We lost a guitar legend this week. Jeff Beck.

A prominent guitarist in rock and roll since the 60s, Jeff Beck evolved along with the guitar in modern music. He was never pigeonholed in one type of music, he was a player in demand and played on hundreds of albums. Last year alone, he played on Ozzy Osbourne’s new album and collaborated with Johnny Depp for an album and tour.

Beck was consistently ranked in the top five guitarists on many critic’s lists. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame TWICE – once with the Yardbirds, and as a solo artist. He was nominated 16 times for Grammys and won eight.

I was interested in the electric guitar even before I knew the difference between electric and acoustic. The electric guitar seemed to be a totally fascinating plank of wood with knobs and switches on it. I just had to have one. — Jeff Beck

My favorite albums by Jeff Beck are Wired and Jeff Beck’s Guitar Shop. Wired is straightforward rock and roll, while Guitar Shop takes a technical turn and you hear Beck embracing modern guitar technology. That album also features Terry Bozzio of Missing Persons, an amazing modern drummer.

The performance below from Letterman in 1999 showcases Beck’s amazing guitar talent – enjoy “What Mama Said” and delve deeper into the rich trove of music Jeff Beck left behind for us. You won’t regret it.