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George Barnes (born July 17, 1921 in South Chicago Heights, Illinois, died September 5, 1977 in Concord, California) was a world-renowned swing jazz guitarist, who claimed he played the first electric guitar in 1931, preceding Charlie Christian by six years. He is also remembered for his fondness of cigars.^{[citation needed]}

Barnes started his career accompanying blues vocalists such as Big Bill Broonzy. In the mid-1930s, Barnes toured throughout the Midwest. By 1938, he was working as a musician on the staff of NBC studios. After a stint in the Army, Barnes recorded with his octet and worked as a studio musician for Decca. He did not receive national acclaim until he recorded an album called "Two Guitars" with Carl Kress. After the death of Kress, Barnes recorded several albums with Bucky Pizzarelli. Their partnership lasted through the early 1970s. He also worked as a session musician for The Jodimars in the late 1950s.[1] Before his death, Barnes also made well-received albums with Joe Venuti. He also contributed an album entitled "Guitars a'plenty", under the name The George Barnes Guitar Choir, for Mercury Records in 1962. It was part of a series of recordings known as "Super Stereo Sound" as technical "state of the art" techniques.

Barnes formative guitar years preceded the be-bop era therefore his playing style was more swing. His lines were usually short, very melodic, bluesy and "inside" (e.g. diatonic) as compared to the chromaticism and long lines of be-bop era guitarists (like Pat Martino). His improvisation employed "call and answer" extensively --e.g. playing a line in one octave (call) and repeating the exact or similar line in another octave (answer). His lines swung, were well articulated and often cleverly posed. Barnes' tone was brighter than most jazz guitarists (like Joe Pass or Jim Hall) and reflected his "happy" approach.

Not long before his death he recorded two live albums at a San Francisco club. The albums are good examples of his swinging, happy and often mischievous technique. The albums also include his banter with the audience, introduction of tunes and his band, giving you a brief look into his delightful sense of humor.

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