"The Musical Influence of Keith Richards & The Story Behind the Formation of The Rolling Stones"

Keith Richards, the legendary guitarist born on December 18, 1943, in Dartford, England, is not just a musician but a cultural icon who has shaped the rock music landscape for over five decades. Alongside his friend and bandmate Mick Jagger, Richards co-founded The Rolling Stones, a band considered one of the greatest rock bands of all time.
Richards is known for his unique and influential guitar playing style and his ability to create unforgettable guitar riffs. The riffs from songs like “Satisfaction,” “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” and “Start Me Up” have become part of rock music’s identity. Richards’ guitar playing style is often simple yet highly effective, making him one of the most idolized and influential guitarists for subsequent generations.
Keith Richards has an interesting and meaningful childhood story that helped shape him into one of the greatest icons in rock music history. This story begins with Richards’ relationship with his maternal grandfather, Augustus Theodore “Gus” Dupree, a jazz musician who toured England with his big band, Gus Dupree and His Boys. Dupree was not only known as a musician but also as someone who profoundly influenced Richards’ life. He instilled an early interest in the guitar in Richards, which later became the center of his entire life and career. It was his grandfather who first gave Richards a guitar, but not without challenges.
Richards began exploring the world of music at home. He listened to various records from great artists like Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, and Duke Ellington, which enriched his understanding of music and deepened his love for the art. Although his father did not fully support Richards’ musical enthusiasm, this did not dampen his spirit.
One of Richards’ major inspirations in playing guitar was Scotty Moore, a guitarist known for his collaborations with Elvis Presley. Moore’s influence on Richards’ guitar playing style is evident in his early works, which later evolved into the unique style we know today.
However, in 1954, when Richards was about 10 or 11 years old, the Richards and Jagger families moved out of the neighborhood where they lived. This move separated the two friends, and they lost contact with each other. Their childhood friendship suddenly ended, and they went on with their lives, not knowing that their destinies would cross paths again in a very different circumstance. Several years later, in 1961, fate brought Richards and Jagger together again in an extraordinary way. Richards, who was 17 at the time, was on his way to school at Sidcup Art College when he met Jagger at Dartford railway station. Jagger, who was 18 at the time, was carrying some records of American blues artists like Muddy Waters and Chuck Berry-music that was not commonly heard in England at the time. Shortly after this meeting, Richards and Jagger began playing music together. They honed their skills by playing the blues songs they loved and eventually joined a musician named Brian Jones, who also shared the same interest. From here, the foundation of The Rolling Stones began to take shape, and their childhood friendship grew into one of the most productive and famous partnerships in rock music history.
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The Billie Holiday photo is Andra Day.