Andy McKee (born April 4, 1979, in Topeka, Kansas) is an American fingersty… Read Full Bio ↴Andy McKee (born April 4, 1979, in Topeka, Kansas) is an American fingerstyle guitarist. A live performance he gave of his signature song "Drifting" became a Featured Video on YouTube in late 2006 and since then has achieving over 40 million views, making it one of YouTube's highest-rated music clips.
McKee is lauded by many critics and guitarists as the most promising fingerstyle guitarist to arrive on the scene in some time. Born in 1979 in Topeka, Kansas, Andy began playing guitar on his 13th birthday when his father bought him a classical guitar. It was not long after that Andy got his first electric guitar and began emulating some of his favorite music of the time; Metallica, Eric Johnson, Joe Satriani, and Dream Theater.
Andy's 16th birthday was a pivotal moment in his life. A guitar playing cousin took him to an acoustic workshop by a guitarist named Preston Reed. Shortly after, Andy discovered the music of three other great acoustic guitarists; Michael Hedges, Don Ross, and Billy McLaughlin, all whom he considers as his primary musical influences today.
Composing was something Andy caught on to a little bit later and started writing when he was 20 years old. Andy released his first CD titled "Nocturne" in 2001 and competed in the prestigious National Fingerstyle Guitar Competition in Winfield, Kansas. He placed 3rd, making him the youngest competitor to ever place in the top 3.
In 2003, Andy began playing internationally beginning with a tour in Taiwan with renowned guitarists Jacques Stotzem, Isato Nakagawa, and Masaaki Kishibe. He also placed 1st in the Miscellaneous Acoustic Instrument contest in his home state of Kansas with the harpguitar. In 2004, Andy Released his 2nd CD titled "Dreamcatcher". With the title track, Andy won a competition to have a chance to perform on stage with bassist Michael Manring. Andy also won 1st place in the Kansas Fingerstyle Guitar Competition and 2nd in the Canadian Fingerstyle Guitar Competition.
In the time since, Andy has performed in various parts of the world including Japan, China, Belgium, England, Canada, and will begin performing even more in the States now. In late 2005 Andy joined Candyrat record label alongside one of his biggest inspirations, Don Ross.
From Andy, "Most of all, I hope my music communicates something to the listener. I don't want to just play music with a lot of skill. I hope listening to my music is an emotional experience!"
Related Links
Official website
Official Myspace
Official Facebook
McKee is lauded by many critics and guitarists as the most promising fingerstyle guitarist to arrive on the scene in some time. Born in 1979 in Topeka, Kansas, Andy began playing guitar on his 13th birthday when his father bought him a classical guitar. It was not long after that Andy got his first electric guitar and began emulating some of his favorite music of the time; Metallica, Eric Johnson, Joe Satriani, and Dream Theater.
Andy's 16th birthday was a pivotal moment in his life. A guitar playing cousin took him to an acoustic workshop by a guitarist named Preston Reed. Shortly after, Andy discovered the music of three other great acoustic guitarists; Michael Hedges, Don Ross, and Billy McLaughlin, all whom he considers as his primary musical influences today.
Composing was something Andy caught on to a little bit later and started writing when he was 20 years old. Andy released his first CD titled "Nocturne" in 2001 and competed in the prestigious National Fingerstyle Guitar Competition in Winfield, Kansas. He placed 3rd, making him the youngest competitor to ever place in the top 3.
In 2003, Andy began playing internationally beginning with a tour in Taiwan with renowned guitarists Jacques Stotzem, Isato Nakagawa, and Masaaki Kishibe. He also placed 1st in the Miscellaneous Acoustic Instrument contest in his home state of Kansas with the harpguitar. In 2004, Andy Released his 2nd CD titled "Dreamcatcher". With the title track, Andy won a competition to have a chance to perform on stage with bassist Michael Manring. Andy also won 1st place in the Kansas Fingerstyle Guitar Competition and 2nd in the Canadian Fingerstyle Guitar Competition.
In the time since, Andy has performed in various parts of the world including Japan, China, Belgium, England, Canada, and will begin performing even more in the States now. In late 2005 Andy joined Candyrat record label alongside one of his biggest inspirations, Don Ross.
From Andy, "Most of all, I hope my music communicates something to the listener. I don't want to just play music with a lot of skill. I hope listening to my music is an emotional experience!"
Related Links
Official website
Official Myspace
Official Facebook
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The Fweepo
I think this man is the best guitar player I have ever heard. Everyone of his songs are very enjoyable.
Paulo Ricardo Domingues
Really the best Andy McKee!
telboy1966manu
Just when I think it's all been done before and there's no magic left in the world, along comes someone like Andy who lifts my soul with his wonderful, timeless music. Thank you Andy, you're a bona fide genius.
eromusofwom
What makes Andy great is not just the music he plays, or the fact that he wrote it, but also the depth, clarity, and feeling that comes out as well.
Andy McKee
To those arguing about my "songwriting". I do not intend to be The Beatles, Neil Young, or Cheap Trick. If you feel these are not complete pieces of music without vocals, that is fine. I will continue to do what my intuition tells me. Feel free to listen to The Beatles, Cheap Trick, or Neil Young. Andy
-tikaal-
<3
Bearz G.
10 years later. This specific video has opened up my ears to listen more and enjoy the art and passion of acoustic style music. Especially the talent behind it. You and Antoine Dufour were the only sounds that helped me sleep when I was going through a tough time in high school. Cheers.
Hypnautica
I'm a decade late here, but who would say these things about such beautifully evocative and definitively complete pieces of music? Your art is fascinatingly beautiful, thank you for it.
Ricardo Lopez
@Bearz G. Agreed. I truly believe Andy and Antoine to be some of the only musicians in our age that compose truly resplendent music.
Michael Scherer
Andy, you are amazing and so is this song. I feel like only a musician would truly understand what an amazing feat it is to evoke the mental imagery of an asian city with the use of only a solo instrument. You are a master. And the journey to mastery is never finished. It is eternal. Thank you for this beautiful piece. Just keep doing you, play with your heart and follow that intuition and music will manifest itself. I am forever grateful that you had the courage to do so. You changed my life.