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• Credited with helping to introduce the steel-string guitar as a solo instrument, John Fahey was known for his finger picking and unique (often off key) guitar tunings. This form of playing has been coined American Primitive.

• Fast Facts

  1. Name: John Aloysius Fahey
  2. AKA: Blind Joe Death
  3. Born: February 28, 1939
  4. Died: February 22, 2001
  5. Genres: Blues and Bluegrass
  6. Origin: Takoma Park, Maryland
  7. Active: 1959-2001
  8. Albums: 44
  9. Labels: Takoma and Chrysalis Records

• Career

  John Fahey grew up playing Bluegrass music in Takoma Park, Maryland and recorded his first album, Blind Joe Death, right out of high school. Fahey joined the Takoma record label and released almost the entirety of his cannon with them. He also scouted other talent for the label who would fit into his unique style of playing. The new talent including George Winston and Leo Kottke.

• Notable Recordings

  • 1959: Blind Joe Death
  • 1965: The Transfiguration of Blind Joe Death
  • 1968: The Voice of the Turtle
  • 1982: Christmas Guitar Volume
  • 1985: Rain Forests, Oceans and Other Themes
  • 1983: Let Go
  • 1997: Womblife

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