Role Guitarist Name Billy McLaughlin | Years active 1988–present Record label Narada Productions | |
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Associated acts The Billy McLaughlin Group Albums Relaxing Guitar, The Archery Of Guitar, Exhale Blue Similar People Michael Hedges, Andy McKee, Thomas Leeb Profiles | ||
Billy mclaughlin biography
Billy McLaughlin is a new age acoustic guitarist, composer and producer from Minnesota, United States.
Contents
- Billy mclaughlin biography
- Billy mclaughlin fingerstyle guitar church bells
- Background
- Performance
- Discography
- With The Billy McLaughlin Group
- Compilation appearances
- References
Billy mclaughlin fingerstyle guitar church bells
Background
Billy McLaughlin, of Irish ancestry, graduated with honors from the University of Southern California. He is one of nine children. McLaughlin now resides in his home state of Minnesota where he is raising his two boys. In 2005 Billy announced via his website that he is suffering from focal dystonia, which severely limits his ability to play. He began teaching himself to play his distinctive hammering style "left-handed," with the neck of the guitar toward his right shoulder. A documentary entitled "Changing Keys" was made about this phase of his career. He returned to performing publicly in 2006 both solo and with his band. During his December 2006 concerts with Simple Gifts, the sextet he formed in 2002 to play Christmas music, he performed the hammering style left-handed and more traditional strumming style right-handed, using separate sets of guitars tuned for the manner in which he was playing. Also, McLaughlin released a new album, entitled "Into the Light", in early 2007. This album was recorded live and features some new compositions as well as old favorites like "Fingerdance" and "Helms Place".
Performance
McLaughlin has toured around the US since before 1988, and also performs in Japan and across Europe.
The National Association for Campus Activities has awarded McLaughlin with three National Campus Entertainer of the Year Awards (Jazz) and a Hall of Fame Achievement Award.
Discography
With The Billy McLaughlin Group
