Tommy Emmanuel
September 30th 2008 10:00
Tommy Emmanuel began playing guitar at age 4, by learning to play by ear without any formal instruction. Emmanuel and his older brother Phil were child prodigies, starting their professional careers in the 1960s.
By the age of six, Tommy was already working as a professional musician. Shortly after his father's death in 1966, the Emmanuel family was approached by Australian country music star Buddy Williams, who took the family on the road until they were forced by the Australian child welfare department to stop traveling.
The Emmanuel children were then sent to a regular school. During these years, Tommy was playing in The Trailblazers (with siblings Chris on drums and Virginia on slide guitar) on weekends. He also taught guitar and made numerous television appearances in musical competitions. Emmanuel's first brush with fame came when The Trailblazers won two televised talent contests and recorded an EP.
He and his siblings worked hard to create the family's sole income for several years. In his early teens, Tommy left home and moved to Sydney to pursue a professional career as a guitarist. Playing in clubs all over the city, Emmanuel soon found himself in high demand as a session player for some of the era's most popular performers. During the mid ‘70s through the early ‘80s, he joined one of the decade's biggest acts, Dragon, recorded thousands of commercial jingles and played on recordings for Air Supply, Men at Work and dozens of other popular artists. In 1987, Dragon toured with Tina Turner on her Break Every Rule tour.
In addition to his storied career, which includes 16 music and instructional recordings, Tommy is also an accomplished record producer and musical arranger. He is also well regarded for mentoring students by offering guitar workshops and master classes on tour.
Other accolades include his 2007 Grammy nomination for Gameshow Rag from the Acoustic CD The Mystery, induction into the Thumb Pickers Hall of Fame in Muhlenberg, Kentucky (the only non-American so honored), and the Acoustic Guitar magazine readers’ poll for placing in the top 3 favorite artists.
Emmanuel was voted Rolling Stone (Australia) magazine's Most Popular Guitarist for two consecutive years. He has earned four Australian Platinum and Gold albums and two consecutive Golden Guitar awards (2006, 2007) at the CMAA Awards in Australia.
Another stellar career highlight was Tommy’s performance (with his brother Phil) at the Sydney 2000 Olympics Closing Ceremonies, viewed by over 2 billion people around the world. Emmanuel has set Australian sales records that have yet to be broken and performed with hundreds of musical legends including Chet Atkins, Les Paul, Keith Urban, Eric Clapton, Sir George Martin, Tina Turner, Joe Walsh, Stevie Wonder, Nokie Edwards (of the Ventures), Hank Marvin, the Lexington (Kentucky) Philharmonic, the Dortmund (Germany) Symphony, and the Western Australian Symphony Orchestra.
In addition, Tommy hosts several annual TommyFest concerts, where other stellar internationally recognized musicians are invited to share in a four day all-out celebration of music.
Newly released are his new album/DVD: Center Stage and his new DVD: Emmanuel Labor. Recognized as the elite of the elite and arguably the greatest living acoustic guitar player, two time Grammy nominee Tommy Emmanuel has mesmerized both fellow musicians and audiences alike with a professional career that spans over four decades.
Out now is Center Stage, a double live CD and separate DVD recorded and filmed at the Sierra Nevada Brewery Taproom in Chico, California (Sierra Nevada currently sponsors a Public Broadcasting series entitled Sierra Nevada Center Stage) This concert was videotaped in high definition over 3 nights in October 2007. The double live CD and DVD release contains his show-stoppers like his Beatles Medley, Mombasa and Initiation - the aboriginal tribute which has evolved over the years and never sounds the same on any recording - or any show.
Tommy also introduces four never before recorded tracks Ruby’s Eyes, Lenny Bro’, The Jolly Swagman and Papa George
There are several arrangements of popular traditional tunes like House of the Rising Sun, Nine Pound Hammer, Amazing Grace - and even Sukiyaki for his Japanese fans. It’s a great mix of the rare, the new, the traditional, and the favorites. Something for everyone - from the die-hard fan to his ever expanding new audience.
This DVD version was mixed in 5.1 Dolby Digital sound and filmed in eye-catching High Definition. Every element of modern technology was used in the production. Tommy’s record producer, Kim Person, recorded and mixed the audio tracks, while long-time Sierra Nevada video producer/director Peter Berkow tied the entire package together in state-of-the-art quality. It makes for a stunning package, both aurally and visually. The CD and DVD each contain an extra hour of Tommy’s performance that was not originally part of the Sierra Center Stage PBS television program.
Emmanuel LABOR answers the call from Tommy's guitar playing fans for up close instruction of favorite tracks from is solo acoustic albums ONLY, ENDLESS ROAD, and THE MYSTERY. Features include slowed down but in pitch shots of his most difficult riffs so that players can really get their fingers around the music. This is Tommy's most comprehensive video yet and is the perfect companion to existing tablature books.
Tommy has also announced an Australian National tour in 2009.
AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATES 2009
Sat 13 June - Country Club Tasmania, Launceston TAS
Tue 16 June - The Arts Centre Hamer Hall, Melbourne VIC
Fri 19 June - City Recital Hall Angel Place, Sydney NSW
Sat 20 June - QPAC Concert Hall, Brisbane QLD
Sun 21 June - Empire Theatre, Toowoomba QLD
Wed 24 June - Canberra Theatre, ACT
Fri 26 June - Her Majesty’s Theatre, Adelaide SA
Sun 28 June - Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre, WA
Mon 29 June - Perth Concert Hall, WA
By the age of six, Tommy was already working as a professional musician. Shortly after his father's death in 1966, the Emmanuel family was approached by Australian country music star Buddy Williams, who took the family on the road until they were forced by the Australian child welfare department to stop traveling.
