen biography for his contribution to the tapping
guitar technique and by Lee Ritenour
in the January 1980 Guitar Player Magazine, who saw Resnick use the tapping technique in 1974 at the Whisky a Go-Go with the Richard Greene Group. The legendary Ted Greene
, from whom Resnick took one lesson, spoke of his playing in an interview given shortly before his death.
Other mentions include All Music Guide to rock, Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock and Roll
, Billboard Magazine, Jul 29, 1972, The Jazz Discography Volume 9, Cadence, Vol 21
John Lee Hooker
John Lee Hooker was an American blues singer-songwriter and guitarist.Hooker began his life as the son of a sharecropper, William Hooker, and rose to prominence performing his own unique style of what was originally closest to Delta blues. He developed a 'talking blues' style that was his trademark...
, John Klemmer
John Klemmer
John Klemmer is an American saxophonist, composer, song writer and arranger.He was born in Chicago, Illinois and began playing guitar at age 5 and alto saxophone at age 11. His other early interests included graphics and visual art, writing, dance, puppetry, painting, sculpting and poetry...
, John Mayall
John Mayall
John Mayall, OBE is an English blues singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, whose musical career spans over fifty years...
and Freddie King
Freddie King
Freddie King , thought to have been born as Frederick Christian, originally recording as Freddy King, and nicknamed "the Texas Cannonball", was an influential African-American blues guitarist and singer. He is often mentioned as one of "the Three Kings" of electric blues guitar, along with Albert...
. He published a CD of his own music in 1995.
Career
Resnick was born in Minneapolis, MinnesotaMinneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
. He began his career playing in Minneapolis clubs, moving to Los Angeles in 1968. There he met drummer Paul Lagos who was working for the band, Kaleidoscope
Kaleidoscope (US band)
Kaleidoscope was an American psychedelic folk and ethnic band who recorded 4 albums and several singles for Epic Records between 1966 and 1970.-Formation:...
. Lagos eventually introduced Resnick to Canned Heat
Canned Heat
Canned Heat is a blues-rock/boogie rock band that formed in Los Angeles, California in 1965. The group has been noted for its own interpretations of blues material as well as for efforts to promote the interest in this type of music and its original artists...
bassist Larry Taylor
Larry Taylor
Larry Taylor is an American bass guitarist, best known for his work as a member of Canned Heat from 1967. Before joining Canned Heat he had been a session bassist for The Monkees and Jerry Lee Lewis...
and violin player Don "Sugarcane" Harris. The four musicians formed a band called Pure Food and Drug Act
Pure Food and Drug Act (band)
Pure Food and Drug Act was a band that was formed in the early 1970s by Don "Sugarcane" Harris. The band began with Paul Lagos on drums, Larry Taylor on bass and Randy Resnick on guitar...
, based on Sugarcane's blues/jazz violin and singing. It was during this period that he developed his tapping
Tapping
Tapping is a guitar playing technique, where a string is fretted and set into vibration as part of a single motion of being pushed onto the fretboard, as opposed to the standard technique being fretted with one hand and picked with the other...
technique. Paul Lagos died on October 19, 2009 in Minneapolis, MN.
After quitting the PFDA, Resnick went on to play with John Mayall
John Mayall
John Mayall, OBE is an English blues singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, whose musical career spans over fifty years...
and recorded the album The Latest Edition, with Larry Taylor on bass, Red Holloway, a seasoned jazz player on sax and flute, Soko Richardson
Soko Richardson
Soko Richardson was an American rhythm and blues drummer. His career spanned almost fifty years, during which he performed and recorded with seminal groups including John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and the The Ike & Tina Turner Revue...
, former Ike and Tina Turner drummer, and High Tide Harris sharing the guitar spotlight with a contrasting, simpler bluesy style. This band toured Europe and Asia in 1974. Although the musicians were all talented, the material was lackluster and the album did not sell. He then went on to tour with John Klemmer. Resnick has retired several times, disappearing for 6 to 8 years and resurfacing in strange places like Bordeaux, France where he now lives.
Resnick was mentioned in the Eddie Van Halen biography for his contribution to the tapping
Tapping
Tapping is a guitar playing technique, where a string is fretted and set into vibration as part of a single motion of being pushed onto the fretboard, as opposed to the standard technique being fretted with one hand and picked with the other...
guitar technique and by Lee Ritenour
Lee Ritenour
Lee Mack Ritenour is an American jazz guitarist who has recorded over 42 albums, appeared on over 3000 sessions, and has charted over 30 instrumental and vocal contemporary jazz hits since 1976. One of his most popular songs was the smash hit, “Is It You” in 1981. Ritenour is considered to be a...
in the January 1980 Guitar Player Magazine, who saw Resnick use the tapping technique in 1974 at the Whisky a Go-Go with the Richard Greene Group. The legendary Ted Greene
Ted Greene
Theodore "Ted" Greene was an American fingerstyle jazz guitarist, music columnist, and music educator active in Encino, California.-Early Days:...
, from whom Resnick took one lesson, spoke of his playing in an interview given shortly before his death.
Other mentions include All Music Guide to rock, Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock and Roll
, Billboard Magazine, Jul 29, 1972, The Jazz Discography Volume 9, Cadence, Vol 21