Members of Aerosmith, Deep Purple and Allman Brothers Band Contribute to Tommy Bolin Tribute Album

You know a guy has serious chops when he's called upon to take over Joe Walsh's role in the James Gang, then replace Ritchie Blackmore in Deep Purple.

Guitarist/singer Tommy Bolin wasn't on the scene very long, but he certainly left his mark as a brief member of those two bands, followed by his short-lived solo career, which ended when he died in 1976 at age 25.

Bolin will be honored by Aerosmith's Brad Whitford, current Purple guitarist Steve Morse, Allman Brothers Band members Derek Trucks and Warren Haynes, Peter Frampton and other big-name players on 'Great Gypsy Soul,' due March 27 from 429 Records.

Credited to Tommy Bolin and Friends and available as a single disc and two-CD set, 'Great Gypsy Soul' isn't your typical tribute album. The special guests don't just perform Bolin material, they play with him, adding their parts to outtakes from his solo debut, 1975's 'Teaser.'

"Many of the guests added after the fact have a close personal connection to Tommy — all share in acknowledging his place in rock history," said Haynes, who co-produced the project. "Watching, and hearing, it all come to fruition some 35 years later was a journey of its own — well worth the travel."