Andy McKee
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- This article is about the guitarist Andy McKee. For the submarine engineer, see Andrew McKee.
Andy McKee (1979, in Topeka, Kansas) is an American acoustic guitarist. He is currently signed to CANdYRAT Records and has a large online fanbase - a live clip of him performing his song "Drifting" was a Featured Video on YouTube, achieving over 3,000,000 views since November of 2006. The clip peaked as the highest rated music video on YouTube (English or otherwise), as well as the 4th highest rated clip on the entire site.
Contents |
[edit] Life and career
McKee played his first guitar, an Aria nylon string bought by his father, at age 13. Initially underwhelmed by his guitar lessons, McKee's cousin inspired him to continue learning, and he earned his GED at age 16 in order to focus on guitar full-time. After seeing a local guitarist named Preston Reed perform live at a clinic, McKee bought an instructional videotape from him and began to learn more complex guitar techniques. For the next five years, he continued to improve while taking inspiration from guitarists such as Michael Hedges, Don Ross, Billy McLaughlin, Pat Kirtley, and Tommy Emmanuel.
In 2001, McKee released his first album, entitled Nocturne. That same year, he placed third at the National Fingerstyle Guitar Competition in Winfield, Kansas, the youngest competitor to ever place so highly.[1] In 2003, McKee toured in Taiwan with Jacques Stotzem, Isato Nakagawa, and Masaaki Kishibe, and earned first place in Kansas' Miscellaneous Acoustic Instrument contest with a Ron Spillers harpguitar he purchased from Steven Bennett in 2002. [2] The instrument can be seen in a number of his songs, such as "Into The Ocean" and "Gates to Gnomeria". McKee released his sophomore album, Dreamcatcher, in 2004, using the title track to win the opportunity to perform with bassist Michael Manring, whom he has toured with multiple times since. Additionally, he placed first in the Kansas Fingerstyle Guitar Competition and second in the Canadian Fingerstyle Guitar Competiton.
His most recent CD, Art of Motion, was released on CANdYRAT Records in 2005 and has earned considerable praise from established acoustic guitarists such as Don Ross, whom McKee is currently on the same label with and has noted as one of his favorite artists.
[edit] YouTube fame and beyond
Self-described as "just this guy from Topeka, Kansas who kind of blew up on the Internet about a week before Christmas," McKee became an online sensation after videos of his performances were posted to YouTube by his record label. The video for "Drifting" was massively upvoted by users at Digg, spreading McKee's fame even further.[3] Since then he has appeared by invitation on Woodsongs as well as Last Call with Carson Daly, and his online store has completely sold out of his various guitar tablature books.
[edit] Influences
McKee's influences include, but are not limited to: Michael Hedges, Don Ross, Preston Reed, Billy McLaughlin, Björk, Eric Johnson, Imogen Heap, Metallica, Joe Satriani, Iron Maiden, Pantera, Steve Erquiaga, Vince Di Cola, Toto, Peter Gabriel, King Crimson, Primus, Neil Young, SRV, and Dream Theater.[4][5]
[edit] Discography
| Cover Art | Album Title | Year |
|---|---|---|
 |
Nocturne | 2001 |
 |
Dreamcatcher | 2004 |
 |
Art of Motion | 2005 |
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.wvfest.com/contests/winner.html?winnerid=372
- ^ http://www.andymckee.com/gear.htm
- ^ Digg - Amazing finger style guitarist Andy Mckee proves why you suck
- ^ http://andymckee.jconserv.net/viewtopic.php?t=2
- ^ http://www.andymckee.com/bio.htm
