Just six weeks after the biographic film of his life debuted at the Melbourne, Australia, Documentary Film Festival, legendary guitarist Tommy Emmanuel will play at Songbirds on Sunday, Sept. 8.
From child prodigy to internationally known musician, from drug addiction to recovery, which he still works to maintain, the film spotlights career milestones, destructive lifestyle choices and what drives him to achieve.
And Emmanuel has achieved enough musical milestones to satisfy several lifetimes - or at least they would if he was the kind of artist who was ever satisfied.
At age 6, he was touring Australia with his family band. By 30, he was a lead guitarist rocking stadiums in Europe. At 44, he was one of five people named a Certified Guitar Player by his idol, musician Chet Atkins.
If you go
› Where: Songbirds Guitar Museum, 35 Station St. (South), 41 Station St. (North)› For more info: 423-531-2473THE BREAKFAST CLUB: AN ‘80S MTV DANCE PARTY› When: 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6 (S)› Admission: $15THE DIRTY DOORS: A TRIBUTE TO THE DOORS WITH THE LIX› When: 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7 (S)› Admission: $12 in advance, $15 day of showTOMMY EMMANUEL WITH LOGAN LEDGER› When: 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 8 (N)› Admission: $75EOTO› When: 9 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11 (S)› Admission: $18 in advance, $20 day of show
Today, Emmanuel plays hundreds of sold-out shows every year from Nashville to Sydney. Last year, he released "Accomplice One," an album of collaborations with some of the finest singers, songwriters and guitarists alive today: Jason Isbell, Mark Knopfler, Rodney Crowell, Jerry Douglas, Amanda Shires, Ricky Skaggs, Bryan Sutton and Suzy Bogguss, to name a few.
Influenced by Merle Travis/Chet Atkins fingerstyle guitar picking, Emmanuel developed a style of solo guitar playing that encompasses the range of a whole band - covering drums, bass, rhythm and lead guitars and a vocal melody simultaneously. No loop pedals, no overdubs, just one man and 10 fingers. His performance style is always song and emotion first, his music the embodiment of his sense of hope and his love for entertaining.
Which is not to say he dismisses the Certified Guitar Player Award, his Grammy nominations or the numerous magazine polls naming him the greatest acoustic guitarist alive. He's grateful for it all, and for the journey that's led him through a six-decade career. But the greatest reward is always the same, he says: To make the next great record, and to see the beaming audience at the next great show.
"When I was a kid, I wanted to be in show business. Now I just want to be in the happiness business - I make music, you get happy. That's a good job."
Opening for the guitarist at Songbirds will be Logan Ledger.
- Compiled by staff writer Susan Pierce