Eddie Kirkland is a guitarist and harpist who started off playing on the King label but recorded with Fortune both as 2nd guitarist to John Lee Hooker, whom he met while performing at a house party after work at the Ford River Rouge Plant, and also as a solo artist (’58-’61). Kirkland has also played with notables as Muddy Waters and the rock band Foghat (who, like virtually all British rockers from the 60s and 70s, were really blues musicians). Born in 1923, Eddie still plays in Detroit and drives himself around the country to his various gigs at the age of 85. He also tours Europe quite a bit and still records. I had the privilege of seeing him onstage in 2005 during the Gratiot Cruise where he did his own set and then came out and played harp for Hubert Sumlin (Howlin’ Wolf’s lead guitarist). Even in his 80s, Kirkland is a bear of a man with a commanding stage presence.
Eddie Kirkland - Train Done Gone - YouTube
"Train Done Gone."
[Postscript: At the time I wrote this entry, Kirkland was still alive. He was killed in a car wreck in 2011. Hubert Sumlin died the same year.]