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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News Blogs Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Multimedia Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Road Cams Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Distinctly Northwest Readers' Choice Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend March 2, 2007 Acoustic guitarist Leo Kottke is a self-taught musician with a classical approach to his eclectic compositions. LEO KOTTKE The award-winning guitarist is known for his unique style and his 'gravelly' baritone By PETER KOELSCH For the Mail Tribune For the past three decades, guitar virtuoso and seven-time Grammy Award winner Leo Kottke has been relentless in pursuing a musical vision all his own. His unconventional melodies and wildly entertaining live performances place him among the foremost acoustic guitar stylists of our time. Southern Oregon University and Jefferson Public Radio are bringing Kottke to Southern Oregon for the last concert of their One World Series at 8 p.m. Sunday, March 4, at the SOU Music Recital Hall, 1250 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland. Rogue Valley audiences have seen Kottke perform at the Britt Festivals. His style and sound is like no other and his influences are just as eclectic. "Trombones, insanity and Oklahoma," he said. "I'm self-taught on the guitar. I wait for the next tune to pop up and hope to be there when it happens." Kottke was born in Athens, Ga., in 1945 and moved around often in his youth. A firecracker incident damaged the hearing to his left ear, which became permanently damaged in his 20s during firing practice in the Naval Reserve. After being discharged because of his hearing loss, Kottke hitchhiked around the country as a musician, later ending up in the Twin Cities area and becoming a fixture in the local folk music scene. His 1969 debut, "Twelve-String Blues," was recorded live at Minneapolis' Scholar Coffee House. Advertisement In 1970, he sent his follow-up album, "Circle 'Round the Sun" to guitarist John Fahey. Kottke was signed by Fahey's manager and soon secured a deal with Capitol Records. Kottke is known almost exclusively as an acoustic guitar player. "I've recorded plenty of electric guitar," he said, "but the acoustic is where the geography is — lots of places to go." Despite Capitol pressuring him to be a singer as well, instrumental albums like 1971's "Mudlark" found Kottke a growing audience. In the liner notes to 1972's "6 and 12-string Guitar," he describes his own voice as "geese farts on a foggy day." "I open my mouth so I can feel what to play next," Kottke said about his live performances. "I'm not a storyteller, talking just helps to locate the curve. Within all that, I try to shut up as much as possible, which is very difficult." Throughout the 1980s, his powerful technique and extensive touring schedule left him with lingering pain in the tendons of his hands, nearly crippling him. He altered his technique to embrace a more classical approach to performance and slowed his touring schedule dramatically, settling back into his role as a cult-folk hero. In 1999, Kottke returned as a solo artist with his live album "One Guitar No Vocals." His collaboration with Phish bassist Mike Gordon on 2002's "Clone" and 2005's "Sixty-Six Steps" broke new ground for the guitarist, since he rarely plays with others. "(Bands) are too ... loud," Kottke said. "Plus a guitar sounds good if you drop it on the floor." Folk and acoustic music have found new and growing audiences since the late '90s, with the emergence of bands like Nickel Creek and Yonder Mountain String Band. So what does Kottke think about the future of acoustic music? "I don't think about it," Kottke said. "Some people just need to play. That's beautiful." Tickets to the March 4 concert are $34 general public reserved; $24 for children (up to age 12) reserved; and $10 for students. Tickets are available online or at the Music Coop in Ashland. See www.oneworldseries.org or call 552-6461. Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2007 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems Online Casino Reviews Trunks, Footlocker Fundraisers UK Homeowner Loans Casinos Canada Cord Blood Banking Discount Hotel Reservations Texas Electric Choice Compare Electric rates in Texas Windermere Van Vleet Men's Clothing Debt Help New Hampshire Primary