PEPPINO D'AGOSTINO

A young Sicilian artist left Italy over 37 years ago, dreaming of “playing with the greatest guitarists”. Peppino has achieved his dream and he’s now firmly planted in the “who’s who” of the guitar world.

Peppino D’Agostino emerged on the acoustic guitar scene in the early 80’s as a leading member of the second wave of the great fingerstylists that helped redefine the instrument in the ’90s. His remarkable technique, penchant for open tunings, and percussive effects are the basis of his unique compositional style, inspiring musicians and audiences alike for decades. Add to that his natural warmth, playfulness, and broad musical tastes, and you have the recipe for what he calls “minestrone music.” His virtuosity and emotional charge have also significantly influenced the younger generation of fingerstyle guitarists. D’Agostino continues to evolve and grow in ways that would have been hard to predict when he first showcased his melodic yet emotionally intense style on the recordings Acoustic Spirit, Close to the Heart, and Every Step of the Way, which was named one of the top three acoustic guitar albums of all time by Acoustic Guitar magazine readers.

D’Agostino has performed in more than 35 countries, at prestigious international festivals, and has played in some of the world’s most important theaters. He has shared the stage with Tommy Emmanuel, Leo Kottke, Laurindo Almeida, Sergio Assad, Larry Carlton, and Eric Johnson, to name a few. His solo recordings include high-quality labels such as Favored Nations, Mesa / Bluemoon, and Acoustic Music Records. Recognized as “the guitarist’s guitarist” by Acoustic Guitar magazine and described as “a giant of the acoustic guitar” by the San Diego Reader, D’Agostino was voted Best Acoustic Guitarist by readers of Guitar Player magazine. Peppino has collaborated and recorded with the classical guitarist David Tanenbaum (chair of the classical guitar at the Conservatory of San Francisco), Jeff Campitelli (considered one of the 100 greatest drummers of all time by Rolling Stone magazine), the World Guitar Ensemble, and the Paraguayan harpist and violinist Carlos Reyes, among many others. D’Agostino’s composition “Stammi Vicino,” written with electric guitarist Stef Burns and Italian rock star Vasco Rossi, reached number one on the iTunes rock charts in Italy.

D’Agostino’s simultaneous immersion in the classical guitar and rock worlds has culminated in his most recent solo recording, CONNEXION, a mix of sophisticated yet melodic compositions that are technically complex and released by A-TRAIN ENTERTAINMENT. Says Peppino, “The first tune on the album entitled 'High Plains Guitarra' will transport the listener to the unforgettable era of the Western movie of the 60's and the work of the brilliant film composer Ennio Morricone. 'Dancing with Shadows' was inspired by the Doo Wop genre of the 40s and the ghosts of the old ballrooms that once were in Torino, Italy. 'Head Case' is pure high-energy improvisation inspired by the unpredictable Laws of Chaos. 'Buster' was written for the late great Musician and Guitarist Buster B. Jones. 'Mara's Sleeping Song' is my rendition of a beautiful piece written by the fantastic Mandolin virtuoso Caterina Lichtenberg. I'm blessed to have Stef Burns doubling the beautiful melody and improvising masterfully over it. 'Mexican Sunrises' is about dreaming of laying beneath a beautiful sunset in Baja California, Mexico. 'Liam's Song' is dedicated to little Liam, one of my best friends. Stammi Vicino was written together with the legendary Rock Star Vasco Rossi and the inimitable electric guitar genius Stef Burns. 'Jenny's Goodbyes' is dedicated to Jenny, a wonderful woman that left us too early. 'Beauty in the Abyss' is about dreaming of the whales, the beautiful creatures of the deep Oceans. You could arguably say that D’Agostino is the missing link between the Classical and the Acoustic guitar.

Recently Peppino had his very first sold-out tour in China and a soundtrack composed for the world-renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium in California.

In addition to performing, D’Agostino also makes time to teach. He enjoys meeting with individual students, providing group instruction with his company, MUSIC WORLD RETREATS, and vacation learning packages like the Acoustic Guitar Cruises, Creative Vacances in La Moreau, France, or teaching with legendary guitarist Martin Taylor. The leading online instruction companies TRUEFIRE and GUITAR BY MASTERS have released a series of videos in which D’Agostino explains his influential guitar techniques and approach to composition. Peppino, when not performing or teaching, also has fun writing musical licks for new versions of games such as Sims – a product of Electronic Arts, or Dragons of Atlantis for Kabam. Peppino likes to compare his musical approach to the culinary art of his native Italy: “If you want to prepare a good, succulent dish, you have to know how to mix the various ingredients and, most importantly, know the right amounts. Similarly, in musical composition, you must be able to properly combine melody, harmony, rhythm, and percussive effects with discretion and elegance.”

People never know what to expect at his concerts. Peppino’s repertoire is always changing, adapting to the rapport he establishes with his audience. His live performances, a combination of beautiful, complex, up tempo original instrumentals, memorable arrangements, and engaging songs, are beautifully addictive. Peppino never disappoints, opening new musical doors with his loved and award winning Seagull signature model guitar. His hands are constantly searching, experimenting, and his original music and songs take his audiences to ever-expanding heights.