80 y/o Grandad Guitarist Shows Off His Shredding Skills in Nashville Guitar Shop

Senior musicians gradually losing their ability to perform is truly saddening to observe. However, Tennessee guitarist Bob Wood demonstrated such extraordinary prowess at 80 years old that a video of him playing brilliantly in a music shop became an internet sensation, gathering more than 10.3 million YouTube views!

The nine-children father visited British Audio Service in Nashville to collect some repaired amplifiers. As he explained, "When they told me they were ready, I took the guitar to check 'em out." The outcome was spectacular.

Dressed in a pink and blue checkered shirt while holding a classic sunburst Epiphone Riviera, Bob displayed exceptional agility unusual for his age; his fingers moved swiftly across the fretboard as he executed a clean, Latin-influenced riff with fingerpicking technique! His tone was magnificent, drawing inspiration from a unique blend of blues and tango melodies, creating something remarkably fresh and engaging.

Store employee Shane Radtke cleverly captured this moment, giving Bob his viral fame. Shane told Nashville News Channel 5, "I was in the back at my bench and I heard somebody playing something pretty original. And I was like, Wow, that's really cool. So I said, 'Guys, let's shoot a video of this.'"

Bob performed "Bésame Mucho," a song as aged as himself, composed in 1932 by Mexican songwriter Consuelo Velázquez and considered the most interpreted Spanish song ever. His seemingly effortless guitar shop performance ranks among the finest versions we at The Music Man have encountered!

Bob's impressive skill reflects lifelong dedicated practice. He first handled a guitar at age 6 and gave his first performance at 12 on live radio. Though never achieving mainstream success, Wood's musical journey included amazing experiences and celebrity collaborations. His friend James Brown would call him, as Bob recalled: "I couldn't understand a word he said. He'd start rattling off so fast and, man, he'd lose me."

He also performed several sets with electric guitar pioneer Les Paul, who passed away in 2009, humorously remembering, "For me to follow Les Paul was like following a bulldozer with a spoon."

Bob briefly owned a music store between 1981-86, released three studio albums, worked as a session musician and musical equipment salesperson, while also performing at festivals. He died peacefully at 88 just before Halloween 2022, with family present and survived by his nine children.