Alvin Lee (born Graham Anthony Barnes; 19 December 1944 – 6 March 2013) was an English guitarist, singer and songwriter, who was best known as the lead vocalist and guitarist of the blues rock band Ten Years After.
Early life
Lee was born in Nottingham and attended the Margaret Glen-Bott School in Wollaton. He began playing guitar at the age of 13. In 1960, Lee, along with bassist Leo Lyons, formed the core of the band Ten Years After. He was influenced by his parents' collection of jazz and blues records, but it was the advent of rock and roll that sparked his interest.
Career
Lee's performance at the Woodstock Festival was captured on film in the documentary of the event, and his 'lightning-fast' playing helped catapult him to stardom. The film brought Lee's music to a worldwide audience, although he later lamented that he missed the lost freedom and spiritual dedication of earlier audiences.
Lee was named "the fastest guitarist in the West" and considered a precursor to shred-style playing that would develop in the 1980s.
thumb|left|191px|Alvin Lee performing in [[Breda, Turfschip, the Netherlands, 1978]]
Ten Years After had success, releasing ten albums together, but by 1973 Lee was feeling limited by the band's style. Moving to Columbia Records had resulted in a radio hit song, "I'd Love to Change the World" but Lee preferred blues-rock to the pop style the label preferred. He left the group after their second Columbia LP. With American Christian rock pioneer Mylon LeFevre, along with guests George Harrison, Steve Winwood, Ronnie Wood and Mick Fleetwood, he recorded and released On the Road to Freedom, an acclaimed album that was at the forefront of country rock. due to complications from surgery to correct an atrial arrhythmia. His former bandmates lamented his death. Leo Lyons called him "the closest thing I had to a brother", while Ric Lee (no relation) said "I don't think it's even sunk in yet as to the reality of his passing". Billboard highlighted such landmark performances as "I'm Going Home" from the Woodstock festival and his 1971 hit single "I'd Love to Change the World".
Discography
Studio albums
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+
!Album
!US
Chart
!Year
!Notes
!Chrysalis Records
|-
!In Flight
|65
|1974
|Live at the Rainbow Theatre in 1974
|-
!Live at Rockpalast
| -
|1978
|Grugahalle, Essen, Germany, 15 September 1978
|-
!Live In Vienna
| -
|1994
|Label: International House Of Hits
|-
!The Last Show
| -
|2013
|May 28, 2012 - Raalte, Holland
|}
Singles
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Single
!US Rock