Have been playing guitar for over 25 years in a variety of styles including bluegrass, folk, country, jazz, pop, classic rock. Play both the flatpicked and fingerstyle styles of guitar on acoustic and electric. Traveled to Europe and played in the streets and subways of Paris when I was 19, and recorded a Bluegrass album in Paris that same year after being discovered playing in the Metro. Came back to the U.S. and played in various bands covering everything from Country, Swing and Jazz to Bluegrass and Old-Time mountain music.
In 1999, I entered and won the Wayne C. Henderson Guitar competition. In 2000, I entered the National Flatpicking Championships for the first time and placed second. In 2002, I won the Doc Watson Guitar Championships held at Merlefest, the guitar and best -all-around performer at the Galax Fiddler's Convention, and returned to Winfield Kansas to win the National Flatpicking Championships. I also won many smaller contests that same year. In 2003, I became the South Carolina State Flatpicking champion by winning the contest held at Renofest. Also in 2003, I performed in the guitar workshop at the National Folk Festival in Bangor Maine.
In 2003 I also self-published "Contest Winners", a book of my winning contest arrangements. This book was picked up by Cherry Lane Publishing and will be re-released through them. The book also contains a 28 track audio CD. I am currently doing solo performances and workshops throughout the U.S., and my second book/audio/DVD on my guitar techniques will be out later this year. I have also done session work on guitar, banjo, and bass for a variety of artists.
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