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439:. In the background on the album cover is an image of the "Whacky Shack" at Wichita's Joyland Amusement Park (closed 2006). According to McKee, "On this album I've branched out a bit and included some instrumentation on a couple of songs. There's also a new harpguitar tune and a couple of covers such as "
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McKee announced in May 2009 that he intended to finish touring in the second half of the year and concentrate on recording his upcoming album. He stated in July 2009 that it would most likely be titled "Joyland", the title track of the album which originally went under the name "Music For A Vacant
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McKee began listening to metal, such as Dream
Theater, at an early age. He described on Woodsongs how he was a "metal freak" during childhood, even performing a Metallica song in his high school talent show. It was not until he saw Preston Reed that his influences began to shift towards acoustic
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In
December 2015, McKee professionally recorded live shows at The Melting Point in Athens, GA, the Red Clay Music Foundry in Duluth, GA, and Workplay in Birmingham, AL, which he then edited together and released as his first ever live record, entitled "Live Book," on March 8, 2016.
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and announced his first release of new music since 2014's "Mythmaker," beginning with a six-track EP of cover songs entitled "Symbol" to be released on
September 17, 2021. The first single from the EP, a cover of "Ragamuffin" by Michael Hedges, was released on July 15, 2021.
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Amusement Park." The song was inspired by an amusement park in Topeka, Kansas named Boyle's
Joyland that was open from 1951 to 1988. The album was completed in November 2009 and released digitally on March 23, 2010, with a physical release following on March 30, 2010 through
335:, with whom he has since toured repeatedly. He placed second in the Fingerstyle Guitar Competition of the Canadian Guitar Festival that year. The album was later re-released by McKee's label in response to the popularity he garnered on YouTube.
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Self-described as "just this guy from Topeka, Kansas, who kind of blew up on the
Internet about a week before Christmas", McKee became one of Candyrat Records' best-selling artists after their video of "Drifting" was promoted by users at
623:
In 2016, McKee began developing and hosting a series of multi-day guitar workshops (or "boot camps") through
Dreamcatcher Events. His first flagship boot camp, "Andy McKee's Musicarium," was hosted at the Full Moon Resort in
525:(dubbed "McKee Mondays") and offering online guitar instruction through TrueFire, as well as dedicated one-on-one lessons. In June 2021, McKee performed his first live show since the start of the pandemic in
494:, and others. On April 8, 2014, McKee released "Mythmaker," a four-song EP of new original material that included his first-ever solo piano composition ("June") and made use of electric guitar ("Lumine").
239:. McKee later bought an instructional videotape from Reed and began to learn many of his acoustic guitar techniques from it. Later that year, with his mother's permission, he obtained his
620:, Sometimes It Snows in April, Mountains, Dance Electric, and Love, Thy Will Be Done. He also kicked off the Melbourne concert with Ebon Coast, Drifting, and The Friend I Never Met.
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songwriters such as Don Ross and
Michael Hedges. Both walks of music continue to influence him, though he has stuck with acoustic music in his professional life.
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350:, was released on Candyrat Records in November 2005. Most of McKee's YouTube performances appear on the album, along with a handful of tracks carried over from
292:, and earned first place in the Miscellaneous Acoustic Instrument contest of the New Jersey State Fiddling and Picking Championships with a Ron Spillers
555:. For a time, three of McKee's videos were concurrently the three most-watched on YouTube. In the wake of this exposure, he appeared by invitation on
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After his popularity due to his performances on YouTube and touring throughout much of 2007, McKee returned to the studio to record his fourth CD,
215:
bought by his father, at age 13. Initially underwhelmed by his guitar lessons, McKee began teaching himself how to play guitar. He began learning
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An integral part of McKee's style of guitar playing is the use of alternate and open tunings, often combined with a regular and/or a banjo capo.
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videos featuring McKee's highly-technical guitar performances have achieved viral fame, garnering hundreds of million of views collectively.
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album, as well as two cover songs. McKee spent the majority of 2008 on tour throughout the world, performing with other
Candyrat artists.
