Message from Seamus

My wife and I were lucky enough recently to get tickets to see Leonard Cohen perform at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia. His show was simply amazing. I grew up in the sixties listening to Cohen and appreciating his magical combination of words and music. Once my own career kicked into gear at age fifteen, I moved away from my early folk influences and focused on the guitar playing of Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix and of course Rory Gallagher. After several years focusing exclusively on rock music, I studied classical guitar and was fortunate to see the great Segovia perform live a few times. I also got to attend Segovia’s final Masterclass. After my classical guitar adventures, I became obsessed with the great blues players such as Howlin Wolf and Muddy Waters who paved the way for the likes of Clapton, Hendrix and Gallagher.

About five years ago, I began what I might call the second chapter of my career. I started listing to some of the great “Fingerpickers” like Chet Atkins, Merle Travis, and Jerry Reed. I have been fortunate enough to attend workshops with some of today’s top fingerpickers such as Tommy Emmanuel and Peter Huttlinger. Tommy and Pete occasionally sing but the guitar is really their voice. It’s amazing to me the images and emotion they can evoke by playing melodies on just six strings. I suppose that’s the power of music and for me the power of the guitar. Whether it’s Jimi, Eric or Rory ripping into their Fender Stratocasters, Muddy Waters playing slide guitar on his Telecaster, Segovia bringing the music of Bach to life on his classical guitar or Atkins, Reed and Travis picking out wonderful melodies with their fingers; it all has a visceral impact on me. It’s a feeling I can’t quite explain.

As I sat mesmerized by Leonard Cohen and in particular by his opening guitar riff on “Suzanne,” I was taken back forty years to a more innocent time in my life when I first heard that magical riff on the radio. It served as a reminder of how blessed I am to be doing what I’m doing.

All the best,
Seamus

 
     
 

Considered a guitar hero by many in his native Galway and his adopted home of New York, Seamus Kelleher has finally made the CD that showcases not only his amazing guitar playing abilities but also his song writing and singing.

After thirty years of recording with a variety of artists in Ireland and the US, Seamus headed to Nashville in April of ‘07 and over a four day period recorded Four Cups of Coffee. The CD was produced by Peter Huttlinger, one of Nashville’s most sought after guitar players and producers.

Each track on Four Cups of Coffee is a musical feast. There is a tribute to Elmore James and Robert Johnson with the track “Dust My Broom.” The title track “Four Cups of Coffee” shows the old Chicago blues influence on Seamus’ playing. After hearing the track “What’s Goin On,” you will understand why Seamus was referred to in his native Galway as “The long haired weirdo who could make the guitar talk.”

From the emotional opening song “My Friend Ben” to the haunting “Madame” you will find yourself wanting Seamus to get to work on his second solo record.