Ricky Byrd Honors Jeff Beck

Written By Mike Greenblatt
Ricky Byrd Rhapsody In Blues

It’s out today. Rock’n’Roll Hall of Famer Ricky Byrd (Joan Jett & The Blackhearts)—and former lead guitarist in Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes—has honored Jeff Beck [1944-2023] on his new Wicked Cool Records all-instrumental single, “Rhapsody In Blues (One For Jeff).” It’s a stunning—and quite delicious tribute—to the late British guitarist.

Ricky Byrd: “The only way I felt I could properly pay tribute to Jeff Beck, whose playing has inspired me my whole life, was to record this track dedicated to him.

“This is a track I felt I needed to write. I did it as a thank you to Jeff. He was such an important part of the process for me as a guitar player. First as a teenager discovering all this cool new music I was soaking up, trying to learn a riff here and there (the easy ones), to all these many years later where I’m still in awe of where he took guitar playing. And yes I’m still trying (mostly unsuccessfully) to nick one of his riffs.”

STREAM: “Rhapsody In Blues”

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Mike Greenblatt

MIKE GREENBLATT has been writing for Goldmine magazine and New Jersey's Aquarian Weekly for more than 35 years. His writing subjects fill the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

He's interviewed Joe Cocker, Graham Nash, David Crosby, Carlos Santana, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Johnny Cash, and members of The Rolling Stones and The Beatles. He was 18 when he attended Woodstock in 1969.

In addition to writing about music, Greenblatt has worked on publicity campaigns for The Animals, Pat Benatar, Johnny Winter, Tommy James and Richard Branson, among others. He is currently the editor of The Jersey Sound.

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