John Hamlin

Artist Information

Biography

John Hamlin's latest CD " Acoustic Fusion" fully demonstrates his unique combination of talents as composer and master of the steel-string guitar. His heartfelt Blues/Alternative Bluegrass oriented approach to the guitar, along with his classically inspired attention to tone, dynamics and subtle nuance, provides for a CD that is filled with track after track of music that demands the listener's attention. The compositions on "Acoustic Fusion" are strong and confident, the guitar playing is rich with Blues/ Alternative Bluegrass textures.
In listening to his superb recording, or experiencing the magic of a live concert, John Hamlin succeeds in merging styles of instrumental guitar music not normally found in the same room together. Blues/Alternative Bluegrass and Classical styles seem to be fully represented within John's playing and compositions. While devoted to the emotive side of the instrument, John demonstrates considerable technical prowess. His musical vision is a blend of beauty with technique, to bring forth the many voices that the steel string guitar can manifest.
Today, John performs, arranges, publishes, distributes and markets his music full time though out the World. Besides entertaining in his home states of Kansas and Oklahoma. John spends most of his time touring the United States where he has been received with many a warm audiences and Critically acclaimed performances for Governer Bill Graves of Kansas and Frank Keating of Oklahoma, State Senators, Major Corporations, Art and Music Festivals.
John has a broad-ranging command of the instrument that includes: Spanish, Jazz, Blues, Pop and Original music in addition to his traditional Classical Guitar Repertoire. His academic training and work experience, have given John the musical and personal background to play his music in any situation, and his performance reflects this wide-range experience.
John Lives in Independence Kansas, with his wife and thirteen-year-old son. Currently John serves on the Music Faculty at Independence Community College since August 2000, teaching Classical and Spanish guitar. John also operates his own private guitar studio and has studied the guitar under the direction of Maestro David Smart, Nona Boyd, guitar extrodinaire Edgar Cruz (Mentor). Also having the pleasure to study with Maestro Hector Garcia and Mike Millard, where John acquired his Classical Guitar skills at Oklahoma City University. In 2007 John was excepted by the Kansas Arts Commission to be apart of the Kansas Arts Touring Program.

Contact:
John Hamlin
121 W. Myrtle
Independence, KS 67301
john-hamlin@sbcglobal.net

Instrumentation

John Hamlin (Kansas Arts Commissioned Artist) - Solo Fingerstyle Guitarist
*Spanish * Jazz * Pop * Classical*
and *Originals*

Discography

1999 Solo Impressions
2001 A Classical Christmas
2003 Silk & Steel
2005 Addicted
2007 Acoustic Fusion

Official Website

http://www.myspace.com/johnhamlinsologuitarist

Audio

• Blues in E
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• Malaguena
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• Montgomery County Line
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• My Grandad's Mandolin
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Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Persistance pays off in local guitarist's new CD. [+ Show ]
  

  By: Laura Agee Staff Writer The release of his second CD, "A Classical Christmas," came jus...By: Laura Agee
  Staff Writer
  
  The release of his second CD, "A Classical Christmas," came just in time to be stuffed into Christmas Stockings. And for John Hamlin it was a chance to see just how determination, drive and persistence have paid off.
  Ever since he was five years old, is when he began dragging his mothers guitar around the house and strumming it, Hamlin knew what he wanted to do in life. Already influenced by his mothers career as a professional artist, his love of music and desire to be a musician was natural for him.
  "By the time I was eight, I was taking lessons," Hamlin said. "And that was when I really got intersted (in Music)."
  Throughout high school Hamlin played in various rock bands, often playing gigs at local restuarants. But that was before he heard Edgar Cruz. "I saw Edgar play in Oklahoma City in 1983 when I was Playing guitar for rock bands in Yukon, (Okla)."
  Liking Cruz's style and wanting to improve his playing, Hamlin boldly went up and asked Cruz after his performance if he was giving lessons and if he would take him as a student. Cruz did give lessons and, yes, he would take Hamlin.
  "That is when things changed," Hamlin said, "Before I was just trying to get bands together, looking for members. Then things changed, I went solo and went from playing with a group to just myself playing."
  Cruz became Hamlins mentor and Hamlin continued to study under Cruz and learn about the Spanish influence in guitar music.
  Hamlin became serious and went on to graduate as Edgar Cruz's top student beating a roster of 200 other students for the honor. He was Cruz's only student who became a professional musician.
  "He told me that I was the only student he had that went on to play professionally," Hamlin said.
  "My first CD, "Solo Impressions," I was so nervous I sat in the studio for my first session and couldn't play. I was glued to the stool. I was so nervous about making a mistake. "A Classical Christmas," I was relaxed and went in and recorded the CD in three 8-hour sessions in July of 2001. "Solo Impressions" (with Five original compositions) took me four months to record," Hamlin said.
  With Christmas just around the corner and performances to give, any future plans are on hold until after the holidays. But that gives Hamlin time to do what he likes best: Play Live.

