Great Guitars: Tommy Emmanuel

A friend and follower of the late GRAMMY-winning guitarist Chet Atkins — who christened him a Certified Guitar Player, making him one of only five musicians to receive the CGP distinction from the master — Tommy Emmanuel skates between musical styles, exploring everything from blues, Spanish traditions and folk. An accomplished fingerstyle guitar player, Emmanuel frequently threads three different parts simultaneously into his material, operating as a one-man band who handles the melody, the supporting chords and bass all at once. That expert layering is evident in 2015’s It’s Never Too Late, his first regular studio album of solo work since 2000. Emmanuel’s technical gift has earned him multiple awards from Guitar Player magazine, and made him a Member of the Order of Australia, an honor bestowed by the queen of his homeland. Gifted his first guitar at age 4, Emmanuel started working professionally in a family band, the Emmanuel Quartet. In Australia Emmanuel became an in-demand rock musician, performing in a succession of bands, including one of Australia’s best-known acts, Dragon. He also performed on albums by the likes of Air Supply and Men At Work, and has worked with legendary musicians including Eric Clapton, Doc Watson, John Denver, and Atkins. To date, Emmanuel has earned two GRAMMY nominations, two ARIA Awards from the Australian Recording Industry Association and repeated honors in the Guitar Player magazine reader’s poll. The GRAMMY Museum welcomes Emmanuel to the Clive Davis Theater for an intimate discussion on his career, moderated by Scott Goldman, Vice President of the GRAMMY Foundation and MusiCares. The discussion will be followed by a performance.