Nick Lucas: An Interview With America's First Guitar Hero

Credit where credit is due: Nick Lucas was America’s first guitar hero. During his heyday, he made stacks of records featuring his agile guitar playing and crooning vocals. Recorded for Pathe in 1922, his “Pickin’ the Guitar” and “Teasin’ the Frets” were the first "hot" guitar solos on record. (In the interview he describes how these were recorded through a big recording horn onto wax.) In 1927 Nick was the first popular player to have a guitar named after him, the Gibson Nick Lucas Special.
During the 1930 and ’40s, Nick’s smiling image appeared on the covers of sheet music and instruction books. His name was stamped into countless guitar picks. As late as the 1960s music stores were still offering Nick Lucas-approved lesson books and plectrums.
At the time of this September 3, 1980, interview for Guitar Player magazine, Nick living in semi-retirement in an apartment in Hollywood. As you'll hear, he proved to be a grand and gracious guy.
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Thanks to engineer/producer Nik Hunt for filming the intro and enhancing the sound of the 44-year-old master tape. For more than 150 other guitar-intensive podcasts, interview transcripts, and articles, visit Talking Guitar magazine at jasobrecht.substack.com/. #nicklucas #jazzguitar #acousticguitar #jasobrecht #talkingguitar #nikhunt #guitarplayermagazine
This podcast is copyright 2024 by Jas Obrecht. All rights reserved.

[@bobsebring2819]

I remember that issue, I also remember when he passed and Guitar Player's notice. RIP.

[@prycerobertson4695]

He was also one of the earliest crooners. In fact, he outlived Bing Crosby by five years!