• John's first Cd [+ Show ]
  

  "A fine painted masterpiece with the strings of your guitar." David Smith (Artist - Denv... "A fine painted masterpiece with the strings of your guitar."
  David Smith (Artist - Denver, CO)

• John's second CD "A Classical Christmas" was released October 2001 [+ Show ]
  

  "Your guitar playing and arrangements totally put me in the Christmas Spirit. Thanks You John ... "Your guitar playing and arrangements totally put me in the Christmas Spirit. Thanks You John for a job weel done."
  Steven Taylor (Solo Guitarist - Dallas, TX)

• No Pied Piper, Hamlin Brings great guitar playing. [+ Show ]
  

  By: Lori K. Martin Staff Writer, Coffeyville Journal April 4th, 1999 John Hamlin creates ...By: Lori K. Martin
  Staff Writer, Coffeyville Journal
  April 4th, 1999
  
  John Hamlin creates his masterpieces with music.
  Hamlin, currently living in Independence, and who plays solo guitar, will perform his art from noon to 1 p.m. Friday at the New Beginning Festival.
  Hamlin explains the difference between the typical guitar playing and solo guitar.
  "It's different because I play the entire arrangement." Hamlin said that while ordinarily a guitarist will play bass guitar, rhythm guitar, the solo guitarist takes on the full arrangement.
  Hamlin refers to his style of guitar playing as "fingerstyle."
  The finger-style type of playing guitar is related to Spanish music, But Hamlin plays all types of music, including jazz, pop, and flamenco.
  Hamlin's career took off within the last seven years while he was still living in Oklahoma City area. During that time, he played for different businesses, including a catering company and for private parties.
  Since returning to Independence, Hamlin has worked for himself as a guitar teacher in his own private studio. And recently, he has played several times at the Coffeyville Country Club and at the Woods restaurant in Independence, KS for two years every wednesday night.
  He is currently making a recording at a private studio in Coffeyville.
  Hamlin said he believed the name of the recording would be "Solo Impressions'" and would be available for sale at his performances, Musical Overtures and the Hallmark store both downtown Independence.
  Hamlin plans to be in the area for awhile, but has dreams of someday going to Santa Fe, N.M., where the finger-style guitar playing has become very popular.

• Festival atmosphere to be lively, colorful thanks to Kansas musicians. [+ Show ]
  

  By; Jerry Norton Newton, KS Independence's own John Hamlin returns to the Kansas Sampler Fe...By; Jerry Norton
  Newton, KS
  
  Independence's own John Hamlin returns to the Kansas Sampler Festival as one of the region's foremost guitar soloist.
  Hamlin is a student of classical guitar, and studied under the direction of Edgar Cruz the distinguished solo guitarist at the Edgar Cruz School of Guitar in Nichols Hills, Okla. He graduated there with the schools highest honors, and he has been perfecting his unique solo fingerstyle of guitar playing.
  

