Billy McLaughlin
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| Billy McLaughlin | |
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| Background information | |
| Genre(s) | Fingerstyle guitar, New Age |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 1991 - Present |
| Label(s) | Proton Discs, Narada |
| Associated acts | The Billy McLaughlin Group |
| Website | [1] |
Billy McLaughlin is a new age acoustic guitarist, composer and producer from Minnesota, United States.
McLaughlin is a five-time Minnesota Music Award winner with 11 CD releases and Billboard Top-Ten Chart history. He has recorded on the Narada label.
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[edit] Background
Billy McLaughlin, of Irish ancestry graduated with honors from the University of Southern California. McLaughlin now resides in his home state of Minnesota where he is raising his two boys.[1] In 2005 Billy announced via his website that he is suffering from focal dystonia, which severely limits his ability to play. He began teaching himself to play his distinctive hammering style "left handed", with the neck of the guitar toward his right shoulder. A documentary entitled "Rewired" is being made about this phase of his career. He returned to performing publicly in 2006 both solo and with his band. During his December 2006 concerts with Simple Gifts, the quartet he formed in 2005 to play Christmas music, he performed the hammering style left handed and more traditional strumming style right handed, using separate sets of guitars tuned for the manner in which he was playing. Also, McLaughlin released a new album, entitled "Into the Light", in early 2007. This album was recorded live and features some new compositions as well as old favorites like "Fingerdance" and "Helms Place".
[edit] Performance
McLaughlin has toured around the US since 1991, and also performs in Japan and across Europe.
The National Association for Campus Activities has awarded McLaughlin with three National Campus Entertainer of the Year Awards (Jazz) and a Hall of Fame Achievement Award.[2]
[edit] Discography
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- Into the Light (2007) Proton Discs
- Guitar Meditations II (2005) Soulfood Music
- A Simple Gift (2002) Proton Discs
- Acoustic Original: The Best of Billy McLaughlin (2001) Narada
- Out of Hand (1999) Narada
- Fingerdance (1996) Narada
- Stormseeker - The Best of Billy McLaughlin (1995) Proton Discs
- Wintersongs & Traditionals (1994) Proton Discs
- The Archery of Guitar (1993) Proton Discs
- Inhale Pink (1989) Proton Discs
- Shepherds & Angels
[edit] With The Billy McLaughlin Group
- Finally! - Live (2002) Proton Discs
- The Bow and the Arrow (1995)
- Exhale Blue (1989)