231:. McKee's electric guitar-playing cousin inspired him to continue learning, taking him out for his 16th birthday to see a guitarist named
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In between touring, and helping promote his duo guitar record with Don Ross, McKee recorded an EP of two re-recordings of songs from his
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in order to quit attending high school and play more guitar. He began to be influenced by primarily acoustic guitarists such as
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McKee maintained a prolific worldwide touring schedule for several years after the release of "Joyland," including tours with
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he purchased from
Stephen Bennett in 2002. The instrument can be heard in a number of his songs on later albums, such as
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entitled "The Friend I Never Met." McKee used the title track to win the opportunity to perform with bassist
323:, in 2004. The album includes his cover of Toto's "Africa" and "Theme from Schindler's List," as well as a
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was the only album of his carried by
Candyrat Records, and saw the most mainstream exposure as a result.
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player who has released six studio albums, three extended plays, and one live album to date. A number of
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This article is about the fingerstyle guitar player. For the American bass player, see
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Ernie Ball Music Man Electric Guitars – Steve Morse, Luke III and John Petrucci models
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on his Welcome 2 Australia tour. He played with Prince's band during the concert on
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628:(2016), with subsequent Musicariums being held at the EarthRise Institute in
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2003 New Jersey State Fiddling and Picking Championships – Contest Results
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Ernie Ball Everlast Coated Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Strings – Medium
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Amazing finger style guitarist Andy Mckee proves why you suck
396:. He also released a split DVD that same year with labelmate
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were ever produced and the album is now out of circulation.
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632:(2018-2019) and the Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine Country in
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In 2001, McKee independently released his first album,
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2011 Andy McKee Interview on FingerstyleGuitarists.com
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388:In 2008, McKee released a collaborative album with
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34:. For other people named Andrew or Andy McKee, see
459:and four new performance music videos directed by
946:"The Andy McKee FAQ", Andy McKee official website
1329:The Thing That Came From Somewhere with Don Ross
966:Instrument Contest Winner Archives – Andy McKee
419:album, and a cover song by Japanese guitarist
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1153:"Andy McKee Guest Lesson – Altered Tunings"
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569:'s 2007 Grammy-nominated Christmas album,
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644:McKee has used the following equipment:
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284:. In 2003, McKee toured in Taiwan with
1165:from the original on December 14, 2021
1068:"Groban's 'Noel' Makes Chart History"
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681:König & Meyer Heli A-Guitar Stand
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1421:21st-century American male musicians
1070:, Billboard.biz, December 18, 2007.
968:, Winfield Valley Festival website.
1081:Artist Chart History – Josh Groban
855:The Thing That Came From Somewhere
394:The Thing That Came From Somewhere
382:The Thing That Came From Somewhere
208:McKee played his first guitar, an
25:
1151:Total Guitar (October 25, 2012).
453:Everybody Wants to Rule the World
319:McKee released his second album,
1416:21st-century American guitarists
672:K&K Sound Pickups (internal)
612:In 2012, McKee played alongside
1401:American fingerstyle guitarists
1029:. Retrieved January 17, 2008.
992:. Retrieved January 17, 2008.
955:. Retrieved December 22, 2008.
666:Lance McCollum Baritone Guitar
585:In 2010, McKee contributed to
1:
1406:Musicians from Topeka, Kansas
1324:Split DVD with Antoine Dufour
1085:. Retrieved January 19, 2008.
1014:. Retrieved January 17, 2008.
1012:Biography at McKee's website.
977:. Retrieved January 17, 2008.
36:Andrew McKee (disambiguation)
697:McKee's influences include:
651:Greenfield HG1.2 Harp Guitar
648:Greenfield G4 and G2 Guitars
1203:September 15, 2011, at the
1100:Andy McKee Official Website
996:September 27, 2007, at the
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562:Last Call with Carson Daly
219:music, including songs by
29:
1033:January 10, 2008, at the
973:January 10, 2007, at the
565:. He also contributed to
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1396:American male guitarists
1391:American folk guitarists
1193:McKee @ Candyrat Records
1188:McKee's Official Website
669:Ron Spillers Harp Guitar
640:Equipment and influences
188:(born April 4, 1979, in
1431:Razor & Tie artists
1054:March 16, 2010, at the
678:T.C. Electronics Reverb
304:. Only 1,000 copies of
1426:Proper Records artists
1411:Guitarists from Kansas
1025:Andy McKee – Biography
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634:Santa Rosa, California
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288:, Isato Nakagawa, and
102:percussive fingerstyle
62:Background information
1441:YouTubers from Kansas
1275:The Gates of Gnomeria
1120:Greenfield, Michael.
