Shawn Lane Tribute

I personally knew Shawn Lane from the beginning of his career starting around 1977 when I was 17 and he was 14. We both grew up in Memphis, Tennessee and had alot of the same friends and band members.

Shawn's ability as a Guitarist was as impressive then as it was when the rest of the world heard him. On many occasions I heard him play songs and licks on a junk acoustic guitar that for most players would be impossible with any guitar let alone a junk acoustic. This always made me go home and practice harder but knowing all too well that he was a true virtuoso in his own time, and all we could do was sit and watch.

We've all known great guitarists, but I can assure you that you have never heard anything like Shawn and he proved that many many times through the years. He was also a great guy with a huge heart. Anytime there was a need for a musical genius in the Memphis area for charity events, football game halftime shows, etc., Shawn always agreed to play. He held tight to his Memphis roots and never forgot his friends and family there.

As we grew older, I ended up flying in the military and at Fedex and he started touring more. I didn't get to see him much at all in the later years of his life, but I always thought about what he might be doing.

Unfortunately, Shawn passed away in Memphis at the young age of 40. I was flying a trip for Fedex at the time and missed his funeral, but always knew I wanted to do something special to keep his memory alive when the time was right. Blues City Music has come to that point now and as the owner, I want to remind the music world that like SRV, Hendrix, and all the rest that left us far too early, Shawn will be missed by many as well.

On behalf of his fans everywhere and especially his family and friends he left behind here in Memphis we will remember him always. This is my tribute to Shawn Lane.

Rest in Peace Shawn.

James Burke
Blues City Music

www.shawnlane.com