Here's something interesting: The Guitar of Jim Croce DVD lesson is not even out yet and we are already getting requests for songs to be included in Volume II! I'm so happy for the positive feedback the lessons have been getting. It's really fun to play but I think it may be more gratifying to help others learn to play. More later, Pete
 

Aspen was a lot of fun this year. Chris Nole and I played a concert in the St. Regis Hotel and it was too much fun. Herb Pedersen and I went to Carbondale on Saturday morning and played live on KDNK radio. Herb was one of my heroes when I was growing up (and still is to this day) so it's always a treat to play with him. I'd have to say the highlight of the weekend for me was performing Late Winter, Early Spring with Mike Taylor. That was a tune he wrote with John Denver for the Rocky Mountain High album and they never played it live! So this was Mike's first time to perform it live and I felt really lucky to be his "rhythm man." He played beautifully and afterwards he received a standing ovation from the whole audience! Way to go, Mike.

Well, I'm off to France tomorrow. It should be a great little trip. A couple of days in Paris then off to Issoudun for a guitar festival. Hopefully, I'll get time to check out some of the smaller towns and a winery or two. Either way it's going to be fun and relaxing.
 

I just finished taping two new DVD lessons for Homespun Tapes. The first was on the guitar of Jim Croce. I taught the following songs the way they really go: Photographs & Memories, These Dreams, Time In A Bottle, Operator, I Got A Name, New York's Not My Home, I'll Have To Say I Love You In A Song, Bad, Bad Leroy Brown. I taught the guitar parts of Maury Muehleisen, Jim's accompaniest, on several of the songs, incuding Time In A Bottle. The guitar parts to that song alone will be worth the price of the lesson.

The 2nd DVD lesson was my songs and arrangements. The titles for that one include: I Got Rhythm, Darcy's Guitar, McGuire's Landing, The Santa Rita Connection, Tommy In The Morning, On Eagles' Wings. These are all songs that were requested by you folks. I appreciate all the input I've received from everyone. It really helps me in preparing for these lessons. Lord knows I sure don't want to teach a lesson that no one is interested in studying.

We hope to see the Jim Croce lesson released by Christmas. My songs and arrangements should be released shortly thereafter.
 

I was on a flight from Asheville, NC to Providence, RI last week. I checked in as I normally do, giving them my suitcase and trunk with CD's and books. Then I went to the gate with my guitar to board the plane. As I was in line for boarding, the gate agent was taking bags that were too large to go on board and putting tags on them and putting them aside for the baggage people to take to the plane. When it was my turn the agent looked at me and said, "Who let you in here with that guitar?" I said, "I always carry my guitar to this point and if it's a small plane, I check it at the gate." He said, "When you checked in your bags, they should have taken your guitar." I told him this was the first I'd heard of this policy and he handed me a paper from Delta Airlines that said they would no longer gate-check guitars. They specifically listed guitars and nothing else. I flew to Italy in March and Delta Airlines managed to lose not only my guitar but my trunk with CD's, my suitcase, my brothers suitcase, Chris's suitcase and his CD's. They finally found it AFTER I had finished my 3 concerts and then lost it again when I came home to Nashville. So the thought of checking my guitar as baggage with Delta Airlines is not exactly comforting. The agent then called the check-in counter to find out who committed this haneous act of letting me go to the gate with my guitar. He then refused to gate-check the guitar and told me I'd have to go all the way back to the counter and check it. At this point the plane was boarding passengers and I asked if they would hold the plane for me. He said, "No." When I seemed a little upset at this he told me I was welcome to go to Continental Airlines. So I ran all the way back to the counter, stopping only to explain the situation to the security guard and asking for help getting back through security. He also said, "No."

When I came back to security a few people let me through and the woman checking ID's (Who I'd had a nice conversation with 1 1/2 hours proir when I was the 3rd person through security that day... 4:45 AM) took it upon herself to berate me for not getting to the airport on time and threatened to send me back to the end of the line. A kind gentleman said I was with him and she said she didn't care and that she was going to send me back anyway.

So here I am in Asheville, NC trying to get on a 6:00 AM flight so I can get to my concert in Massachusetts in the evening, (The only other option was a 3:30 PM flight and I might not have made it on time to the gig.) the plane had been boardinng for 15 minutes and they said they would not wait for me. It's now 6:02 AM and I decided that I had to try anyway. When I fiinally got through security, I ran as fast as I could to the gate with my shoes, wallet and belt in my hands. Talk about stress. Well the plane was still there and they were getting ready to take all my bags off as I came running towards it.

