Leo Kottke

Acoustic guitar legend Leo Kottke was born in Athens, Georgia, raised in 12 different states, and flirted with both violin and trombone before settling on the guitar. After his discharge from the Navy in 1964, Kottke relocated to the Twin Cities and became a fixture at the Scholar Coffeehouse, home to Bob Dylan and John Koerner, releasing his debut LP Twelve String Blues on the Scholar’s tiny Oblivion label. A deal with guitarist John Fahey’s Takoma label soon followed and led to the release of what has become known to fans around the world as “the Armadillo record.” Several celebrated albums and two Grammy nominations later, Kottke continues to delight audiences the world over with his dexterous finger-style playing and wry storytelling.