Toronzo Cannon Giving My ES-345 A Lickin'

[Steve Craw]

I arranged to have Chicago blues great Toronzo Cannon play my 1964 ES-345 at his show last night, what a thrill ! A very nice man, and a total gentleman. His new album was #1 on the blues charts in June, and has been receiving tremendous critical acclaim.

 

[jb_abides]

Very cool, Steve.

 

[Arch D. Bunker]

Great! But this post is useless without pi.. erm, SOUND!

 

[Steve Craw]

 

[jb_abides]

Steve, did Toronzo make use of the Varitone at all?

Also, did he mention to you anything about how he found the experience?

Somewhere, Jimmy Fey is smiling!

 

[Steve Craw]

He said he enjoyed it very much. He opened the show and played his first several songs using it. He told the audience what it was and that I had brought it specially for him to use. He even got me to stand up, also mentioned it was a very expensive guitar from 1964.

 

[jb_abides]

Excellent.

Cheers to you! “So Shines A Good Deed In A Weary World”

 

[Steve Craw]

He said he enjoyed it very much. He opened the show and played his first several songs using it. He told the audience what it was and that I had brought it specially for him to use. He even got me to stand up, also mentioned it was a very expensive guitar from 1964.

 

[Arch D. Bunker]

Got a workout indeed - cool!

 

[brandtkronholm]

I arranged to have Chicago blues great Toronzo Cannon play my 1964 ES-345 at his show last night, what a thrill ! A very nice man, and a total gentleman. His new album was #1 on the blues charts in June, and has been receiving tremendous critical acclaim.
View attachment 26544

A bold and generous choice. It isn't something that I could ever do with any of my guitars, but the joy here is real!
Well done!

 

[Steve Craw]

Steve, did Toronzo make use of the Varitone at all?

Also, did he mention to you anything about how he found the experience?

Somewhere, Jimmy Fey is smiling!

I missed the first part of your question. He never got near the Maestro or the Varitone. Things went so quickly, as it was getting close to show time, that I never got to explain what the Varitone is. I agree, Jimmy's spirit smiled that night. I sent pics and video to his daughter Christy, Rick Willard and Stan Bratzke, the two surviving members of Jimmy's band, so they smiled for sure. In fact, I was so pumped that I called Rick shortly after I left the show.