James Gurley

ABOUT JAMES GURLEY

Guitarist for the psychedelic rock band Big Brother and the Holding Company.

He spent four years at the Catholic Brothers of the Holy Cross church, preparing for a career in the clergy.

He taught himself guitar, practicing for hours on end, but without a formal lesson in his life.

He had an affair with Janis Joplin , who fronted Big Brother and the Holding Company.

He was inspired to make music by listening to Lightnin' Hopkins .