Keith Richards, noted Rolling Stone and one of the most important guitarist in rock and roll history, turns 69 years old today.  Few people thought Keith would make it to 40, much less approaching 70!  In a 1994 article in Q Magazine, "Ladies and Gentlemen, the Interesting Old Farts," Richards said his image was "like a long shadow ... Even though that was nearly twenty years ago, you cannot convince some people that I'm not a mad drug addict."

While Keith is not among my favorite guitarists, you have to have great respect for the uncompromisingly raw, purist blues roots he has infused into The Stones' music. He is probably responsible for more iconic guitar riffs than anyone in rock history.

Probably no city on earth has had more influence on Keith Richards than sweet home Chicago. An acolyte of Chuck Berry and other Chicago blues players like Jimmy Reed and Muddy Waters, Richards developed his own distinctive style, frequently using a guitar with just five strings instead of six. 

As this clip from a show at the Hampton Coliseum shows, Keith knows how to use his guitar for more than just music.

When Johnny Depp developed Captain Jack Sparrow, he based the character on Keith. It worked so well that Keith eventually played Jack's father in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie series.

Happy b'day, Keith.  And many more.