Legendary musician, Rory Gallagher, has been overlooked for far too long.

By Paul Arganda

Even after one's death as a musician, a career can still remain a mystery. Yet more so to the musicians and artists who never got the recognition for their artistry and their impact on culture, for simply being masters at what they do.

Though Rory Gallagher slowly faded away from music, he was still a widely influential musician at his peak. He was a self taught Irish guitarist who utilized his iconic Sunburst 1961 stratocaster to elevate his powerful blues style and stripped down acoustic blues playing. He mesmerized legendary guitarists of his time as well as the players to come.

Gallagher had his first stint with a show band that was not able to fully do his artistry justice. As London's blues rock scene took off, Gallagher would let go of the sideman status to become the frontman of “Taste” in 1969.

Accompanied by his wailing 1961 stratocaster, or strat, Gallagher’s loud celtic voice took on a mind of its own, singing the blues. The trio released their self-titled album “Taste” in 1969 followed by “On The Boards'' the next year. These are the only two studio albums released by the band that made a statement in the blues rock scene on par with power trio groups like Cream, and Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac.

Louder Magazine's 2022 article by Peter Makawski chronicles how Gallagher subsequently left the group as a solo act. He was given free reign over his creativity. Gallager’s guitar skills blossomed with a bottleneck slide playing on his 1968 Martin D-35, 1932 National Triolian Resonator and what would later be regarded as his legendary H1270 Sovereign 12 string.

With no stop in sight, Gallagher continued in the pursuit of the expression closest to his heart. He would soon release his self-titled album. Far from a virtuoso singer, but still complemented by his faithful strat, he released “Laundromat” and “Just A Smile”.

As referred to in Makowsi’s article, when questioned about the implications of having an album all his own, Gallagher remarked “...I am ready to stand or fall by my own efforts.” Gallagher was exceptional not only because of his talent, but because of the relationship he built with his audience. He cared what they thought, and they knew it.

Gallgher was not only noticed by his audience, but his fellow musicians as well. Recently having lost their guitarist Brian Jones, The Rolling Stones urged Gallagher to replace him. But he was deeply connected to his sound. It had to be his own. The feeling had to be his, and so, he declined the offer.

Gallagher was a very private man, even by the standards of his own bandmates. If talking was how you got to know other people, then listening to Gallagers guitar strings was how you got to know him.

As time went on, the sound of music changed. The era of punk was being ushered into the New York City music scene circa 1975. Gallagher espoused the new sound, but at times it seemed that his blues had gotten left behind. Nevertheless, Gallagher would go on to produce 8 albums after the Irish Tour 1975.

The 2021 article “The Tragic and Painful End of Rory Gallagher” by Elif Oden, details how in his later years the medication he had been taking to aid in his phobia of flying, as well as his other underlying health conditions took a toll. In combination with his alcohol use in 1995 at 47, his liver began to fail. Gallagher underwent a liver transplant and during his recovery he would contract Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, from which he succumbed to in 1995.

He was known for his fighting spirit and fierce commitment to his artistry. According to the article “The man Jimi Hendrix called the "best guitarist" of all time” , even Hendrix paid his respects to Gallagher, after being questioned as to what it was like to be the greatest rock guitarist in the world replied “I don't know, you'll have to ask Rory Gallagher.”

His legacy continues even after his death. For his guitar skills, but also the gift of his music shared between him and his audience.

Forgotten Session Master: The Story of Rory Gallagher