Album: Try And Stop Me by Leo Kottke (2004)
Format: Album

Artist Background: Born: September 11, 1945 - Athens, Georgia, US Education: St. Cloud State University Leo Kottke is an acoustic guitarist. He is known for a fingerpicking style that draws on influences from blues, jazz, and folk music, and for syncopated, polyphonic melodies. Part of the Athens, Georgia music scene.

Music Scene: Part of the Athens, Georgia music scene.

Tags: 2000s, Album


Album: My Father's Face by Leo Kottke (1989)
Format: Album

Artist Background: Born: September 11, 1945 - Athens, Georgia, US Education: St. Cloud State University Leo Kottke is an acoustic guitarist. He is known for a fingerpicking style that draws on influences from blues, jazz, and folk music, and for syncopated, polyphonic melodies. Part of the Athens, Georgia music scene.

Music Scene: Part of the Athens, Georgia music scene.

Tags: 1980s, Album


Album: Sixty Six Steps by Leo Kottke (2005)
Genre: Folk | Style: Jazz
Format: Album

Description: Sixty Six Steps is the second studio album from Leo Kottke and Mike Gordon. It was released on August 23, 2005.

Although the album was recorded in just a few months, it has been an idea in Gordon's mind for decades. Since Gordon went on a trip to the Bahamas with his family in his childhood, he has always been fascinated with the calypso band, The Mustangs. “Ya Mar,” one of the songs Gordon heard on the trip, eventually became a staple of Phish’s live shows.

Most of the songs were written and arranged in Costa Rica and were then recorded in Nassau, Bahamas.

Percussionist Neil Symonette is also featured playing a multitude of percussion including caxixi, goats' hooves, talking drums, tire hub, djembe, thrasher, fish shakers, and uda drums.

The album also features a number of cover songs, ranging from Fleetwood Mac's "Oh Well" to Pete Seeger's "Living in the Country."

Artist Background: Born: September 11, 1945 - Athens, Georgia, US Education: St. Cloud State University Leo Kottke is an acoustic guitarist. He is known for a fingerpicking style that draws on influences from blues, jazz, and folk music, and for syncopated, polyphonic melodies. Part of the Athens, Georgia music scene.

Music Scene: Part of the Athens, Georgia music scene.

Tags: Folk, Jazz, 2000s, Album


Sixty Six Steps is the second studio album from Leo Kottke and Mike Gordon. It was released on August 23, 2005.

Although the album was recorded in just a few months, it has been an idea in Gordon's mind for decades. Since Gordon went on a trip to the Bahamas with his family in his childhood, he has always been fascinated with the calypso band, The Mustangs. “Ya Mar,” one of the songs Gordon heard on the trip, eventually became a staple of Phish’s live shows.

Most of the songs were written and arranged in Costa Rica and were then recorded in Nassau, Bahamas.

Percussionist Neil Symonette is also featured playing a multitude of percussion including caxixi, goats' hooves, talking drums, tire hub, djembe, thrasher, fish shakers, and uda drums.

The album also features a number of cover songs, ranging from Fleetwood Mac's "Oh Well" to Pete Seeger's "Living in the Country."

Album: Guitar Music by Leo Kottke (1995)
Format: Album

Artist Background: Born: September 11, 1945 - Athens, Georgia, US Education: St. Cloud State University Leo Kottke is an acoustic guitarist. He is known for a fingerpicking style that draws on influences from blues, jazz, and folk music, and for syncopated, polyphonic melodies. Part of the Athens, Georgia music scene.

Music Scene: Part of the Athens, Georgia music scene.

Tags: 1990s, Album


Album: The Best of Leo Kottke by Leo Kottke (1987)
Record Label: Capitol Records
Format: Compilation

Description: Greatest Hits collection of Leo Kottke.

Artist Background: Born: September 11, 1945 - Athens, Georgia, US Education: St. Cloud State University Leo Kottke is an acoustic guitarist. He is known for a fingerpicking style that draws on influences from blues, jazz, and folk music, and for syncopated, polyphonic melodies. Part of the Athens, Georgia music scene.

