Australian Tommy Emmanuel’s award-winning career as a guitarist mixes blues, country, rock, classical, and Spanish music. He spent years as a respected session musician and songwriter before launching a solo career in 1988.
He has shown a mastery and affinity for both electric and acoustic instruments, and has been singled out by the likes of notable musicians such as Chet Atkins — with whom he recorded The Day Finger Pickers Took Over the World in 1997 — and Todd Rundgren, who called him an innovator on the instrument.
By six, Emmanuel was working as a professional musician when his father, who recognized the musical talents of Tommy and his siblings, quit his job to form a family band and take it on the road. His father passed five years later and Australian country music star Buddy Williams took the boys into his traveling show, touring the country for several more years.
You may see Emmanuel’s name followed by the abbreviation ‘CGP.’ In July 1999, Chet Atkins commented that Emmanuel was a “fearless” fingerpicking guitar player and awarded Tommy and four others the “Certified Guitar Player” title.
After decades of heavy touring and recording, Emmanuel took time off from music, suffering from heart problems and exhaustion. A little over a year later he returned and has released an additional 14 albums.
Among the highlights of his later career is Accomplice One. Emmanuel appeared with one of the best and widest-ranging lineups of string players and featured performers of his career, including Jason Isbell, Mark Knopfler, Rodney Crowell, Ricky Skaggs and David Grisman.
