RODNEY SHEPPARD

(Sugar Ray)

MY SHARONA The Knack, Get the Knack GUITARIST: BERTON AVERRE

“I was just starting to play guitar when this came out, and it’s one of the first riffs I learned how to play. For years I didn’t know that the album version has a very long solo, and it’s the greatest, most climactic solo. It starts off nice and mellow, and it goes through all these changes. It gets to a point where you’re getting ready for it to end, and all of the sudden he just cuts loose. And what elevates this guitar solo is how the drummer plays with him and is feeling each part and plays accordingly. It’s my life’s goal now to learn that solo. Berton Averre doesn’t get enough credit.”