Al Casey

 


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Legendary guitarist Al Casey’s incredible career began in the 1950s in Phoenix, AZ. Casey moved to Phoenix in 1938 when he was two and started playing ukulele not long after. At age eight he switched to steel guitar and by age 14 the budding musician was playing in various clubs around town. In the early days of Rock and Roll, Casey found himself as an in demand session guitarist recording with famed producer Lee Hazlewood. He was also a member of guitar great Duane Eddy’s band The Rebels, as well as being a collaborator on several top 10 hits before 1960.

Casey, though, had several hits of his own with his group, Al Casey’s Combo, including “Cookin’” and “Jivin’ Around” which both broke the top 100 in 1962 and then again in 1963 with a top 50 hit, “Surfin’ Hootenanny.”

Al relocated to Los Angeles and soon found studio work as a member of the famed studio musician collective “The Wrecking Crew.” During the bulk of his career Casey worked with a veritable who’s who of iconic artists, songwriters and producers providing guitar for the likes of the Beach Boys, Phil Spector, Elvis Presley, The Monkees, Johnny Cash, Simon & Garfunkel, Glen Campbell and Frank and Nancy Sinatra to name a few. He also landed the gig as guitarist on the hit NBC TV series “The Dean Martin Show.”

Al Casey passed away in 2006 but leaves behind a legacy of musical history as a member of both the Arizona Music Hall of Fame and the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. Casey’s early recordings from MCI Records, Ramco Records and Stacy Records are available via Fervor Records.

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