Biography
Leo Kottke, born on September 11, 1945, in Athens, Georgia, experienced a nomadic childhood, moving across 12 different states with his family, which exposed him to diverse musical influences. In Muskogee, Oklahoma, he was particularly drawn to folk and delta blues, especially Mississippi John Hurt, initially learning trombone and violin before switching to guitar at age 11 and developing his distinctive fingerpicking style blending blues, jazz, and folk elements with syncopated, polyphonic melodies. After a military stint, he settled in Minneapolis in 1966, becoming a regular at the Scholar Coffeehouse, where he recorded his debut 12-String Blues in 1969 on Oblivion Records, followed by the seminal 6- and 12-String Guitar (the 'Armadillo album') on John Fahey's Takoma label.
Kottke's career gained momentum in the early 1970s with Capitol Records, releasing albums like Mudlark (1971), Greenhouse (1972), My Feet Are Smiling (1973), Ice Water (1973), and Chewing Pine (1975), which charted in the U.S. top 30 and built an international following through folk festivals. Despite challenges including partial hearing loss and right-hand tendon damage that nearly ended his career, he persisted, moving to Chrysalis in 1976 and later releasing annual albums from 1989-1991 such as My Father's Face, That's What, and Great Big Boy featuring Lyle Lovett and Margo Timmins, followed by Peculiaroso (1993) with Rickie Lee Jones and solo works like One Guitar, No Vocals (1999) and Try and Stop Me (2004).
In his later career, Kottke collaborated extensively with Phish bassist Mike Gordon on Clone (2002), Sixty Six Steps (2005), and Noon (2020), touring in support, while maintaining his reputation as a master of acoustic guitar with a five-decade legacy of innovation in fingerstyle playing. He has toured with virtuosos like Paco de Lucia and Al Di Meola, and his Ice Fields suite for guitar and orchestra marks a milestone in guitar concertos.
Fun Facts
- Kottke was raised in 12 different states due to his family's frequent moves, absorbing diverse musical influences.
- He overcame partial hearing loss and a nearly career-ending tendon injury in his right hand to become a guitar master.
- His debut 12-String Blues was recorded on a Viking quarter-inch tape recorder at the Scholar Coffeehouse.
- Kottke earned a degree in guitar performance and composed Ice Fields, a milestone suite for amplified steel-string guitar and chamber orchestra.
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Mississippi John Hurt - major stylistic influence from folk and delta blues music during youth (N/A) [1950s-1960s]
- John Fahey - label owner who signed him to Takoma Records after receiving demo tapes; seen as a 'father' figure passing on fingerstyle tradition (6- and 12-String Guitar (1969)) [1968-early 1970s]
Key Collaborators
- Mike Gordon - frequent collaborator with Phish bassist on multiple albums and tours (Clone (2002), Sixty Six Steps (2005), Noon (2020)) [2002-2020]
- Rickie Lee Jones - produced his album (Peculiaroso (1993))
- Lyle Lovett - guest appearance on album (Great Big Boy (1991))
- Margo Timmins - guest appearance on album (Great Big Boy (1991))
- Paco de Lucia - touring partner (flamenco guitarist) (N/A) [unspecified]
- Al Di Meola - touring partner (jazz guitarist) (N/A) [unspecified]
Artists Influenced
- Thousands of guitarists (general) - inspired generations with innovative fingerstyle techniques, speed, grooves, and polyphony; entire schools/programs study his work (N/A) [1970s-present]
Connection Network
External Links
Tags: #american-primitivism, #contemporary-folk, #folk
References
Heard on WWOZ
Leo Kottke has been played 24 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.