 Greg Koch
Greg Koch has been called a "twisted guitar genius" to " an eclectic virtuoso" by guitar pundits but in fact these are just descriptions of someone who loves what he does has found a way to make a living doing it on his own terms by being able to sound like just about anyone to just about no one, all delivered with the irreverence of a "plectrum-wielding skullduggarist" (to use his verbiage).
As a result he has successfully moved beyond his local hero status in the upper Midwest to becoming an internationally renowned recording artist and guitarist, session player heard on everything from car commercials to Nick Jr. soundtracks, author of some of the top-selling guitar instructional books and dvd's in the world, magazine columnist in publications around the globe, radio personality, comedian and one of the most in-demand guitar clinicians in the world for Fender® Musical Instruments and Hal Leonard Publishing.
From Cardboard Guitar Hero to Strat Slingin', Coffee Guzzling Fiend
His fascination with the guitar started in the third grade, when Greg started making Fender Stratocasters® cut out of cardboard, using his sister’s sewing machine pedal as a makeshift wah-wah. He would pretend to rock along to Jimi Hendrix, whose music had become his obsession. When he finally got his first guitar at age twelve after failing to duplicate Mr. Hendrix on the cello, Greg quickly advanced by watching, listening and copying what he heard on records. Early on, his own hybrid style of blues, rock and country began to take form and was able to develop further by playing in everything from show bands to Elvis impersonators, polka groups and blues-rock ensembles of his own creation.
After studying jazz guitar for four years at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Greg’s musical maturity led to national attention as a fiery instrumentalist, winning 1st Prize in the Bluesbreaker Guitar Showdown judged by legendary bluesman, Buddy Guy, in 1989.
He started his own band, Greg Koch and the Tone Controls in his hometown of Milwaukee, and soon found himself in one of the most renowned groups of the region. The band went on to win five Wisconsin Area Music Awards for Blues Artist of the Year (‘93, ‘95 through ‘98), and Greg personally took in seven as Guitarist of the Year (‘92, ‘94 through ‘99). Putting out five independent releases, Greg and the band had acquired an increasingly growing base of fans who craved music “outside of the box”.
Read more about Greg Koch at his website...Greg Koch's Guitarmageddon
|
E-Mail
Print
