Leo Kottke

Along with John Fahey and Robbie Basho, Leo Kottke was one of the most influential acoustic guitarists to emerge in the 1960s, his propulsive fingerstyle playing bringing a unique sound and virtuosic flourishes to the instrument. After delivering the 1972 gem 6- and 12-String Guitar, Kottke enjoyed a period of mainstream attention throughout the '70s. In the following decade, lingering hand injuries caused him to shift to a more nuanced classical-informed picking style. He's continued to veer between vocal, band-oriented releases and solo instrumental dates like 1999's One Guitar, No Vocals. In the latter part of his career, Kottke found inspiration in collaboration and recorded several albums as a duo with Phish's Mike Gordon.