Music Scene: Part of the Athens, Georgia music scene.

Tags: 1980s, Compilation, Capitol Records


Album: Mudlark by Leo Kottke (1971)
Format: Album

Artist Background: Born: September 11, 1945 - Athens, Georgia, US Education: St. Cloud State University Leo Kottke is an acoustic guitarist. He is known for a fingerpicking style that draws on influences from blues, jazz, and folk music, and for syncopated, polyphonic melodies. Part of the Athens, Georgia music scene.

Music Scene: Part of the Athens, Georgia music scene.

Tags: 1970s, Album


Album: Guitar Music by Leo Kottke (1981)
Format: Album

Artist Background: Born: September 11, 1945 - Athens, Georgia, US Education: St. Cloud State University Leo Kottke is an acoustic guitarist. He is known for a fingerpicking style that draws on influences from blues, jazz, and folk music, and for syncopated, polyphonic melodies. Part of the Athens, Georgia music scene.

Music Scene: Part of the Athens, Georgia music scene.

Tags: 1980s, Album


Album: Leo Kottke / Peter Lang / John Fahey by Leo Kottke (1974)
Format: Album

Artist Background: Born: September 11, 1945 - Athens, Georgia, US Education: St. Cloud State University Leo Kottke is an acoustic guitarist. He is known for a fingerpicking style that draws on influences from blues, jazz, and folk music, and for syncopated, polyphonic melodies. Part of the Athens, Georgia music scene.

Music Scene: Part of the Athens, Georgia music scene.

Tags: 1970s, Album

Additional Context: Available on Discogs marketplace


Album: Circle 'Round the Sun by Leo Kottke (1970)
Format: Album

Artist Background: Born: September 11, 1945 - Athens, Georgia, US Education: St. Cloud State University Leo Kottke is an acoustic guitarist. He is known for a fingerpicking style that draws on influences from blues, jazz, and folk music, and for syncopated, polyphonic melodies. Part of the Athens, Georgia music scene.

Music Scene: Part of the Athens, Georgia music scene.

Tags: 1970s, Album


Album: That's What by Leo Kottke (1990)
Genre: Folk | Style: Jazz
Format: Album

Description: That's What is one of the more idiosyncratic releases by solo steel-string guitar artist Leo Kottke. It is distinctive in its jazzy nature and "talking" songs ("Buzzby" and "Husbandry"). It reached #24 on Billboard's Top New Age Albums charts, Kottke's highest charting position on Billboard.

The song "Little Snoozer" is played on a Charvel demo model of a Danelectro 6-string bass guitar tuned one octave lower than a standard 6-string guitar.

Kottke has re-recorded at least two more versions of "Jesus Maria".

Artist Background: Born: September 11, 1945 - Athens, Georgia, US Education: St. Cloud State University Leo Kottke is an acoustic guitarist. He is known for a fingerpicking style that draws on influences from blues, jazz, and folk music, and for syncopated, polyphonic melodies. Part of the Athens, Georgia music scene.

Music Scene: Part of the Athens, Georgia music scene.

Tags: Folk, Jazz, 1990s, Album


That's What is one of the more idiosyncratic releases by solo steel-string guitar artist Leo Kottke. It is distinctive in its jazzy nature and "talking" songs ("Buzzby" and "Husbandry"). It reached #24 on Billboard's Top New Age Albums charts, Kottke's highest charting position on Billboard.

The song "Little Snoozer" is played on a Charvel demo model of a Danelectro 6-string bass guitar tuned one octave lower than a standard 6-string guitar.

Kottke has re-recorded at least two more versions of "Jesus Maria".

Album: One Guitar, No Vocals by Leo Kottke (1999)
Format: Album

Artist Background: Born: September 11, 1945 - Athens, Georgia, US Education: St. Cloud State University Leo Kottke is an acoustic guitarist. He is known for a fingerpicking style that draws on influences from blues, jazz, and folk music, and for syncopated, polyphonic melodies. Part of the Athens, Georgia music scene.

