Allan Slutsky
- Born
- 1950 · Philadelphia.
- Nationality
- United States
- Occupation
- historian · composer
- Education
- Temple University · Berklee College of Music
- Languages
- English
In this article
Key facts
• Name — Allan Slutsky
• Alias — Doctor Licks
• Born — c. 1952
• Birthplace — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
• Instrument — guitar, mandolin, ukulele, tenor banjo
• Occupation — musician, arranger, author, film and record producer
• Years Active — 1978–present
• Current Member Of — The Night Cafe
• Website — nightcafetrio.com
Allan Slutsky, also known by his pen name, Dr. Licks, (born c. 1952) is an American music arranger, producer, guitarist and historian. He has authored several books including biographies on musicians James Jamerson and Bobby Rydell. He is the winner of a Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media.
Life and career
Slutsky was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He studied music at Temple University. He went on to pursue guitar studies at the Berklee College of Music in Boston and graduated in 1978.
After college, Slutsky returned to Philadelphia and began transcribing music under the name "Dr. Licks". He has authored several instructional and method books.
Slutsky wrote the 1989 book Standing in the Shadows of Motown, which profiles the life of the Funk Brothers' bass guitarist James Jamerson. The book went on to win the Rolling Stone/BMI Ralph J. Gleason Music Book Award in 1989. Slutsky coauthored the 2016 book Bobby Rydell: Teen Idol on the Rocks, a biography of Bobby Rydell and coauthored by Rydell.
Slutsky produced the documentary film Standing in the Shadows of Motown. The film was released in 2002. The film expanded the scope of Slutsky's 1989 book and covered The Funk Brothers group of musicians as a whole. The film won several awards including two Grammys in 2003.
Books
• (1982) Doctor Licks Vol II: Rock's Hottest Guitar Solos Transcribed Note for Note
• (1982) Doctor Licks Vol V: Rock's Hottest Guitar Solos Transcribed Note for Note
• (1987) The Art of Playing Rhythm & Blues Volume One: The 50s and 60s
• (1989) Standing in the Shadows of Motown: The Life and Music of Legendary Bassist James Jamerson
• (1997) The Funkmasters: The Great James Brown Rhythm Sections 1960-1973
• (2002) Beyond Basics: Funk Guitar Rhythm Chops
• (2016) Bobby Rydell: Teen Idol on the Rocks: A Tale of Second Chances
Licensing
Text attribution
Part of the biographical narrative on this page reuses licensed material. Its origin, revision and licence are recorded here.
The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article Allan Slutsky, revision 1329362354 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record.
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Allan Slutsky | Artist | www.grammy.com. grammy.com. February 23, 2003.
- 2.Matthew S. Robinson. Alumni Profile – Allan Slutsky '78. Berklee College of Music.
- 3.Raoul Hernandez. Tracks of My Tears. Austin Chronicle. November 15, 2002.
- 4.IMDb. Awards for Standing in the Shadows of Motown (2002).
- 5.45th Grammy Awards. rockonthenet.com. February 23, 2003.
- 6.Howard B. Leibowitz. Bobby Rydell – Teen Idol on the Rocks: A Tale of Second Chances. elmoremagazine.com. May 9, 2016.
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Partially resolvedreference work
Partially resolved
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 31 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Music memorabilia
41,276 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- Allan ReussPerson
- Allan RobertsPerson
- Allan SchwartzbergPerson
- Allan ShermanPerson
- Allan VachePerson
- Allauddin KhanPerson
- Alle BenassiPerson
- Alle FarbenPerson
Best supported in this field
For owners
Own a work by Allan Slutsky?
A specialist will read what you send and tell you what the house can establish, what it cannot, and whether the object is suited to sale. There is no charge and no obligation. The object stays with you throughout; nothing is shipped to us unless it is arranged in writing beforehand.