Elmore James with Wayne Bennett Guitar Lesson by Johnny Burgin, Knockin at Your Door

On a trip to Milwaukee this weekend I got together with guitarist/bassist/soundman/engineer/music educator Guy Fiorentini (Hot Club of Milwaukee, and soul blues singer Mighty Ms. Erica) and we jammed on a bit of Elmore James's Knockin' at Your Door and 12 Year Old Boy. Hope you enjoy this pre-lesson jam!
This lesson focuses on Wayne Bennett's explosive leads on these two songs.
Wayne Bennett did it all. It's pretty amazing to look at his progression from '57's furious session of "Knockin' At Your Door" and "12 Year Old Boy" and then look ahead to his instrumental version of "Casanaova" from '67. What a progression, but the hard attack and the unexpected bursts of energy are still there! Bennett started out in high school playing guitar for Amos Milborn during summer vacation. He went on to record classics for Bobby Bland and so many others. That style's in full display on Knockin' At Your Door, but it has more aggression and a tremendous overdriven tone. Have fun with this! He's gloriously over the top on 12 Year Old Boy, just a tremendous foil to Elmore's vocals and totally exciting throughout. I will definately come back to some more great Wayne Bennett sides in future lessons. Please share your WB memories in the comments, thanks!
P.S. check out this cool video of Wayne speaking at a guitar workshop a to get a deeper appreciation of his musical breadth and remarkable career.
Part 1: • Blues Guitar Legend Wa...
Part 2: • Blues Guitar Legend Wa...
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[@SatinJill]

Thanks for all the Love everyone Wayne Bennett us my Father he was and always we be a Legend!!! He taught many before he passed away

[@JohnnyBurginBlues]

thanks for writing SatinJill! Your father was so inspiring to so many people. I'm also really glad some of those workshops he gave were recorded-- it shows what a wise and humble person he was as well as a great musician.

[@ruthiesbbq]

Thanks, for pippin me to a great song this morning, I had to listen to the original immediately, holy s..t, love Wayne Bennet

[@JohnnyBurginBlues]

how's it goin Eric! thanks!

[@miquel1178]

Great, thanks a lot Johnny.

[@JohnnyBurginBlues]

thanks a lot miquel!

[@greggoodzey2934]

Thank you Mr Burgin. I have been fascinated with this song and wondered who played on it for 40 years. Your description of “the angriest T-Bone stuff” pretty much sums it up. When you mentioned the Bobby Bland Duke records it all made sense. Your earlier segment on Willie James Lyons along with this one make me realize that I am not alone in appreciating these special songs and artists. Thanks again.

[@JohnnyBurginBlues]

thanks so much Greg! hope our paths cross one day!

[@paultownsend6043]

That's some smoking blues right there.

[@JohnnyBurginBlues]

thanks a lot Paul!

[@mcastonfu]

Great playing guys, really enjoyed

[@JohnnyBurginBlues]

thanks a lot Mcastonfu!

[@thouston0]

Awesome lesson! When I was still playing with Snapper Mitchum 'Snapper and The Blues Invaders' back in '86, we opened for Bobby 'Blue' Bland. I was thrilled to meet Wayne Bennett. There was a section on 'Stormy Monday' that I couldn't figure, and he showed. He was so nice and humble..One of the younger guys in Bland's band remarked that he didn't like playing with Bennett, because he played too loud..

[@JohnnyBurginBlues]

wow! what a great guy to do that. well it's a guitar song right? thanks thouston. so cool about snapper as well

[@kaikroghchristiansen9668]

Great ❤!

[@JohnnyBurginBlues]

Thanks a lot!

[@fedorkruglov]

Thanks for that 12 years old boy part also ;)

[@JohnnyBurginBlues]

I HAD to do it! thanks for watching, rock on!

[@fedorkruglov]

@@JohnnyBurginBlues actually thank you for all your lessons. Very friendly and human, without any mentor mode. Like asking a friend “what is exactly right to play in that song?”

[@JohnnyBurginBlues]

@@fedorkruglov very cool, so glad you feel that way!

[@MojoUX]

Absolutely fabulous!

[@JohnnyBurginBlues]

thanks a lot Joe see ya at The Camel RVA July 12!

[@rickycarter909]

Perhaps you meant Gary's Guitars rather than Elderly? I found 3 hours of video of Wayne doing a clinic at Gary's, nothing from Elderly.

[@JohnnyBurginBlues]

Yes that's my error, sorry about that!

[@JohnnyBurginBlues]

I'll make a note of that on the description