Hi Dennis,
I'm a pentatonic/blues scale player so let's see if I can help you here...
Firstly, get familiar with that pentatonic scale until you can move about in it comfortably, starting with the 'first position' at the 5th fret . this is the shape - learn to move forwards backwards and diagonally around it...
The beauty of these 12 notes is that you can play them in any order over any part of your 12 bar in A and it won't sound 'wrong'.
once you are happily moving about this scale, you can add to the bluesy sound by sliding and hammering between them,including some bends to add tension where needed.
If you start with bending the the 8th note along the scale (7th fret on the G string - the D octave in this case) I'm sure you'll see what I mean - especially if you follow that bend by playing the note on the 5th fret (Gstring) and apply a heavy vibrato to it.... instant blues tone
Work your way around the scale too your backing track, and you'll find certain bits that are sweet with the backing... If you remember these to use again,you'll end up with a library of licks that you can use anytime.
If you want to draw on your influences 'borrow' licks from your favourite players and work parts of those into your leadwork
That should get you going for now, I'll include some helpful links too...
This is myself, stumbling clumsily a round a blues in E just using that one position of the pentatonic scale
here
This is a great lesson with soundclips...
And
this guy is worth a look,also.
Hope that helps - feel free to ask about anything if I'm not being too clear, I'm posting this when just coming round on a Sunday morning
Mick