This page contains Leo Kottke songs, albums and video links. Music profile for Leo Kottke with events, tracks, videos, pictures, lyrics and band information.
Leo Kottke (born 11 September 1945, Athens, Georgia|Athens, Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia, United States|U.S.) is an steel-string acoustic guitar|acoustic guitarist. He is widely known for his idiosyncratic fingerpicking style, which draws on blues, jazz, and folk music influences, and his syncopation|syncopated, polyphony|polyphonic melodies. His work is often considered part of the American Primitivism movement, partly because he was signed to John Fahey (musician)|John Fahey's Takoma Records label. Kottke has overcome a series of personal obstacles including partial deafness and a nearly career-ending bout with tendon damage to emerge as a widely-recognized master of his instrument.
Biography
As a youth living in Muskogee, Oklahoma|Muskogee, Oklahoma, Kottke played trombone and violin before moving to the guitar and developing his own unconventional picking style. A mishap with a firecracker permanently damaged his hearing in one ear, a condition that would be exacerbated during firing practice during his service in the United States Navy Reserve.
After being military discharge|discharged from the Naval Reserve, Kottke attended St. Cloud State University in central Minnesota where he was known for skipping class and instead going to the auditorium and playing his guitar for hours on end.
Music
Focusing primarily on instrumental composition and playing, K... read all
