Players have definite opinions on whether Martin Guitars are better than Taylor Guitars, and vice versa.  Here is my take on the subject.

Piedmont Blues finger-style guitarist Bill Sovitsky tells us when and how he started playing guitar, and why he chose Piedmont-style blues.

Heath J Hardin aka 'Olds Sleeper' and 'Jellyspine Jenkins' writes and records his songs on a Zoom H2 portable recorder.  He's the king of low-fi production.  His active 'I wonder what that would sound like' mind has conjured up 29+ album projects of mostly original compositions.  Join me for a fun conversation.

Acoustic musician and guitar collector Max Honn lost his battle with pancreatic cancer several days ago.  He was a wonderful man.  I'm a better person for having known him.  Here is my conversation with Max from several years ago.

Retired educator Guy Hofer grew up in Chicago listening to his father play fiddle for the Kenosha Cornhuskers.  His musical life began playing a ukulele with three broken strings.  A Gibson hollow body electric gave way to an Italian acoustic 6-string.  His retirement gift to himself was a Martin.  Guy talks about music, teaching French and Spanish, and throws in a good story about the Oscar Mayer jingle.

I discuss the different stages of recording 'Fredericktowne Christmas'... warts and all.  ;-)

Check out a preview of my new song 'Fine To Me', then listen to my friend Mitch Scott talk about his life of adventure - JFK 50 Mile Race, Hang Gliding, hip replacements and more....

The Hidden Poet (Steven Gellman) has just released his new album titled 'All You Need'.  It's his first all acoustic album, written during the first year of COVID.

Americana artist Dominica Knapp learned clawhammer banjo after seeing Abigail Washburn in concert.  She was smitten with the sound and asked for a banjo for Christmas.  The COVID shutdown allowed her the time to learn.

Mechanicsburg PA native Kevin Neidig is an excellent guitarist.  He sings really well also.  He is the 2023 Central Pennsylvania Music Awards 'Best Americana Artist', as well as one of the 2023 emerging artists at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival.   

Ralph Hertges is a retired therapist who dreamt of being a philosopher, but who didn't want to teach or make pizza.  In retirement, he has rediscovered his love of guitar doodling on his trusted 1970's Ovation Folklore guitar.

Biao Zou is an IT manager for a Buffalo (NY) based company.  He was stuck in Buffalo during COVID while his wife was stuck in China.  Having free evening and weekend time, he decided to improve his acoustic guitar skills.  Biao explains how COVID and a budget Orangewood Guitar lead him to be an Avian Guitar player/fan and ultimately the U.S. distributor for Avian Guitars.  Fascinating story ! 

I asked Tony Denikos to list his favorite original songs and write a little something about each.  Here is the list of his top 11, and why.

Maryland based singer-songwriter Tony Denikos' 2009 CD 'Already Gone' went to #2 on the Euro Americana Chart and #7 on the Freeform American Roots Chart .  Starting out as a bass player in his teens, Tony transitioned to playing bars and clubs with his trusty Ovation 6-string in the Norfolk VA area before returning to the Mid-Atlantic region.  He has left bar gigs behind for songwriter showcases and house concerts, trading his Ovation for a Gibson J-45.

Maryland based singer-songwriter David (Dave) Mott lost his battle with cancer on December 2, 2022.  Dave was a loyal family man, successful business owner, avid golfer and a regional performing singer-songwriter.  Dave's dream was to record an album of his original songs.  Please join me and listen to the songs of David (Dave) Mott.  Rest in Peace Dave.

Baltimore based Heather Aubrey Lloyd splits her time between her band ilyAIMY, her solo career, songwriting/recording, producing live-stream videos and doing the laundry.  And once in a while she gets invited to open for A-List performers like Gordon Lightfoot.  

The music community lost a terrific singer-songwriter performer in late November.  Pete Looney was one of most popular live performers at regional wineries, farm breweries, restaurant bars and distilleries.  He was also a wonderful open mic host, introducing many folks to the joys of live performance.  With his internal optimism, he continued to perform until shortly before he succumbed to cancer.  Pete will be missed.  

Ken Miller learned how to sing harmony in church choir, played trombone in high school and taught himself how to play guitar on an old nylon string guitar his wife inherited from an old boyfriend.

Maryland based duo Windon & Ricker were put together musically by the pastor at their church in 1984.  Describing themselves as ordinary guys who like to make music, Rick & Richey make music that is far from ordinary.  Their CD 'Ordinary Man', released in 2000, was started in Maryland and finished in Nashville.  It is incredibly good !  Meet Rick Windon and Richey Ricker.

Chris McLaughlin has a wonderful collection of traditional and exotic musical instruments, but his favorite is the Harmony Sovereign he acquired at a young age.  Like many of us, his first guitar was a Stella wall hanger, but his Harmony Sovereign began his love of acoustic guitar.

Chicago based singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, teacher and author Carey Anne Farrell talks about her musical history, her upcoming CD 'Someone Else's Wings', playing trombone in her marching band and what triggers her songwriting.

Maryland based songwriter Dave Weiner passed away August 15 (2022), five days shy of his 70th birthday.  I have often described Dave as a working man's songwriter, much like his hero John Prine.  Please join me as I reminisce and listen to Dave's songs from his CD 'Highway Song by D. L. Weiner'.

My best friend Rich Brachold and I met in college and began performing for coeds while the boys played basketball.  We had so much fun, we ditched our after college jobs to begin performing professionally on Cape Cod, Boston and Sugarloaf Ski Resort in Maine.  Rich and I reminisce about the beginning years of attracting girls with guitars and how we got to where we are today, still performing 50+ years later.  Special thanks to Rich for joining me.  

