Rory Gallagher never attained the international recognition of Eric Clapton or Jeff Beck, but he was every bit as good a blues guitarist while in his prime. Gallagher was one of the early Irish exports of the late 60s and early 70s, and though his star was considerably brighter in the UK, he did see several good years as a touring act in the USA.
Gallagher made a name for himself in 1969 with the band Taste, who recorded three albums before splitting in 1971. Gallagher recorded several solo albums between 1971 and 1991, but also is noted for his session work on the legendary Muddy Waters - the London Sessions album, released on Chess Records. Sadly, he died after receiving a liver transplant in 1995 at the age of 47.