There has been a long history of women playing the guitar over the years, in many musical genres. In fact, WLW radio musician Helen Diller was the first person to ever play a guitar on TV when she strummed her Gibson Advanced Jumbo axe on a Philco television demonstration here in Cincy in 1939.
But when it comes to the lead guitar side of the equation, for whatever reason, men have dominated that end of the six-string spectrum.
If you look at the history of American music, however, there are many examples of women playing sweet riffs, from the great Sister Rosetta Tharpe in the ’30s and ’40s to present-day artists like Susan Tedeschi, Orianthi, Rory Block and Carolyn Wonderland, to name just a few.
Ana Popovic is another current gunslinger. After growing up in Belgrade, Serbia, and inheriting a love for the Blues from her dad, she has taken it to the next level with multiple Blues Music Award nominations and time spent jamming with B.B. King, Jorma Kaukonen, Solomon Burke, Buddy Guy, Taj Mahal, Sonny Landreth and the aforementioned Tedeschi.
Popovic also can sling some wicked slide guitar, which you can see on her YouTube video of Jimi Hendrix’s “Can You See Me.”
Popovic participated in the most recent Experience Hendrix Tour, sharing the stage with Buddy Guy, Jonny Lang, Zakk Wylde, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Eric Johnson and Dweezil Zappa.
ANA POPOVIC plays Taft Theatre ballroom at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 19. Tickets/more info here.