Music Scene: Part of the Athens, Georgia music scene.

Tags: 1990s, Album


Album: Leo Kottke by Leo Kottke (1976)
Format: Album

Artist Background: Born: September 11, 1945 - Athens, Georgia, US Education: St. Cloud State University Leo Kottke is an acoustic guitarist. He is known for a fingerpicking style that draws on influences from blues, jazz, and folk music, and for syncopated, polyphonic melodies. Part of the Athens, Georgia music scene.

Music Scene: Part of the Athens, Georgia music scene.

Tags: 1970s, Album

Additional Context: Available on Discogs marketplace


Album: Time Step by Leo Kottke (1983)
Format: Album

Artist Background: Born: September 11, 1945 - Athens, Georgia, US Education: St. Cloud State University Leo Kottke is an acoustic guitarist. He is known for a fingerpicking style that draws on influences from blues, jazz, and folk music, and for syncopated, polyphonic melodies. Part of the Athens, Georgia music scene.

Music Scene: Part of the Athens, Georgia music scene.

Tags: 1980s, Album


Album: 6- and 12-String Guitar by Leo Kottke (1969)
Record Label: Takoma
Format: Album

Description: 6- and 12-String Guitar is the second album by Leo Kottke, a solo instrumental steel-string acoustic guitar album originally released by John Fahey's Takoma Records in 1969. It is popularly known as the Armadillo album after the animal illustrated in the distinctive cover art (by Annie Elliott). Although Kottke has had a prolific career as a recording artist, 6- and 12-String Guitar remains his best-known album. 

The album showcases Kottke's early, hard-driving polyphonic finger-picking style (which eventually led to his developing tendinitis and having to change his playing approach). Even at the fastest tempos the notes are clean and crisp, with a distinctive tone. The album was recorded in one afternoon, in exactly the running order of the album. Most tracks were done in a single take. Kottke doesn't even pause when a string breaks (audibly) on "The Sailor's Grave on the Prairie." In the liner notes to Anthology he states, "We didn't know about sequencing, so the record is in the order it was recorded...The record took three-and-a-half hours to do, and all I had to do was sit down and play everything I ever knew."

True to its title, the album contains performances on both 6- and 12-string acoustic guitars, some using a slide. Although Kottke has included vocals in other albums, this album is all instrumental – the reason being, as Kottke explains in the liner notes, his voice "sounds like geese farts on a muggy day."

All the tracks were written by Kottke except Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, Kottke's arrangement of the familiar Bach piece.

The album had a large influence on, and was an inspiration for, guitarist Michael Hedges, who would later tour with Kottke.

This album has been re-released as an SACD.

Artist Background: Born: September 11, 1945 - Athens, Georgia, US Education: St. Cloud State University Leo Kottke is an acoustic guitarist. He is known for a fingerpicking style that draws on influences from blues, jazz, and folk music, and for syncopated, polyphonic melodies. Part of the Athens, Georgia music scene.

Music Scene: Part of the Athens, Georgia music scene.

Tags: 1960s, Album, Takoma


6- and 12-String Guitar is the second album by Leo Kottke, a solo instrumental steel-string acoustic guitar album originally released by John Fahey's Takoma Records in 1969. It is popularly known as the Armadillo album after the animal illustrated in the distinctive cover art (by Annie Elliott). Although Kottke has had a prolific career as a recording artist, 6- and 12-String Guitar remains his best-known album. 

The album showcases Kottke's early, hard-driving polyphonic finger-picking style (which eventually led to his developing tendinitis and having to change his playing approach). Even at the fastest tempos the notes are clean and crisp, with a distinctive tone. The album was recorded in one afternoon, in exactly the running order of the album. Most tracks were done in a single take. Kottke doesn't even pause when a string breaks (audibly) on "The Sailor's Grave on the Prairie." In the liner notes to Anthology he states, "We didn't know about sequencing, so the record is in the order it was recorded...The record took three-and-a-half hours to do, and all I had to do was sit down and play everything I ever knew."