It took a while to catch my breath and calm down. But then I got to thinking about Delta Airlines singling out guitars and nothing else. Nothing else was on the letter the agent handed me. No tubas, saxophones, no extra large suitcases (They will gladly check those at the gate.), no oversized bags... just GUITARS.

So I'm not suggesting that any of you boycott Delta Airlines but as for me, I'm not using them unless there is no other option... including driving. They lost everything going to and coming from Italy and now refuse to gate check guitars. Do they think I actually trust them with my luggage?

FYI The gate agent was not actually as nice as I portrayed him here. Even the woman as the check-in counter said he was an ass. Is it any wonder they are going bankrupt?
 

Well, it's been a couple of months and here's what has been happening lately. I had a great time in Alaska in May! Caught a King Salmon and saw all the things one is supposed to see on their first trip to Alaska: Bear, Bald Eagles, Whales, Mink, Sea Otters, River Otters. We stayed in a remote fishing village on Prince Of Wales Island. The only way in was by boat or float plane. I went in and out on the boat. The mail is flown in about 4 times a week. I was there with my friends Jim Salestrom and Dick Hardwick. We performed nightly for 3 or 4 nights and had an absolute blast.

I taught in Ohio at the Fur Peace Ranch right after Alaska. It was a great weekend there. I had about 10 students that were with me for 4 days. One of them was brilliant enough to bring a couple of fishing rods and we found time to got to a local pond for some killer large mouth bass fishing. Now that's a lot of fun on a 3wt fly rod. I did a concert there on the Saturday night and shared the bill with Fareed Haque. Fareed is a guitar player who is not to be missed. The students and I had a good weekend together getting to know each other and learning a bit about the guitar.

I was in Idaho last weekend where I played a concert, did a workshop and had a day on the river fishing. It was a good day for the fish. The concert was really fun. After the workshop at the Old Boise Guitar store, the students in the class bought all the metronomes the store had. Hopefully the gospel of playing in time is sinking in.

I'm in Colorado now where I have been doing concerts with Jim Salestrom in support of our new cd, Two Friends Two Guitars Some John Denver Favorites. We've had great audiences both young and old. Colorado this time of year is really cool. The weather is nice in the morning and the afternoon heat brings in the storms. Then the storms clear out in time for a beautiful sunset.

I'm off to Montana to fish with a cousin tomorrow. I guess I have no complaints…
 

Well the trip to Italy was nothing if not eventful. It started with leaving late from Nashville, missing our connection in Atlanta, staying the night in Atlanta and leaving the following evening. There were three of us going on the trip and after we missed our connection, Delta Airlines put us on three different flight plans. The result was 11 different flights between us! When we all arrived in Milan we found that Delta had lost all of our luggage including my guitar and all the CD's and books I brought to sell at the concerts. The Alps were on fire as we were making our way to Bormio. Our driver ran out of gas on a two-lane bridge in the Alps --- just before sundown. I played the first two concerts on a borrowed guitar. My guitar showed up for the third concert but still no CD's or books. Sometime during the third concert my wallet was stolen and all the money I had been paid for the concerts was gone. (I had been paid in cash) I threw up in an alley in Sondrio in the middle of the day due to some medicine that I take.

There were more things that went a little screwy but I don't want anyone to think the whole trip was bad. It was beautiful in the Alps. There was not a lot of snow and the temperature was quite mild so it was really nice to walk around the old part of the city. There are churches dating from the 1100's. My brother and I went to an Italian mass on Palm Sunday in a church from the 1600's. Luckily we arrived late in the service because it's more than a little tough to follow when you don't speak the language.

We spent an afternoon on Lake Como. The old village of Varena was fantastic and then we took a ferry over to Belagio. We walked around the city and had lunch there before taking the ferry back. Then our hosts, Cesare and Manuela, drove us through the mountans where we eventually arrived at their summer home. It was in an area that looked very much like New England except older. Since there is no electricy in this home, we made a fire and had hot tea while Cesare showed us the work he and his son had done to the house.

The next day we made it back to Milan where I was to do a guitar workshop. What a city! The Duomo is a sight to behold. It is so massive that it took five centuries to build. Just imagine the architech going to the city council in 1386... "Okay, this may seem a little crazy but have I got the church for you..." The Gallaria, Statues of Da Vinci, La Scala, the old Castello... It was all incredible.

The workshop in Milan was well attended and afterwords we all (students, teacher, store owner) went out for a nice dinner before going back to the hotel to pack for the trip home. We now had all of our luggage. It trickled in a little at a time. the 2nd day Chris's arrived. My guitar and clothes on the 3rd day, my brother, Frank's, arrived on the 4th day along with my CD's. (Just in time to go home).

