Very few people have influenced my musical style as much as Mr. Tommy Emmanuel. For those of you who aren’t familiar with him, Tommy is a native of Australia. He began playing guitar in 1959 when he was five years old. He heard the late, great Chet Atkins on the radio when he was seven. Even at this age, Tommy had already developed such an ear for music that he could hear that Chet was playing the bass, rhythm, harmony, and melody simultaneously and at the same time. (That’s a j-o-a-k as Chet would say.) Undismayed by the skepticism shown by those who told him it was a “recording trick,” Tommy learned to play all the parts by using the thumb, just like Chet.

Over the years Tommy has developed an astounding and beautiful style. He does the work of an entire orchestra in almost every song he plays. His fingers move so fast you can hardly see them. Although his playing is very complicated he has never failed to see the importance of a clear, beautiful melody.

I first heard Tommy on his duet album with Chet Atkins, “The Day Fingerpickers Took Over the World.” This album led to my family buying several of his solo albums and now, he’s my favorite guitarist. I had often dreamed of seeing Tommy in concert and someday meeting him. Last year, I found out that he had a concert scheduled for the Bonita Golf Club here in San Diego. I was so disappointed to find out that it had sold out. We kept checking his schedule however and managed to get tickets for his show this past February at Bonita.

I was so excited! A few days before the show, I emailed him through his manager, Gina, and told him that I loved his music and would be honored to meet him and maybe even play with him someday. I almost fainted when his manager emailed me back the next day and told me that if I wanted to play with Tommy, I could just come a little early. When I did meet Tommy, he went out of his way to be kind to me. I could clearly see that he was on a schedule (he still had to replace his guitar strings for the show that started an hour and a half later).  I remember being so incredibly nervous as he walked over, sat down in front of me, and said, “Let me hear you play.” I played two of my original tunes for him and he was so encouraging. He took the time not only to tell me that he enjoyed my songs, but also gave me some tips on how to improve and get the sound I was looking for. After this we played “Windy and Warm” together; I couldn’t believe that I was playing a duet with him!

After the awesome concert, just when I thought things couldn’t get any better, Tommy sent his friend, Liz, to bring me backstage. Once my mom and I were backstage, he began to explain that he had just got a new guitar case, and wanted me to have his old one, his original guitar case that had been all over the world. I remember him saying, “It may not mean much to you, but I want you to have it.” I was dumbfounded. After he autographed my entire CD collection, he put his hands on my shoulders and said, “Keep practicing; Fingerpickers have to take over the world.” I’ll never forget what he’s done for me.

Thank you Tommy

Below: Two and a half years later Tommy and I duet on the main stage at the Chet Atkins convention. A young guitar player's dream come true!