True to its title, the album contains performances on both 6- and 12-string acoustic guitars, some using a slide. Although Kottke has included vocals in other albums, this album is all instrumental – the reason being, as Kottke explains in the liner notes, his voice "sounds like geese farts on a muggy day."

All the tracks were written by Kottke except Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, Kottke's arrangement of the familiar Bach piece.

The album had a large influence on, and was an inspiration for, guitarist Michael Hedges, who would later tour with Kottke.

This album has been re-released as an SACD.

Album: Greenhouse by Leo Kottke (1972)
Format: Album

Artist Background: Born: September 11, 1945 - Athens, Georgia, US Education: St. Cloud State University Leo Kottke is an acoustic guitarist. He is known for a fingerpicking style that draws on influences from blues, jazz, and folk music, and for syncopated, polyphonic melodies. Part of the Athens, Georgia music scene.

Music Scene: Part of the Athens, Georgia music scene.

Tags: 1970s, Album

Additional Context: Available on Discogs marketplace


Album: Great Big Boy by Leo Kottke (1991)
Format: Album

Artist Background: Born: September 11, 1945 - Athens, Georgia, US Education: St. Cloud State University Leo Kottke is an acoustic guitarist. He is known for a fingerpicking style that draws on influences from blues, jazz, and folk music, and for syncopated, polyphonic melodies. Part of the Athens, Georgia music scene.

Music Scene: Part of the Athens, Georgia music scene.

Tags: 1990s, Album


Album: A Shout Toward Noon by Leo Kottke (1986)
Format: Album

Description: A Shout Toward Noon is an album by American guitarist Leo Kottke, released in 1986. 

A Shout Toward Noon is Kottke's first recording on the Private Music label after a three-year sabbatical, largely due to a difficult tendinitis injury in his hand. Due to the injury, Kottke left the thumb and finger picks that helped define his early style behind, and came back with a new sound. The album features somewhat heavier use of electronic synthesizers. Kottke also stated in a Billboard story, "I've been taking a break to see what would develop. I also finally learned to read music."

Prior to this release, Kottke composed and recorded the soundtrack for the 1985 Tri-Star Pictures film Little Treasure. He also composed and recorded the soundtrack for the 1986 film Fat Guy Goes Nutzoid.

Artist Background: Born: September 11, 1945 - Athens, Georgia, US Education: St. Cloud State University Leo Kottke is an acoustic guitarist. He is known for a fingerpicking style that draws on influences from blues, jazz, and folk music, and for syncopated, polyphonic melodies. Part of the Athens, Georgia music scene.

Music Scene: Part of the Athens, Georgia music scene.

Tags: 1980s, Album


A Shout Toward Noon is an album by American guitarist Leo Kottke, released in 1986. 

A Shout Toward Noon is Kottke's first recording on the Private Music label after a three-year sabbatical, largely due to a difficult tendinitis injury in his hand. Due to the injury, Kottke left the thumb and finger picks that helped define his early style behind, and came back with a new sound. The album features somewhat heavier use of electronic synthesizers. Kottke also stated in a Billboard story, "I've been taking a break to see what would develop. I also finally learned to read music."

Prior to this release, Kottke composed and recorded the soundtrack for the 1985 Tri-Star Pictures film Little Treasure. He also composed and recorded the soundtrack for the 1986 film Fat Guy Goes Nutzoid.

Album: Peculiaroso by Leo Kottke (1994)
Format: Album

Description: Peculiaroso is an album by American guitarist Leo Kottke, released in 1994.
History

Coming more than two years after the Great Big Boy album, where all tracks included vocal parts, Peculiaroso returned to Kottke's usual mix of vocal and instrumental selections. The album included several notable cover versions, including an instrumental take on the Sutherland Brothers' "Arms of Mary" and a version of Randall Hylton's "Room at the Top of the Stairs" which received some airplay on Adult Alternative radio.