The Emmanuel children were then sent to a regular school. During these years, Tommy was playing in The Trailblazers (with siblings Chris on drums and Virginia on slide guitar) on weekends. He also taught guitar and made numerous television appearances in musical competitions. Emmanuel's first brush with fame came when The Trailblazers won two televised talent contests and recorded an EP.
He and his siblings worked hard to create the family's sole income for several years. In his early teens, Tommy left home and moved to Sydney to pursue a professional career as a guitarist. Playing in clubs all over the city, Emmanuel soon found himself in high demand as a session player for some of the era's most popular performers. During the mid ‘70s through the early ‘80s, he joined one of the decade's biggest acts, Dragon, recorded thousands of commercial jingles and played on recordings for Air Supply, Men at Work and dozens of other popular artists. In 1987, Dragon toured with Tina Turner on her Break Every Rule tour.
In addition to his storied career, which includes 16 music and instructional recordings, Tommy is also an accomplished record producer and musical arranger. He is also well regarded for mentoring students by offering guitar workshops and master classes on tour.
Other accolades include his 2007 Grammy nomination for Gameshow Rag from the Acoustic CD The Mystery, induction into the Thumb Pickers Hall of Fame in Muhlenberg, Kentucky (the only non-American so honored), and the Acoustic Guitar magazine readers’ poll for placing in the top 3 favorite artists.
Emmanuel was voted Rolling Stone (Australia) magazine's Most Popular Guitarist for two consecutive years. He has earned four Australian Platinum and Gold albums and two consecutive Golden Guitar awards (2006, 2007) at the CMAA Awards in Australia.
Another stellar career highlight was Tommy’s performance (with his brother Phil) at the Sydney 2000 Olympics Closing Ceremonies, viewed by over 2 billion people around the world. Emmanuel has set Australian sales records that have yet to be broken and performed with hundreds of musical legends including Chet Atkins, Les Paul, Keith Urban, Eric Clapton, Sir George Martin, Tina Turner, Joe Walsh, Stevie Wonder, Nokie Edwards (of the Ventures), Hank Marvin, the Lexington (Kentucky) Philharmonic, the Dortmund (Germany) Symphony, and the Western Australian Symphony Orchestra.
In addition, Tommy hosts several annual TommyFest concerts, where other stellar internationally recognized musicians are invited to share in a four day all-out celebration of music.
Newly released are his new album/DVD: Center Stage and his new DVD: Emmanuel Labor. Recognized as the elite of the elite and arguably the greatest living acoustic guitar player, two time Grammy nominee Tommy Emmanuel has mesmerized both fellow musicians and audiences alike with a professional career that spans over four decades.
Out now is Center Stage, a double live CD and separate DVD recorded and filmed at the Sierra Nevada Brewery Taproom in Chico, California (Sierra Nevada currently sponsors a Public Broadcasting series entitled Sierra Nevada Center Stage) This concert was videotaped in high definition over 3 nights in October 2007. The double live CD and DVD release contains his show-stoppers like his Beatles Medley, Mombasa and Initiation - the aboriginal tribute which has evolved over the years and never sounds the same on any recording - or any show.
Tommy also introduces four never before recorded tracks Ruby’s Eyes, Lenny Bro’, The Jolly Swagman and Papa George
There are several arrangements of popular traditional tunes like House of the Rising Sun, Nine Pound Hammer, Amazing Grace - and even Sukiyaki for his Japanese fans. It’s a great mix of the rare, the new, the traditional, and the favorites. Something for everyone - from the die-hard fan to his ever expanding new audience.
This DVD version was mixed in 5.1 Dolby Digital sound and filmed in eye-catching High Definition. Every element of modern technology was used in the production. Tommy’s record producer, Kim Person, recorded and mixed the audio tracks, while long-time Sierra Nevada video producer/director Peter Berkow tied the entire package together in state-of-the-art quality. It makes for a stunning package, both aurally and visually. The CD and DVD each contain an extra hour of Tommy’s performance that was not originally part of the Sierra Center Stage PBS television program.
Emmanuel LABOR answers the call from Tommy's guitar playing fans for up close instruction of favorite tracks from is solo acoustic albums ONLY, ENDLESS ROAD, and THE MYSTERY. Features include slowed down but in pitch shots of his most difficult riffs so that players can really get their fingers around the music. This is Tommy's most comprehensive video yet and is the perfect companion to existing tablature books.
Tommy has also announced an Australian National tour in 2009.
AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATES 2009
Sat 13 June - Country Club Tasmania, Launceston TAS
Tue 16 June - The Arts Centre Hamer Hall, Melbourne VIC
Fri 19 June - City Recital Hall Angel Place, Sydney NSW
Sat 20 June - QPAC Concert Hall, Brisbane QLD
Sun 21 June - Empire Theatre, Toowoomba QLD
Wed 24 June - Canberra Theatre, ACT
Fri 26 June - Her Majesty’s Theatre, Adelaide SA
Sun 28 June - Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre, WA
Mon 29 June - Perth Concert Hall, WA
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