1083:, Billboard Magazine.
951:July 8, 2009, at the
834:The Gates of Gnomeria
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675:DTAR Solstice Pre-Amp
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371:The Gates of Gnomeria
363:The Gates of Gnomeria
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626:Big Indian, New York
527:Nashville, Tennessee
32:Andy McKee (bassist)
693:in Toronto, Ontario
546:in Toronto, Ontario
457:Andy McKee: Joyland
156:, Mythmaker Records
1126:Greenfield Guitars
869:Common Ground (EP)
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691:Glenn Gould Studio
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346:McKee's third CD,
235:perform live at a
194:fingerstyle guitar
18:Common Ground (EP)
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519:COVID-19 pandemic
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302:Gates of Gnomeria
192:) is an American
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352:Dreamcatcher
351:
347:
345:
339:
321:Dreamcatcher
320:
318:
313:Dreamcatcher
312:
305:
301:
297:
277:
275:
269:
256:
233:Preston Reed
229:Joe Satriani
225:Eric Johnson
217:shred guitar
213:nylon string
207:
185:
184:
141:2001–present
137:Years active
40:
1381:1979 births
1317:Live albums
788:Discography
771:Pat Metheny
759:Imogen Heap
739:Iron Maiden
618:Purple Rain
567:Josh Groban
559:as well as
392:, entitled
327:tribute to
325:harp guitar
294:harp guitar
255:, and from
253:Pat Kirtley
130:harp guitar
98:fingerstyle
1375:Categories
1241:Andy McKee
933:References
607:Mike Stern
599:Neal Schon
186:Andy McKee
172:.andymckee
108:Occupation
73:1979-04-04
47:Andy McKee
1307:Mythmaker
1169:March 12,
900:Live Book
889:Mythmaker
731:Metallica
578:Billboard
557:Woodsongs
513:EP (2021)
499:Live Book
470:EP (2014)
468:Mythmaker
411:EP (2009)
221:Metallica
112:Guitarist
1345:Don Ross
1255:Nocturne
1201:Archived
1163:Archived
1052:Archived
1031:Archived
994:Archived
971:Archived
949:Archived
859:Don Ross
804:Nocturne
775:Don Ross
636:(2021).
480:Jon Gomm
390:Don Ross
375:Nocturne
306:Nocturne
278:Nocturne
270:Nocturne
263:Don Ross
154:CandyRat
1282:Joyland
1158:YouTube
1136:May 28,
1105:June 9,
879:Joyland
773:, and
743:Pantera
441:Layover
428:Joyland
198:YouTube
165:Website
1096:"Gear"
910:Symbol
767:Primus
660:Shubb
614:Prince
605:, and
589:'s CD
511:Symbol
501:(2016)
430:(2010)
384:(2008)
365:(2007)
342:(2005)
315:(2004)
272:(2001)
237:clinic
227:, and
146:Labels
122:Guitar
90:Genres
85:, U.S.
926:2023
923:(EP)
921:Pulse
915:2021
912:(EP)
904:2016
894:2014
891:(EP)
883:2010
873:2009
863:2008
857:with
849:2007
838:2007
828:2005
818:2004
808:2001
798:Year
723:Björk
662:Capos
595:Slash
443:" by
1171:2013
1138:2014
1107:2014
751:Toto
721:,
717:,
572:Noël
553:Digg
447:and
300:and
210:Aria
174:.com
94:Folk
67:Born
769:,
765:,
761:,
757:,
753:,
749:,
745:,
741:,
737:,
733:,
729:,
725:,
713:,
709:,
705:,
701:,
601:,
580:200
451:' "
261:by
241:GED
170:www
1377::
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1124:.
1098:.
1004:^
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597:,
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486:,
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247:,
223:,
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128:,
124:,
100:,
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