Mike Dowling
Mike Dowling is an American roots music guitarist and songwriter who is best known for his solo arrangements on the Grammy Award-winning composition CD Henry Mancini: Pink Guitar.[1][2][3] In 2005, Dowling was ranked as one of the twelve best fingerstyle guitarists in the United States.[4]
Early life
Dowling was raised in Wisconsin[3] before moving to Nashville. He learned about song structures while taking piano lessons when he was ten years old.[5] Dowling got his first guitar when he was twelve years old.
Career
After dropping out of college,[5] Dowling was hired by fiddler Vassar Clements to play in his touring band, and his playing can be heard on Clement's Grammy-nominated Nashville Jam album.[6][5] He performed and recorded with jazz violin pioneer Joe Venuti and mandolinist Jethro Burns.[3] In 1991, Dowling released his first solo album, Beats Workin' , featuring Clements.[7] Dowling won a Grammy Award for his solo work on Henry Mancini: Pink Guitar. He designed the El Trovador guitar for National Reso-Phonic Guitars.[8] Dowling was a guest on A Prairie Home Companion.[9]
Songwriting
While in Nashville, Dowling has written songs that were recorded by artists such as Emmylou Harris, Kathy Mattea, Claire Lynch, Del McCoury and George Fox. A recording of his song Backtrackin' by The Nashville Bluegrass Band[7] was nominated Bluegrass Song of the Year in 1994 by the International Bluegrass Music Association.[7]
Personal life
Dowling lives in Wyoming with his wife Jan.[7][10] Dowling spends some of his free time as a guitar instructor where he also releases material on Homespun Tapes.[11]
Discography
- Swamp Dog Blues (Strictly Country, 1995)
- Beats Workin' (Strictly Country, 1996)
- Live at the Cafe Carpe with Randy Sabien (Fiddlehead Music, 1996)
- String Crazy (Wind River Guitar, 2000)
- Two of a Kind with Pat Donohue (Solid Air, 2001)
- Bottomlands (Solid Air, 2001)
- Blue Fandango (Wind River Guitar, 2005)
- Henry Mancini: Pink Guitar (2004)
- The Blues Ain't News (Wind River Guitar, 2008)
- Eclectricity with David Lange (Wind River Guitar, 2011)
- Tracks (Wind River Guitar, 2015)
References
- ^ "Complete List of the 47th Annual Grammy Award Winners". Christian Broadcasting Network. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
- ^ "Pink Guitar". Accenton Music. Accenton Music. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
- ^ a b c "Guitarist Dowling debuts in Woodstock". Daily Freeman. Daily Freeman. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
- ^ "ADVANCED FINGERSTYLE WORKSHOP with Teja Gerken". Peghead Nation. Peghead Nation. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
- ^ a b c "Fingerstyle guitarist Mike Dowling plays Pacifica". Mercury News. Mercury News. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
- ^ "Vassar Clements". Grammys. Grammys. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
- ^ a b c d "Interview With Mike Dowling". Acoustic Finger Style. Acoustic Finger Style. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
- ^ "Dowling trio stages Winship, Round". Aaron Davis Music. Aaron Davis Music. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
- ^ "Putting on the Style". Prairie Home Companion. Prairie Home Companion. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
- ^ "Friends organize fundraiser for Jackson musician with Parkinson's". Star Tribune. Star Tribune. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
- ^ Dowling, Mike (2004). Acoustic Masterclass Series: Mike Dowling -- Uptown Blues (American Roots Guitar) (Pap/Com ed.). Alfred Music. ISBN 0-7579-1530-2.