Guitar Legend Tommy Emmanuel Records with ONE
Posted on: February 17, 2010
Posted in: Artists, Featured, GarageBand, ONE, Video
del.icio.us
blinklist
digg
Facebook
Furl
ma.gnolia
Newsvine
Pownce
reddit
StumbleUpon
Technorati
Twitter
With an astounding rendition of his native Australia’s “Waltzing Matilda,” legendary guitarist Tommy Emmanuel records a live performance with just Apogee’s ONE, his laptop, and a room speckled with a few jaw-dropped admirers.
Two-time Grammy nominee Tommy Emmanuel is one of Australia’s most respected musicians. Recently given the Guitar Legend Award by Guitar Player Magazine, Tommy has a professional career that spans almost five decades as an iconic performing artist. A household name in Australia, he has garnered hundreds of thousands of loyal fans worldwide with millions signing on to YouTube to study his unparalleled fingerpicking technique. With 300 shows a year over the past four years, Tommy is on the road more days than not. Paired with the free version of GarageBand on his MacBook Pro, his Apogee ONE proves to be the ideal traveling companion to make recording on the road feasible and hassle free. Currently on a jam-packed international tour, Tommy kindly spared a minute to delight and entertain the folks at Apogee with a live performance and recording of Australia’s unofficial national anthem, “Waltzing Matilda.” Recorded with ONE’s internal condenser microphone at Berkeley Street Studio, his performance will be sure to inspire and amaze.
About Tommy Emmanuel, the ‘Guitar Wizard of Oz’
Tommy’s unique style – one he calls simply “finger style” – is akin to playing guitar the way a pianist plays piano, using all ten fingers. Rather than using a whole band for melody, rhythm, bass, and drum parts, Tommy plays all that- and more -on one guitar. Guitar legend Chet Atkins was one of the first to inspire Tommy to try this “fingerpicker” style as a child. Decades later, Atkins himself became one of his biggest fans.
His popularity in the US has grown by leaps and bounds in the last few years, aided by a non-stop touring schedule and increasing exposure in the media. 2005 kicked off a stream of US honors and awards. Tommy was inducted into the National Thumbpickers’ Hall of Fame in Muhlenberg, KY (the only non-American ever to be selected) and was also awarded with Thumbpicker of the Year and Album of the Year. He played Carnegie Hall for Les Paul’s 90th birthday Tribute Concert and his The Mystery album earned a Grammy nomination in 2006 for Best Country Instrumental for “Gameshow Rag/Cannonball Rag.” In 2008, Guitar Player Magazine and Acoustic Guitar Magazine named him Best Acoustic Guitarist and Gold Medalist – Fingerstyle category- in the Readers’ Choice and Players’ Choice Awards, respectively. Most recently, in 2009, Tommy was honored by Guitar Player Magazine for the second time as “Thumbpicker of the Year” and was given, as mentioned earlier, the magazine’s Guitar Legend Award.
Tommy’s newest album and DVD Center Stage were produced in 2008 based on the popularity of his episode of a PBS series called “Sierra Center Stage” filmed live at the famous Sierra Nevada Brewery venue in Sierra Nevada, CA. Tommy’s Center Stage video has been featured on PBS stations around the country during 2009, drawing ever-larger sellout crowds to his live shows.
In all, Emmanuel’s catalogue includes 16 musical recordings running the gamut of solos, duets, ensembles, cover tunes, and originals, both electric and acoustic guitar. He has made several instructional DVDs and regularly teaches master classes on the road. At 54, performing live is more important to him than ever and he tours constantly. Guitar players of all levels come to his shows to watch the magic hands of the “Guitar Wizard of Oz,” but his appeal goes far beyond musicians. His live shows are known for their humor, passion, and infectious joy. The power of his charismatic showmanship will be foremost in his legacy.
Hear the raw audio file of Tommy’s performance on the Apogee Hear ONE page.
To learn more about Tommy or to check out his upcoming tour dates, please visit: http://www.tommyemmanuel.com/