"...run, do not walk, to a Tommy Emmanuel concert near you. True happiness is in tragically short supply right now, all over the world, but you will definitely find it there."
Richard McFalls, Cactus Cafe Show Review (Austin, TX)
A really good guitarist has always something more to his performance than just flashing fingers or fireworks of techniques. Just listen to Tommy Emmanuel play and feel how the multi-stylistic virtuoso is able to capture your attention. Throughout his career Emmanuel has performed with many notable artistes including Chet Atkins, George Martin, Eric Clapton and John Denver.
Two-time Grammy nominee Tommy Emmanuel is one of Australia's most respected musicians. The legendary guitarist has a professional career that spans almost five decades and continues to intersect with some of the finest musicians throughout the world. A household name in his native Australia, Tommy has garnered hundreds of thousands of loyal fans worldwide. Tommy's unique style - he calls it 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 Emmanuel to try this "fingerpicker" style as a child. Decades later, Atkins himself became one of Emmanuel's biggest fans.
Emmanuel's technical precision, his virtuosic improvisations and his unusually broad repertoire- which encompasses not only country and bluegrass, but pop, jazz, blues, gospel, even classical, flamenco, and aboriginal styles -also bespeak Chet Atkins' legacy.
In Nashville in 1999, Tommy was honored by his mentor, Chet Atkins with the title of “Certified Guitar Player” for his contribution to fingerstyle guitar, a rare distinction shared by only three other people in the world (Jerry Reed, Steve Wariner and John Knowles).
Most recently, in 2009, Tommy was honored with Guitar Player Magazine's most prestigious annual Guitar Legend award, as well as being named Thumbpicker of the Year for the second time.
In all, Emmanuel's catalogue includes 16 musical recordings running the gamut of solos, duets, ensembles, cover tunes, 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, playing over 300 concerts a year for the last four years. 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 Emmanuel's legacy. Tommy Emmanuel's message is pure love for the music and his delight in sharing it with the world, one audience at a time.
