Bugs Henderson (& the
Shuffle Kings)
"Bugs Henderson should be declared a national treasure."
-Guitar Player Magazine-
 Click
the album cover to listen to song samples from,
purchase a copy of and learn more about
Backbop: the Unreleased '82 Sessions.
 Click
the album cover to listen to song samples from,
purchase a copy of and learn more about Bugs Henderson and the Shuffle King's
'98 release
Have Blues, Must Rock.
Bugs
Henderson was born in Palm Springs, California in 1944 and grew up in
Tyler, Texas. By the age of 6, Bugs had a burning desire to pick up the
guitar. That Christmas, he received his first guitar, a Montgomery Ward
Airline ("It's probably worth 3 million bucks now", muses Bugs).
"I would buy any record that had a guitar on the cover ... but James
Burton (Ricky Nelson's guitarist) was the guy for me."
Beginning
in the early 1960's, he began working in a record store in Tyler. As a teen
he would sneak out of the house against his fathers wishes just to catch live
gigs in the local joints. Beginning his own band, the Sensors, at age 16 he
soon joined his friend, Ronnie Weiss, in a band called Mouse and the Traps.
Mouse and the Traps charted its first song, "Public Execution" in
1966. This is where he earned his name "Bugs", overshadowing his
real name Buddy. Bugs is legendary for his speed. "I don't seek credit
for it, I was just born with it", says Bugs. "I've spent the last
few years trying to slow down, but sometimes I can't help it ... I just get
carried away".
By the end of the decade, Bugs
had made the transition from fan to musician. As a house guitarist at Robin
Hood Studios, he played demo sessions behind numerous performers from country
to rock, Bugs' signature sound was beginning to define itself during the
1970's with the blues. Quoting Bugs, "Blues was all that mattered to
me,, no other music was worth a damn." Growing tired of the wide-open
riff-oriented rock he was playing, he followed the advice of friend, mentor
and poker buddy Freddie King about starting his own band. Says Bugs, "I
learned a lot from him (Freddie) about attitude. Freddie could get on-stage
and take over, no matter. He always let everybody else take their solos first.
When you were through, he knew what had been played and what hadn't. Then he
would mow you down." Thanks to the encouragement from Freddie, Bugs
assembled his first record "At Last" (1978) released on Armadillo
Records, his first in a succession of 14+ albums spanning three decades.
Living
up to his legendary status of the hardest working guitarist from Texas, Bugs
has released his 2nd recording on the Burnside Records label, "Back Bop:
The Unreleased '82 Sessions". Bugs was just coming into national
prominence back in 1982 when he recorded this project which never made it to
the racks. "Back Bop" sounds as fresh today as when it was recorded
and definitely showcases his lightning fast guitar playing. Bugs' first
recording on Burnside, "Have Blues ... Must Rock" (1998), garnered
press from around the country and abroad and is still getting radio play and
media attention.
Henderson, who lives in Garland, Texas, with his four
children has a simple philosophy on the order of importance in his life:
Family first, music second, and career third. Henderson explains "I
couldn't have the life I have now and be a major star. Couldn't go to my
kids' ball games. I wouldn't give up that for anything." Proving this
point, Bugs' tours are a family affair: son Buddy plays drums in the Shuffle
Kings, son Cody works as tech for the band and daughter Rose sells the
merchandise.
Bugs
is constantly improving his deepening sense of lyrics and his seasoned vocal
ability. With his "Fender-in-heat" tone and his mixture of searing blues,
ja77abilly, swing, funk, and just about anything else that can be played on
six strings, Bugs is a true artist, applying enormous control over his tone
and coloration. He has played with guitar icons such as B.B. King, Eric
Clapton, Ted Nugent, and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Bugs' guitar hangs in the Hard
Rock Cafe in Dallas alongside instruments donated by Lee Ritenour and Chet
Atkins.
"I tell people all the time that I know
you're supposed to stop and smell the roses as you go through life, but in my
case I stopped and moved into the garden."
Click
the album cover to listen to song samples from,
purchase a copy of and learn more about
Backbop: the Unreleased '82 Sessions.
Click
the album cover to listen to song samples from,
purchase a copy of and learn more about Bugs Henderson and the Shuffle King's
'98 release
Have Blues, Must Rock.
For more information about Burnside Records artists, contact us:
800.288.2007 ext. 2049
info@burnsiderecords.com
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