Leo Kottke

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Leo Kottke
Kottke at the Clearwater Festival, 2007
Background information
Born	(1945-09-11) September 11, 1945 (age 78) Athens, Georgia, U.S.
Genres	American folk, Americana, new acoustic, American primitive guitar
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instrument(s)	Vocals, guitar
Years active	1966–present
Labels	Capitol, Chrysalis, Private Music, Oblivion Records
Website	Official website

Leo Kottke (born September 11, 1945) is an American acoustic guitarist.^[1][2] He is known for a fingerpicking style that draws on blues, jazz, and folk music, and for syncopated, polyphonic melodies. He has overcome a series of personal obstacles, including partial loss of hearing and a nearly career-ending bout with tendon damage in his right hand, to emerge as a widely recognized master of his instrument. He resides in the Minneapolis area with his family.^[3]

Focusing primarily on instrumental composition and playing, Kottke also sings sporadically, in an unconventional yet expressive baritone described by himself as sounding like "geese farts on a muggy day".^[4] In concert, Kottke intersperses humorous and often bizarre monologues with vocal and instrumental selections from throughout his career, played solo on six and twelve string guitars.