The album was produced by singer-songwriter Rickie Lee Jones, who also provided backing vocals on several tracks. Kottke credited Jones with capturing a more spontaneous and relaxed feel on the recording than was typical of his own attempts.

Peculiaroso was re-released on CD as a "twofer" with Great Big Boy by Acadia (8182) on October 29, 2007.

Artist Background: Born: September 11, 1945 - Athens, Georgia, US Education: St. Cloud State University Leo Kottke is an acoustic guitarist. He is known for a fingerpicking style that draws on influences from blues, jazz, and folk music, and for syncopated, polyphonic melodies. Part of the Athens, Georgia music scene.

Music Scene: Part of the Athens, Georgia music scene.

Tags: 1990s, Album


Peculiaroso is an album by American guitarist Leo Kottke, released in 1994.
History

Coming more than two years after the Great Big Boy album, where all tracks included vocal parts, Peculiaroso returned to Kottke's usual mix of vocal and instrumental selections. The album included several notable cover versions, including an instrumental take on the Sutherland Brothers' "Arms of Mary" and a version of Randall Hylton's "Room at the Top of the Stairs" which received some airplay on Adult Alternative radio.

The album was produced by singer-songwriter Rickie Lee Jones, who also provided backing vocals on several tracks. Kottke credited Jones with capturing a more spontaneous and relaxed feel on the recording than was typical of his own attempts.

Peculiaroso was re-released on CD as a "twofer" with Great Big Boy by Acadia (8182) on October 29, 2007.

Album: Balance by Leo Kottke (1979)
Format: Album

Artist Background: Born: September 11, 1945 - Athens, Georgia, US Education: St. Cloud State University Leo Kottke is an acoustic guitarist. He is known for a fingerpicking style that draws on influences from blues, jazz, and folk music, and for syncopated, polyphonic melodies. Part of the Athens, Georgia music scene.

Music Scene: Part of the Athens, Georgia music scene.

Tags: 1970s, Album


Album: 6- and 12-String Guitar by Leo Kottke (1969)
Format: Album

Artist Background: Born: September 11, 1945 - Athens, Georgia, US Education: St. Cloud State University Leo Kottke is an acoustic guitarist. He is known for a fingerpicking style that draws on influences from blues, jazz, and folk music, and for syncopated, polyphonic melodies. Part of the Athens, Georgia music scene.

Music Scene: Part of the Athens, Georgia music scene.

Tags: 1960s, Album


Album: Chewing Pine by Leo Kottke (1975)
Format: Album

Artist Background: Born: September 11, 1945 - Athens, Georgia, US Education: St. Cloud State University Leo Kottke is an acoustic guitarist. He is known for a fingerpicking style that draws on influences from blues, jazz, and folk music, and for syncopated, polyphonic melodies. Part of the Athens, Georgia music scene.

Music Scene: Part of the Athens, Georgia music scene.

Tags: 1970s, Album


Album: Standing in My Shoes by Leo Kottke (1997)
Format: Album

Description: Standing In My Shoes is an album by American guitarist Leo Kottke, released in 1997. It is an eclectic mix of traditional and contemporary music which surprised a few of Kottke's long-time fans.

Kottke's cover version of Fleetwood Mac's "World Turning" appeared on "The Drew Carey Show". Chet Atkins guests on lead guitar on "Twice".

Artist Background: Born: September 11, 1945 - Athens, Georgia, US Education: St. Cloud State University Leo Kottke is an acoustic guitarist. He is known for a fingerpicking style that draws on influences from blues, jazz, and folk music, and for syncopated, polyphonic melodies. Part of the Athens, Georgia music scene.

Music Scene: Part of the Athens, Georgia music scene.

Tags: 1990s, Album


Standing In My Shoes is an album by American guitarist Leo Kottke, released in 1997. It is an eclectic mix of traditional and contemporary music which surprised a few of Kottke's long-time fans.

Kottke's cover version of Fleetwood Mac's "World Turning" appeared on "The Drew Carey Show". Chet Atkins guests on lead guitar on "Twice".

Leo Kottke

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