There are few artists whose names are synonymous with one instrument and how it's played in service to an entire genre.

Utter the phrase, "young blues-rock guitarist," within earshot of anyone with even a cursory knowledge of the modern musical vanguard and the first name they are most likely to respond with will be Kenny Wayne Shepherd. The Louisiana-born axeman and songsmith have sold millions of albums and thrown singles into the Top 10 while shining a light on the rich blues of the past and forging ahead with his own modern twist on a classic sound that he has embodied since his teens.

In a 20-year recording career that began when he was just 16, Shepherd has established himself as an immensely popular recording artist, a consistently in-demand live act, and an influential force in a worldwide resurgence of interest in the blues.