It was an easy, although long, trip home. Everything went smoothly in Atlanta and the final leg to Nashville was quick and painless. I got my luggage which included my clothes and CD's and books that I was going to sell had they arrived for my concerts. But then...... no ..... Delta Airlines lost my guitar again.

They did deliver it to my house the next day but I think twice in one week may be a little too much. Lookout Northwest.... Here I come.
 

COME AND LEARN GUITAR FROM PETE

I'll be teaching at two camps this summer! One is Fur Peace Ranch in Pomeroy, Ohio. The other is The Swannanoa Gathering near Asheville, NC. Fur Peace is a Friday through Monday weekend. Swannanoa is a full week. This will be an opportunity to hang out day and night and play and talk guitar. Please go to the Schedule page to find more details and links for these exciting sessions.

GREAT NEW CD!

Also look for the last two issues of Guitar Player Magazine and several of the upcoming issues. I'm doing a lesson in there called Acoustic Guru. You can also hear the lesson on line taught by Brad Carlton.
 

Immediately after the "clinic" we went and set up for a VIP party for all the sponsors of the festival as well as all the artists, bands and crews who wanted to come. Jedd Hughes played a great set. He's a young Aussie who not only plays hit little down-under-butt off but sings like a bird. Then I played a set followed by Doyle and a really cool, acoustic set by Styx. Tommy Shaw sang great and we traded picks after the show. I think he was moved by the fingerpickers.

During some of the other performances I mingled and wound up meeting Claude Johnson. He is the son of Robert Johnson who many consider to be "the father of the blues." He was a very, very nice man to talk to. He's an older man, in his 70's, but by no means old. He got a lot of energy and a young spirit. Meeting Mr. Johnson was one of the highlights of the whole weekend for me.

Then came Saturday. I was done working but I wanted to hang out for the rest of the festival. I met Eric Clapton briefly, saw Eric Johnson play a set and then hung out on stage while Clapton played with J.J. Cale. When JJ played I was in school. He epitomizes"cool." I never got him until that day. You should see him in concert if you get the chance. Also my friend, Michael Kelsey, won the Guitarmageddon contest on Saturday. He won several guitars, several thousand dollars cash and a new car! Go Michael and Go Acoustic Guitar Players!

Sunday was the concert at the Cotton Bowl. The concert was great for me because so many of my personal favorite guitar players were there. Larry Carlton, Pat Metheny, Vince Gill, James Taylor, Clapton, Buddy Guy, ZZ Top, Carlos Santana, Jerry Douglas, Jeff Beck. There were many others but these were the standouts for me.

At one point I was in the green room, where many of us watched the concert on a huge TV screen to stay out of the heat, and I called my friend Jeff from a quiet spot in the room. I left him a message that went something like this: "Jeff. Pete. I'm hanging out in a room with Joe Walsh, Steve Gadd, Eric Capton, Nathan East, Carlos Santana, Billy Preston, Jerry Douglas, Dan Tyminski, Steve Vai, Marty Stewart and Larry Carlton. Bye" Then I called my friend Steve and left him a message.... "Steve. Pete. I'm hanging out in a room with Joe Walsh, Steve Gadd, Eric Capton, Nathan East, Carlos Santana, Billy Preston,..... Bye" What was really cool was seeing Nathan East taking pictures of everybody. Here's one of the greatest bass players alive excited to be seeing all these players and taking their photos.

The night ended with ZZ Top playing a great set. What a weekend.

I would like to say a very special thank you to my sponsors for the Crossroads Festival.... Collings Guitars, Elixir Strings and AER Amps helped to make it possible for me to be there. Those are also the three most important things in my arsenal and they ought to be in yours!
 

Southern California and Arizona were fantastic. I played The Underground in Ontario and Boulevard Music in Culver City, CA. We had a good clinic at Boulevard Music. Lots of good questions and interaction from all who attended. I played the Arizona State University and had a blast. Next was the Cave Creek Coffee Company (C4). Scott Wagy and Carlos Santos sat in for a set of Brazilian music which morphed into a few rock tunes (Stayin' Alive anyone?) and a couple of country tunes. We had such a great time playing that the 2-hour gig went a full 3 hours! I thought I was heading to a coffee shop to play for a little latte and espresso crowd. Instead it turned out to be one of the coolest places I've played in a long time. Inside is a killer restaurant and bar. The food there is up scale but the prices are not. Outside is a small but very cool stage, a great P.A. system and campfire and the desert sky above. If I wasn't there playing, I'd want to go and see a show there. So if you're in Cave Creek stop by C4 and tell Dave I said Hi.

