Credited with influencing both Jimi Hendrix and Buddy Guy, Texas bluesman Guitar Shorty has been recording and touring since the 1950s, yet somehow he really didn't have a serious record deal until the mid-1980s.
He did however manage to record 8 tracks in the beginning of his career; 2 in 1957 for Cobra Records (Irma Lee / You Don't Treat Me Right), and 6 for Pull Records in 1959.
Shorty gigged steadily through the late 1950s and 1960s, yet by the 1970s, he was working full-time as a mechanic, playing music at nights and on weekends. He returned to being a full-time musician in 1975, struggling at times to make ends meet. His carreer got something of a bump in 1976, when he made an appearance on Chuck Barris' Gong Show, winning first prize for performing the song "They Call Me Guitar Shorty" while balanced on his head - a trick he performed as part of his regular live act.
Released as singles, these track do not appear to be commerncially available at this time.
- Irma Lee - Guitar Shorty (02:10)
- You Don't Treat Me Right - Guitar Shorty (02:15)
- Hard Life - Guitar Shorty (02:35)
- Ways Of A Man - Guitar Shorty (02:34)
- How Long Will It Last - Guitar Shorty (03:00)
- Love Loves - Guitar Shorty (02:38)
- I Never Thought - Guitar Shorty (02:19)
- Pumpkin Pie - Guitar Shorty (02:56)