Welcome back to Guitardoor.com, where we celebrate the artists who are the vital link between music’s rich past and its vibrant future. Today, we journey to the heart of the American South to focus on one of the most important and authentic voices in modern roots music: the incredible Luther Dickinson. As the singer, guitarist, and leader of the Grammy-nominated North Mississippi Allstars, and a second-generation musician steeped in tradition, Luther is a true torchbearer, dedicating his career to preserving, celebrating, and extending the raw, hypnotic, and deeply rhythmic blues of the North Mississippi Hill Country.
The musical style of Luther Dickinson is a direct and powerful continuation of the North Mississippi Hill Country blues, a unique and primal strain of the genre that is markedly different from its Delta or Chicago cousins. This is not music built on standard 12-bar progressions; it is a raw, hypnotic, and often one-chord drone, a sound designed for trance-like dancing in a packed juke joint. Luther was raised in this tradition—his father was the legendary Memphis producer and musician Jim Dickinson, and he learned at the feet of the masters themselves, including R.L. Burnside and Junior Kimbrough. With the North Mississippi Allstars, he has taken this raw, authentic sound and supercharged it with the power of rock and roll, the improvisational freedom of the jam-band scene, and a raw punk-rock energy, all while maintaining the deep, unshakable groove that is the heart of the music. His versatility and deep-rooted skill were also showcased on a global stage during his tenure as the lead guitarist for The Black Crowes.
The guitar playing of Luther Dickinson is the sound of pure, unvarnished authenticity. It is not about slickness or clinical precision; it is a masterclass in raw feel, deep groove, and a powerful, percussive attack. His signature is his incredible rhythmic slide playing. Where other slide masters we’ve covered, like the lyrical Lowell George, used the slide to create sweet, singing melodies, Luther often uses it as a percussive engine, driving the song forward with a raw, aggressive, and incredibly funky attack.
He is a master of open tunings, which allow him to create the signature droning, hypnotic sound of the Hill Country. His sound is deeply connected to classic Gibson guitars, most famously a Gibson SG for slide and a beautiful ES-335 for standard playing. He also famously uses a cigar box guitar known as “The Lowebow,” connecting him directly to the primal, homemade traditions of the blues. His tone is raw, gritty, and incredibly dynamic, often achieved by plugging straight into a smaller tube combo amp and cranking it to get a natural, touch-sensitive overdrive.
To truly feel the hypnotic power of the North Mississippi Hill Country sound, diving into the catalogue of the North Mississippi Allstars is essential.
“Shake (Yo Mama)”
This is a signature NMA anthem and a perfect distillation of their high-energy, modern take on the Hill Country boogie. To approach playing it, the key is to get into an open tuning (like Open G) and focus entirely on the rhythm. The slide is used to play a powerful, repetitive, and incredibly percussive main riff. Don’t worry about perfect, clean notes; the magic is in the raw, aggressive attack and locking into the hypnotic, one-chord drone that drives the song.
“Po Black Maddie”
A classic Hill Country standard, originally by the great R.L. Burnside, this track has become a staple of their live shows. This is a lesson in dynamics and building tension within a slow-burning, hypnotic groove. The approach is to play the slide part with a greasy, laid-back, and slightly behind-the-beat feel. Use the slide to create a vocal-like moan, and, crucially, let the space between the phrases be just as important as the notes themselves.
“Mean Ol’ Wind Died Down”
A more lyrical and melodic track, this song showcases Luther’s brilliant songwriting and a more nuanced side of his slide playing. The approach here is to blend the rhythmic, droning slide work with more distinct, melodic, single-note phrases. The key is to use the slide to create a beautiful, singing melody that floats over the verses. This requires a lighter touch and a focus on a sweet, clean vibrato with the slide to make the notes sing with emotion.
In the end, Luther Dickinson’s legacy is that of a vital and essential artist in the preservation and powerful evolution of American roots music. He is a genuine and direct connection to a deep, authentic, and incredibly important musical tradition, proudly carrying the flame passed down from the original masters of the Mississippi Hill Country. He is a true original, a player whose raw, soulful, and deeply rhythmic guitar playing is a powerful, necessary, and thrilling voice in modern music.
Cover Photo Credit “Luther Dickinson” by ChrisBorden89 is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0
Luther Dickinson, huh? Sounds like someone whod definitely know how to keep a juke joint packed, maybe even with a one-chord drone! He’s got that raw, hypnotic vibe down, and mixing it with rock and roll energy? Now *that’s* a powerful one-chord drone I can get behind. The article makes it sound like he’s the master of greasy slide and keeping things locked into that deep groove. Honestly, the part about cranking a tube amp to get that natural overdrive? Now *that’s* a true artist’s approach – no clinical precision here, just pure, unvarnished power! His legacy sounds like a vital lesson in how to keep the American roots tradition跳in’, without losing that essential, homemade grit. Rock on, Luther – and don’t worry, I won’t worry about perfect notes, just the raw, aggressive attack!
Whoa, this read is pure truth serum! Luther Dickinson sounds like the kind of guy who shows up to a juke joint, unplugs his cigar box guitar, and accidentally starts a global music revolution. Seriously, the guy makes slide guitar sound like its got a bad case of the funk and a really good beat. And the part about letting space be as important as notes? Now *thats* deep wisdom, right after you crank up the tube amp until it naturally overdrives. This article captures the raw, unvarnished authenticity perfectly – it’s like the musical equivalent of finding a dusty, perfect beat-up SG guitar in the back of the shop. Highly recommend diving into North Mississippi Hill Country music, though be warned: you might come back hypnotized and ready to shake!