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Godfrey Townsend

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Godfrey Townsend in 2009

Godfrey Townsend is an American guitarist from New York. He has been the lead guitarist for The Yardbirds since 2018.

Townsend was born in New York City, to parents who were trained in opera singing.[1] Townsend took lessons on how to play the piano when he was seven,[1] and formed his first band, Alexis, when he was seventeen.[2] He turned professional in the 1990s, and spent thee months with artists as Mitch Ryder, Spencer Davis, Joey Molland of Badfinger, Merrilee Rush, Pat Upton of Spiral Starecase, Sal Valentino of Beau Brummels, Cub Koda from Brownsville Station, Dennis Yost of The Classics IV, Len Barry of the Dovells and Tiny Tim.[2]

Townsend has also performed for Jack Bruce and Dave Mason.[2] He was a member of The John Entwistle Band, replacing Mark Hitt.[1] He was also in Kenny Vance and the Planotones, and was in Alan Parsons' touring band from 2001 to 2009.[3][4] Godfrey was in The Association in 2012, and was a guitarist for many 1960s summer tours, backing The Turtles, The Buckinghams, The Grass Roots, Mark Lindsay, Felix Cavaliere, Gary Wright, Rick Derringer, and Mark Farner.[5] In July 2018, Godfrey replaced Johnny A. as lead guitarist and backing vocalist for The Yardbirds.[6][7]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Agoglia, Danielle (2017-11-10). "Godfrey Townsend, famous in his own right". Herald Community Newspapers. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
  2. ^ a b c "Biography: Godfrey Townsend". www.theavenueonline.info. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
  3. ^ Greene, Andy (2021-02-23). "Flashback: Ann Wilson Sings 'Let It Be' With John Entwistle, Todd Rundgren, and Alan Parsons". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
  4. ^ "Alan Parsons 2001 Tour Dates". www.theavenueonline.info. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
  5. ^ Godfrey Townsend (2011-08-25). "On Tour With My Guitar Heroes: Rick Derringer, Mark Farner and Dave Mason". guitarworld. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
  6. ^ admin (2018-08-01). "The Yardbirds' New Guitarist Godfrey Townsend". Rock NYC. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
  7. ^ "THE YARDBIRDS: New Guitarist Godfrey Townsend". Metal Temple Magazine. Retrieved 2024-10-17.