Roy Bookbinder was born in
Queens, New York City, on October 5, 1943. He released 12 albums and performed at most major blues and folk
festivals in the U.S. and Europe, including
Merlefest. Notables that have shared the stage with Book Binder include
Bonnie Raitt,
B.B. King, John Jackson,
Sonny Terry,
Doc Watson,
Ray Charles, and
Brownie McGhee. He has appeared regularly on
Nashville Now. He is listed in ''
Blues Who's Who'', by the music historian
Sheldon Harris. Book Binder was a veteran guitar instructor and taught at the
Fur Peace Ranch with
Jorma Kaukonen and others whose lives have been influenced by Davis. There he demonstrated songs, turnarounds, chord variations, right-hand methods, and many of his own adaptations and unique approaches to the blues. His album
Hillbilly Blues Cats (Rounder) was named as one of the ten most essential acoustic guitar albums of 1992. The 1992 category winners also included
Eric Clapton's
Unplugged,
Lyle Lovett's
Joshua Judges Ruth and
Neil Young's
Harvest Moon. Bookbinder died on March 3, 2026, at the age of 82. ==Albums==