• John's third CD Silk and Steel was released in April 2003 [+ Show ]
  

  "I loved your musical passion. It's pure creativity that's truly from your heart..... Congratulation..."I loved your musical passion. It's pure creativity that's truly from your heart..... Congratulations
  Matt Johnson

• Musician to perform at this years 61st Neewollah Queen's Coronation [+ Show ]
  

  By; Laura Agee Staff Writer Oct. 19, 2001 This year's Queen's Coronation musician will be ...By; Laura Agee
  Staff Writer
  Oct. 19, 2001
  
  This year's Queen's Coronation musician will be John Hamlin, of Independence, KS. Currently, Hamlin performs, arranges, publishes, distibutes and markets his music thoughout the United States. His first Cd titled "Solo Impressions," was released in February 2001. Featuring totally romantic Spanish, Jazz and Classical. His new release, "A Classical Christmas," which features traditional Christmas favorites, will be available this month.
  If you like Spanish, Jazz, Pop and Christmas music. Both CD's are a must have for any music collection.
  Hamlin will be performing live at the Queen Neelah Coronation. Tuesday, Oct. 23, at the Memorial Hall 6:30pm. An awsome touch of class by our own Classical Guitarist John Hamlin.

• Kansas Senator Derek Schmidt 15th District [+ Show ]
  

  Dear John: Thank you for providing the wonderful music for my Fifteenth District Senate Barb...Dear John:
  
  Thank you for providing the wonderful music for my Fifteenth District Senate Barbecue last Monday. I know we had some logistical challenges because of the weather, but you adapted easily and, as always, sounded terrific. Governor Bill Graves also enjoyed your performance, and asked me to tell you. He loves your CD's, thank you for the good music.
  
  I'm grateful for your support.
  
  Best Wishes
  Derek Schmidt
  Kansas State Senator

Setlist

Concert And Festival Set List:
All On Solo Guitar

"Ladies and Gentlemen; Let me take you on a musical journey thoughout several different countries around the World."

1 hr. 30 min. Full Concert time.

El Toro (Trad. Spanish)
Prelude in Am (Trad. Spanish)
Lagrima (Trad. Spanish)

Tarantella (Trad. Italian)

Greensleeves (Trad.U.K)
Yesterday (Beatles, U.K.)
Imagine (John Lennon, U.K.)
Angie (Rolling Stones, U.K.)
Tears in Heaven (Eric Clapton, U.K.)
Stairway to Heaven (Led Zepplin, U.K.)

Dust in the Wind (Kansas, U.S.A.)
Blues in E (Original Acoustic Blues U.S.A)
Montgomery County Line (Original Blues U.S.A)
54 East (Original Acoustic Blues U.S.A.)
Highway to Paradise (Original Jazz, U.S.A.)
Hotel California (Eagles U.S.A.)
Classical Gas (Mason Williams, U.S.A.)

La Zanduga (Mexico)

Girl From Ipenema (South America)

White Sands (Original Spanish)
Romanza (Trad. Spanish)
Maleguena (Trad. Spanish)



Full Set List
Weddings, Private Parties any Special Occasion.
Jazz, Spanish, Covers, Flamenco, Classical, Originals
3 hrs. 30 min.

Walkin' in Jazz (Original)
White Sands (Original)
Voyage (Original)
Over the Rainbow
We've Only Just Begun
Highway to Paradise (Original)
Snake Charmer (Original)
Girl from Ipenema
Moonlight (Original)
Mischief (Original)
Strollin' (Original)
Thinking of You (Original)
Comfort (Original)
Georgia On My Mind
Yesterday
M*A*S*H*
Happy Together
Knockin on Heavens Door
La Zanduga
Habanera
El Toro
Meditearean (Original)
Fur Elise
Tarantella
Lagrima
Prelude in Em
Classical Gas
Prelude in Am
Greensleeves
Nights in White Satin
Imagine
Dust in the Wind
Angie
Tears in Heaven
Hotel California
Moondance
Stairway to Heaven
Blues in E (Original)
Romanza
Maleguena
Montgomery County Line (Original)
54 East (Original)

Basic Requirements

Calendar