David Craver is a busy man.  He is a performing singer-songwriter, founder of the Open Mic Network (www.openmic.us) and The Swiss String Company (Royal Guitar Strings).  He is also the President of Amped Kids, an organization that gets musical instruments into the hands of foster kids, and two or three other things.

As a follow-up to my recent interview with Washington DC based songwriter/guitarist Mark Austin, here are the songs from his 2004 CD 'Cool Water'.  

Washington D.C. based guitarist/songwriter Mark Austin relates what led up to him opening for the incredible Janis Ian, how he writes his songs, what string brand he uses (and why), and what it was like growing up disliking piano lessons, and how his grandmother came to the rescue.

Nashville-based performing singer-songwriter Jeff Miller uses a looper pedal to create multi-tracked songs live on-stage.  Jeff discusses his equipment, how he uses it and his collaboration with Phil Keaggy.

Ed Haser began his guitar playing at the age of 14 on a cheap beginner guitar that is now history, but he still owns his first good guitar, a Harmony Sovereign jumbo that he bought for $60.  We discuss his journey from the Harmony to a Martin D35, a Martin D28 and to his current favorite, a PRS electro-acoustic.

Washington State based Carl Tosten is a member of the select group of contemporary acoustic guitar super players, adept at open tunings, percussion and tapping.  He is also a performing songwriter and a clinician for Yamaha Guitars and Elixir Strings.  He talks about his passion - acoustic guitars.

David Hanners spent his career as a Pulitzer Prize Winning journalist, but always kept a guitar handy.  David tells us about his journey from the Midwest to Texas, to Kuwait, England & Cyprus and how the journey helped him form his songwriting style.

Baltimore MD based finger-style guitar player Jimmy Stewart was given his first guitar at age six.  After transitioning from a Fender 6-string to an Alvarez-Yairi 9-string until it was stolen, Jimmy took a guitar around the world as a submarine navigator. Retiring after 22-years and getting a position at the Washington DC Sea Command, he decided to take guitar seriously.

Retired Army Colonel Dave 'Kawika' Fiely fell in love with Hawaii on his first tour to Oahu, the moment he stepped off the plane.  The music and culture of Hawaii introduced him to Hawaiian Slack Key guitar.  

Thurmont (MD) based acoustic performer Paul Penwell loved playing guitar and singing.  He was an active member of the local open mic acoustic music scene.  His performances, and those by his alter ego 'Xavier World', were a highlight whenever he performed.  We lost him on Sept 12, 2014 (cancer).  Listen to recollections from those who knew and loved him, plus four Paul Penwell originals recorded in the mid-1980's.

Based in the greater Washington DC area, Mike Elosh has been performing his original songs from a young age.  1998-2002 he traveled the East Coast performing in coffee houses and bars.  Today he sings his songs to whoever will listen.  

Jefferson MD singer-songwriter Harry Pritchett talks about the writing and recording of his album 'Strange Journey', his award-winning song 'Night Bird' and the writing/recording of new songs.

Maryland based singer-songwriter Doug Alan Wilcox introduces and discusses his new EP 'dancin' on thin air', and being a songwriter during COVID.

New Orleans native singer-songwriter Burke Ingraffia brings his jazz influenced pop to the greater Washington DC region.  Burke talks lyrics, guitar lessons, his musical style and humor and how he navigated the pandemic with help from music.

Maryland based acoustic duo Empty Ecstasy was formed back in high school.  A relationship that was forged with the help of a dream led to a marriage, children, and careers.  Eventually their love of music was rekindled and Empty Ecstasy was born.

Maryland based singer-songwriter Steven Gellman discusses the background leading up to his new CD 'Cold Harbor', a collection of songs from deep within.

Award-winning singer-songwriter and 'in-demand' singer Megan Leigh discussed recording in Nashville, her songwriting style and touring on-the-road with her duo partner Eli Lev.

ilyAIMY founding member Rob Hinkal is a musical genius !  Pyrotechnic guitar chops combined with a supernatural creative mind that splits atoms.  

Maryland based guitarist Dan Mack has performed at the Orkney Folk Festival in England.  He has been a composer, a band leader, a solo performer and a host of both live and online open mic's.  His main guitar is a beautiful Santa Cruz OM guitar, although he still owns his 1968 Martin D28.  He started his musical career on clarinet and a $15 guitar from Mexico.

This is Part 2 of my favorite Pandemic song releases by songwriters I've interviewed this past year.  In this show I highlight two songs from CD/Albums by Josh Gray, Dan Kenny, Joe Ginorio and Craig Cummings.

This is Part 1 of my favorite Pandemic song releases by songwriters I've interviewed this past year.  In this show I highlight two songs from CD/Albums by Damion Wolfe, Michelle Swan, Michael Kelly and John DuRant Jr. Stay tuned for Part 2 next week.

Bill Bromfield transitioned from solo to band to solo, back to bands, all the while learning how to be a recording engineer and producer.  His collectable Martin D12-20 (no truss rod) 12-string guitar was his go-to guitar for solo gigs.  His life & career has taken him from CT, DC, VA, Boston, NYC, Nashville and now Maryland. He followed in the footsteps of Bob Dylan, performing at the Bitter End (NYC).

Singer-songwriter Todd Coyle has been at the epicenter of Jefferson County WV music for 45 years.  He talks about creating music venues when none existed, pursuing musical comfort and his belief in organic recording.  Legal pads are his songwriting best friends.

Acoustic songwriter Dan Kenny tells us how he recorded his new CD 'Bright Against The Blue' (From The Dirt - Dan Kenny & Jeff Karn) remotely, working and recording via Cyberspace.  He also talks songwriting craftsmanship and his unique guitar style.

Not wanting to work construction, Mark Joy doggedly found his way into orchestral instrument repair before finding 'joy' in acoustic guitar construction.