Tommy Emmanuel, CGP

Grammy-winning acoustic guitar icon Tommy Emmanuel’s determination to entertain and move audiences through the power of music remains undimmed, even as he closes in on his seventh decade as a performer. As a songwriter and a performer, Tommy is a melting pot of influences across genres, from pop to bluegrass and jazz to rock ‘n roll. To him, music is rhythm and emotion, all other distinctions are meaningless. He’s one of only six guitarists to earn the title of “Certified Guitar Player” from his mentor, legendary music star Chet Atkins, representing that Tommy had not only mastered his instrument, but taken it to new vistas and become a guiding light for the next generation of pickers.

In a way that must often be seen to be believed, Tommy creates the impression of a full band performing with just his singular guitar, his fingers dancing around the fretboard with an unrivaled dexterity and speed. Audiences worldwide hang on every note of his immaculate guitar work on songs like “Sail On,” “Classical Gas,” and “Tall Fiddler” for an experience that can only be described as the communion of music at its most pure.