Grammy Award-winning guitar virtuoso Ed Gerhard is coming to Hawaii for his debut concerts on the islands.
From Tokyo to Rome and venues across the U.S., Ed Gerhard’s music has touched audiences all over the world. Performing on a six-string, 12-string, slide guitar or acoustic Hawaiian lap slide, Gerhard captivates his audiences with virtuosity, generosity and sly humor. Known for his gorgeous tone and compositional depth, Gerhard can move a listener with a single note.
Gerhard got his first guitar at 14. His initial interest in classical guitar changed dramatically when he heard the music of bluesman Mississippi John Hurt. He quit lessons after the third one. He took some informal lessons with friends and learned by ear, slowing down LPs to half-speed to pick out the tricky parts. At 15, Ed was already beginning to perform in local church basement coffeehouses, playing solo and jamming with friends.
In 1977, Gerhard moved to New Hampshire where he has resided ever since. Joining a thriving folk and acoustic music scene proved invaluable for the young guitarist. “There seemed to be no limitation on places to play back then, or more importantly, what you could play” Gerhard said in a press release. “You could play anything you wanted as long as people stayed around and drank.”
Gerhard’s album “ Luna” is featured in Acoustic Guitar Magazine’s 20th anniversary list of the “240 Essential Albums.” His guitar work can be heard on recordings by Arlo Guthrie, Jorma Kaukonen, Bill Morrissey and in the Ken Burns films “Mark Twain” and “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea.”
Gerhard will perform at 7 p.m. Friday at Hilo Ukulele &Guitar in Hilo, and at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Westin Hapuna Beach Resort in Kohala. Tickets to Hilo’s show are $25, and tickets to the Kohala show are $48/$35.
Gerhard will also play at 7 p.m. Sunday at Gertrude’s Jazz Bar in Kailua-Kona. Tickets are $35.
A guitar workshop with Gerhard will also be held from 1:30-3 p.m. Saturday for $55.
Info: Visit bluesbearhawaii.com or call 896-4845.