There’s an apocryphal story about Jimi Hendrix’s London debut that generally plays out like this: Pete Townshend and Eric Clapton are on their way to get their first look at the young American guitar genius everyone is talking about. Hendrix’s show is already underway, and as Townshend and Clapton enter the club, Jeff Beck is walking out. Townshend says, “Is he that bad?” “No,” replies Beck. “He’s that good.” For anyone who’s heard Hendrix, that story is completely believable. For anyone who’s heard Tommy Emmanuel, the story would be equally plausible if it were told about him.
For those who haven’t experienced Emmanuel’s percussive fluidity and supernatural fingerpicking abilities, it’s understandable to doubt the hurricane-force hyperbole that his appearances generate. To call him one of the best technical guitarists on the planet is to invite skepticism and head-shaking doubt. To call him one of the most entertaining guitarists on the planet pushes the boundaries of credibility. Luckily, the proof of both statements is billboarded all over YouTube and every other pervasive corner of the internet. Hearing and seeing Emmanuel in action is simultaneous conversion and baptism.
The native Australian received his first guitar at age 4, and was playing professionally by age 6. He played in a family band with his parents and older brother Phil until they were forced off the road by their local school board. As a teenager, Emmanuel moved to Sydney and won numerous talent contests before utilizing his skills as a session guitarist, which led to his membership in a number of groups, including the Southern Star Band, Goldrush, Dragon and John Farnham’s band.
In 1987, Emmanuel decided to dive deep into a solo career, having already released two albums under his own name at that point. Since then, he’s recorded 25 studio albums — alone or with occasional collaborators, including his brother Phil, Jim Nichols, David Grisman and legendary guitarist Chet Atkins — as well as four live albums and three compilations. His latest, the just-released Accomplice One, is further evidence of his guitar divinity.
Emmanuel has notched so many monumental achievements in his career, even a sampling is impressive. He recorded his collaboration with Chet Atkins, The Day Finger Pickers Took Over the World, in 1997; it was Atkins’ last recording before his death in 2001. Just after the release of their album, Atkins gave Emmanuel the guitar that Arthur Smith used to write his influential instrumental hit “Guitar Boogie,” a show-stopping staple of Emmanuel’s set to this day. In 1999, Atkins personally presented his coveted “Certified Guitar Player” award to Emmanuel, who was one of only four guitarists to be so recognized. He was given the title of Kentucky Colonel by Governor Steve Beshear, appointed a Member of the Order of Australia and played for an audience of 85 million at the closing ceremony of the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. Yes, he’s that good.
With Rodney Crowell. Click here for tickets and more info.