My old buddy from college, Michael Semanick, won an OSCAR last night! He's been working in the movies for a long time now and was nominated a couple of years ago. It was great to see him up there in his tux. He gave a great acceptance speech and I couldn't have been happier for him. He won for Best Sound Mixing for The Lord Of The Rings. Go Michael...!

More later?
 

If you get to hear it, let me know what you think.
 

I had a great couple of shows lately. I played the Alys Stephens Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham a few weeks ago. My good friend Jim Olschmidt came and joined me for a few tunes. The next evening I did a workshop at Fretted Instruments. Herb Trottman and his crew and some of the nicest folks I've ever run across. Jim joined me at the workshop for a few tunes. There were lots of good questions and hopefully a few good answers.

Last weekend in Maryland with Mack Bailey was a lot of fun. The night started off funny when I didn't come on stage when I was called. But we quickly rescued the show and rocked the church. The next night I was in Emporia, VA. opening for Peter Cincotti. He is a jazz pianist and singer in the style of Harry Connick JR. He's young, tall, good looking, talented and only 21 years old! The Performing Arts Center in Emporia seats 914 and has a great crew doing lights and sound. The audience of about 850 was fantastic. They laughed when they were supposed to and clapped often. Thankfully they did not clap along during Superstition. It's hard enough as it is and when the audience claps along there's always a delay and I have had to stop once or twice and beg the audience to wait until the end of the tune to clap ---- and then they could clap and loud and as long as they'd like.

I just got home from Anniston, Alabama. I great little town that holds concerts in the La Bella Donna Restaurant. They open up the big dining hall, have dinner and a concert. The food there is amazing and the owner, Randy, does a great job of keeping things running smoothly. The concert was promoted by Wayne Brown at Greenbriar Music Shop. Wayne is a great guy with many, many talents. If you are ever in the area, go by his store and say hi.
 

Here is a review of my CD THE NEED from the British magazine - MAVERICK: http://www.maverick-country.com ***** (5 stars)

Leafing through the American music press leaves one in no doubt whatsoever that National Fingerpick Guitar Championship winner Peter J Huttlinger is indeed a guitar genius. But 'The King of the Fingerpickers' recorded work is much more than a showcase for lightning guitar pyrotechnics, although there are plenty of those too. Huttlinger was John Denver's touring guitarist for the last four years of the ill-fated singer-songwriter's life, and has recorded two tributary sets of Denver songs. He also released an album last year entitled NAKED POP, which was composed largely of striking covers of songs by the likes of Lennon & McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Sting and Steely Dan, with just one Huttlinger composition.

So it's a pretty audacious step to go from tributes and covers to an album of 10 original compositions. But that's just what Huttlinger has done with THE NEED, gathering a small group of talented musicians in the process, and demonstrating that he is not only one of the coolest pickers on the block, but also a sensitive singer and highly gifted songwriter. The opening title track is a strong, uptempo country-pop love song with a catch hook and nicely balanced organ and electric guitar runs underlying Huttlinger's high, mellow vocals. Indeed, it has all the hallmarks of a successful radio or CMT single. All For Love is a slow, reflective tale of a married couple who have drifted apart over the years told over plaintive but authoritative piano chords, while Empty Boat is another soft ballad boasting lilting steel guitar from Dave Ristrim that switches into a gentle reggae rhythm on the chorus. Same Wave uses natural imagery to examine the overwhelming power of love against which each of us is powerless, once again using a gentle mix of Tim Hayden's piano and guitar and Cynthia White's luxurious vocals to achieve the sense of peaceful serenity that emanates from all the ballads here. There's also a break for humor, as Huttlinger launches into a breathless shuffle to tell the story of The Bull. in best Commander Cody-style. There are also two or three quite long tracks that allow the musicians to demonstrate their skill: The Winemaker's Tale sees Ristrim's gentle dobro licks interacting with some light acoustic guitar notes from Huttlinger as he relates the tale of a European immigrant who comes to the New World in search of a better life. The song's extended form allows the pair to switch to steel and electric guitar for more subtle instrumental fencing later on, while The Wish is a humble prayer for mankind - something we're in dire need of at the moment.

In my opinion the best cut here is Scottish Love Song, another extended piece, written in Edinburgh in 2001, whose unmistakable Celtic minor chords give way to semi-Gallic verses of admiration for a young woman with distant accord ian sounds behind some articulate acoustic picking. Absolutely immaculate. So this is no gimmicky collection of guitar gymnastics. Certainly is boasts expert musicianship form Huttlinger and all his colleagues, but it is also a collection of far-reaching compositions that take a sensitive view of life and, bar two livelier tracks, leaves the listener with a feeling of total calm. Highly recommended.JL