Clide Vernon "Sonny" Landreth (born February 1, 1951) is an American blues musician from southwest Louisiana who is especially known as a slide guitar player. He was born in Canton, Mississippi, and settled in Lafayette, Louisiana. He lives in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana.

Technique

Landreth is known as "the King of Slydeco" and plays with a strong zydeco influence. He is also known for his right-hand technique, which involves tapping, slapping, and picking strings, using all of the fingers on his right hand. He wears a special thumb pick/flat pick hybrid on his thumb so that he can bear down on a pick while simultaneously using his finger-style technique for slide. In 1982, Landreth and Melton formed the band Bayou Rhythm, and eventually added C.J. Chenier to the lineup. The band recorded Way Down in Louisiana in 1985 Landreth also frequently played in John Hiatt's band, and with John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers.

In 1998, Landreth was involved in the multi-artist project "Begegnungen (Encounters)" mounted by Germany's Rock-Superstar Peter Maffay. They performed together on a new version of Landreth's "C'est chaud" on the album and some more songs in the 30 concerts at the arena tour later the same year, documented on the live album Begegnungen Live, released in early 1999. A further guest of Maffay at the Begegnungen album and tour was Keb' Mo'.

Landreth has recorded with Jimmy Buffett, and accompanied him on his 2004, 2006, 2007, and 2010 summer tours.

Landreth took the main stage at MerleFest in 2011.

Landreth appeared on HBO's Treme, Season 3, Episode 8

Landreth performed at Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival in 2004, 2007, 2010, 2013 and 2019.

In 2014, Landreth was a guest performer on Eli Cook's album, Primitive Son.

Discography

Solo

Landreth has released at least the following albums:

  • Blues Attack (1981; re-released 1996)
  • Voices of Americana (2009)
  • Sunrise (2012)
  • Elemental Journey (2012), charted No. 4 on Billboards Blues Album Chart.
  • Beth Hart, Front and Center - Live from New York (2018)
  • "Wedding Day" and "Break My Heart Gently" on Another World by Erja Lyytinen (2019)
  • "Gemini Blues" on This Old House by Camile Baudoin (of The Radiators) (2021)
  • "Too Far To Be Gone" on Done Come Too Far by Shemekia Copeland (2022)

with John Hiatt:

  • Slow Turning (1988)
  • The Tiki Bar is Open (2001)
  • Beneath This Gruff Exterior (2003)

with Eric Johnson:

  • Up Close album (2010) track "Your Book"

with others:

  • Marti Jones, Used Guitars (1988)
  • Zachary Richard, Manchac (1988)
  • Marshall Crenshaw, Good Evening (1989)
  • Alain Bashung, Osez Joséphine (1991)
  • Alain Bashung, Chatterton (1994)
  • "When the Levee Breaks" and "The Wrong Side" on Lay Your Burden Down by Buckwheat Zydeco
  • "Then I'm Gonna Make Love To You" on Selling The Gold by Elliott Murphy
  • Mark Knopfler, Golden Heart (1996)
  • Mark Knopfler, A Night In London (1996)
  • Gov't Mule, 32/20 Blues
  • Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival (2007)
  • Little Feat, Join The Band (2008)
  • Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival (2010)
  • "T-Bone Shuffle" on Roots by Johnny Winter
  • Eli Cook, Primitive Son (2014).
  • Blues Music Award in the 'Instrumentalist - Guitar' category 2016.

References

  • Sonny Landreth Interview with Jarrod Dicker (2009)
  • "The Road He's On", interview with Sonny Landreth
  • PREVIEW: Sonny Landreth
  • Sonny Landreth: The USS Zydecoldsmobile
  • Sonny Landreth's Ghost Notes
  • Sonny Landreth Interview at NAMM Oral History Library (2021)