TommyTommy EmmanuelEmmanuel

ByBy RihardsRihards RudovičsRudovičs

IInformationnformation Born May 31, 1955 ) (age 54) Muswellbrook, New South Wales Genres Folk, Rock, Pop, Blues

Occupations Musician, Songwriter Instruments Guitar Years active 1962 - present Associated acts Dragon Website www.tommyemmanuel.com

ChildhoodChildhood

 TommyTommy waswas bornborn inin thethe UpperUpper HunterHunter inin Muswellbrook,Muswellbrook, NeNeww SouthSouth Wales,Wales, Australia.Australia. HeHe receivedreceived hishis firstfirst guitarguitar inin 19591959 atat thethe ageage ofof 44 -- beingbeing taughttaught byby hishis mothermother toto accompanyaccompany herher playingplaying laplap steelsteel guitar.guitar. AtAt thethe ageage ofof 77 hehe heardheard ChetChet AtkinsAtkins onon thethe radio.radio. HeHe vividlyvividly remembersremembers thisthis momentmoment andand sayssays itit greatlygreatly inspiredinspired him.him.

FamilyFamily

 By the age of 9, in 1964, he was a working professional musician. Recognizing the musical talents of Tommy and his brother Phil, their father created a family band, sold the family home and took his family on the road. With the family living in two station wagons, much of Emmanuel’s childhood was spent touring Australia with his family, playing rhythm guitar, and rarely going to school. The family found it difficult living on the road; they were poor and were often hungry, never settling in one place. His father would often drive ahead, organize interviews, advertising and finding the local music shop where they'd have an impromptu concert the next day. Eventually the New South Wales Department of Education insisted that the Emmanuel children needed to go to school regularly.

EducationEducation

 EventuallyEventually thethe NewNew SouthSouth WalesWales DepartmentDepartment ofof EducationEducation insistedinsisted thatthat thethe EmmanuelEmmanuel childrenchildren neededneeded toto gogo toto schoolschool regularlyregularly.. _School_School timetime picturespictures __

InterestsInterests andand HobbiesHobbies

 GuitarGuitar  FootbalFootbal  BeisbolBeisbol  WaterWater sportssports  ComposeCompose  RodeoRodeo  AndAnd littlelittle bitbit AlcoholAlcohol

AAchievementschievements

 “Smokey Mountain Lullaby", a duet with , was nominated for the 1998 Grammy award for Country Instrumental Performance but did not win.  His song "Gameshow Rag/Cannonball Rag" won "Instrumental of the Year" at the 35th Tamworth Country Music Festival on Saturday, 27 January 2007,and also was nominated that year for a Grammy for "Best Country Instrumental Performance".  In the May 2008 issue of Guitar Player Magazine, was named as "Best Acoustic Guitarist" in their readers poll.

ClassicalClassical GasGas

 ClassicalClassical GasGas"" isis anan instrumentalinstrumental piecepiece ofof musicmusic writtenwritten byby MasonMason WilliamsWilliams (made(made fromfrom threethree songssongs).). TheThe titletitle ofof thethe albumalbum onon whichwhich itit appearsappears isis alsoalso ClassicalClassical GasGas.. ThisThis songsong waswas originallyoriginally releasedreleased byby MasonMason WilliamsWilliams onon "The"The MasonMason WilliamsWilliams PhonographPhonograph Record"Record" releasedreleased inin 1968.1968. AndAnd thethe bestbest ClassicalClassical GasGas playerplayer isis TommyTommy !! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQJ1k2HMoRU

DiscographyDiscography  1979 From Out Of Nowhere  1987  1990 Dare to Be Different  1992 Determination  1993 The Journey  1993 The Journey Continues  1995 Initiation  1995 Terra Firma (with Phil Emmanuel)  1995  1996 Can't Get Enough  1997 Midnight Drive (US release of Can't Get Enough)  1997 The Day Finger Pickers Took Over The World (With Chet Atkins)  1998 Collaboration  2000 Only  2001 The Very Best of Tommy Emmanuel  2004  2005 Live One  2006 Happy Hour (with Jim Nichols)  2006 The Mystery  2008 Center Stage

SomeSome PicturesPictures andand Links!Links! 