Linc Chamberland
| Linc Chamberland | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Lionel Victor Chamberland |
| Born |
September 13, 1940 Norwalk, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Died | June 24, 1987 (aged 46) New York City |
| Genres | Jazz, rock, jazz fusion, R&B |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, teacher |
| Instruments | Guitar |
| Years active | 1961–mid 1980s |
| Labels | Muse, Roulette, Mainstream, A&M Horizon |
| Associated acts | Gotham, Dave Liebman, The Rascals |
Lionel Victor Chamberland (13 September 1940 – 24 June 1987) was an American jazz guitarist born and based in Norwalk, Connecticut. After playing with The Orchids in the 1960s, he stopped touring, became a private teacher, and performed regionally. Tommy Mottola, who in 1990 became the Chairman and CEO of Sony Music Entertainment, called Chamberland "one of the greatest guitarist of all time." In his 2013 book, Hit Maker, Mottola said, "You won't find any mention of Linc when Rolling Stone magazine does a cover story listing their top hundred guitarists. Take from me. In 1966, you never heard anything like Linc."Billy Vera, in his 2017 autobiography, referred to Chamberland as "the Telecaster genius."
Beginning around 1962, Chamberland was the leader of an R&B band called The Orchids. His objection to touring was the result of bad experiences while touring with The Orchids. In 1971, musicians formed a horn band called Sawbuck whose members included Schuyler "Sky" I. Ford (1947–2001) (vocals), Frank Vicari (who replaced Dave Liebman) and Pee Wee Ellis (saxes), John Eckert and John Gatchell (trumpets), Chris Qualles (bass), Linc Chamberland (guitar), and Jimmy Strassburg (drums). The band cut a record in 1972 with Motown under its new name, Gotham. Other names of the band included "Gasmask" and "The New York Street Band."
Chamberland died from leukemia at age 46 on June 24, 1987, in New York City.
Chamberland played a 1953 Fender Telecaster. In his search to get exactly the sound he wanted from the guitar, Chamberland modified it. From the top down, the guitar had Grover heads, a 1957 neck, Humbucker pick-ups, and a Gibson bridge and tailpiece. The bottom portion of the body was milled out to fit these last two things. Chamberland also modified the internal wiring. He had his bridge set abnormally high, raising the strings far off the fingerboard. This gave him his very distinctive clean tone, an example of which can be heard in his playing on "The Cat's Meow" (1965, The Orchids). The raised bridge required additional finger strength, particularly on high notes. In its original version, the Telecaster had the stock Fender bridge and tailpiece. In order to get the height on the strings that he wanted, Chamberland stuck popsicle sticks under the bridge to raise it higher.
...
Wikipedia