Harvey "The Snake" Mandel got his first start with being the lead guitarist for blues harmonicist Charlie Musselwhite and then released a couple of instrumental albums in the late '60's before joining Canned Heat for a couple of years and then teamed up with John Mayall for "USA Union" and "Back To The Roots" albums. Mandel then went back to his solo career and released the instrumental blues/jazz recording "Baby Batter" in 1971.
Mandel auditioned for replacing Mick Taylor in the Stones in the mid '70's but Ronnie Wood got the job and Mandel continued on recording and is just released an album in 2009. He has influenced guitarists like Eddie Van Halen and Steve Vai with his two-handed fretboard tapping technique he introduced in 1973.
