Greg Koch (musician) explained

Greg Koch
Birth Name:Gregory Koch
Birth Place:Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Spouse:Sarah Koch
Children:4
Education:University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point
Module:
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Occupation:Guitarist, singer-songwriter
Years Active:1978–present
Signature:Greg Koch (signature).png

Greg Koch (born 1966) is an American guitarist from Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. In April 2012 Fender Musical Instruments Corporation named Koch one of the top 10 unsung guitarists. In April 2023 The Wisconsin Area Music Industry announced that Koch would be inducted into the WAMI Hall of Fame

Early life

Koch grew up in the Milwaukee area and began playing guitar at the age of 12. He was influenced by the guitarist and singer-songwriter Jimi Hendrix.[1] Koch was the youngest of seven children. He attended college for jazz performance at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.[2]

Career

Koch won first place in the 1989 Bluesbreaker Guitar Showdown judged by singer/guitar player Buddy Guy.[3] Koch has also played with Joe Bonamassa. Greg Koch is currently a Martin Guitar clinician.[4] In addition to playing guitar, Koch has authored many books on various guitar methods and styles. He also gives Skype guitar lessons and in 2020 Guitar World called him one of the 15 best guitar teachers.[5]

Greg Koch and the Tone Controls

The group was formed as a trio that included guitar, bass, and drums. The original band members include journeyman drummer and vocalist Gary Koehler, bass and vocals Kevin Mushel, and Koch on six-string guitar and vocals.[6] Other members of the band include John Calarco on drums and Tom Goode on bass.

Koch and the Tone Controls won five Wisconsin Area Music Awards for Blues Artist of the Year (1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1998).[7]

Greg Koch and Other Bad Men

Koch recorded a live album, Greg Koch and Other Bad Men Live on the Radio, with bass player Roscoe Beck, vocalist Malford Milligan and drummers John Calarco[8] and Tom Brechtlein.[9]

The Koch Marshall Trio

The Koch Marshall Trio is an instrumental organ/guitar trio established by Koch in 2017. The Trio includes Koch's son Dylan Koch on drums, Toby Lee Marshall on Hammond organ and Koch on guitar. The Koch Marshall Trio has signed a contract with the Mascot Label Group. They released their debut studio album, Toby Arrives, on February 23, 2018.[10] Toby Arrives was submitted for a Grammy nomination 2018.[11]

Solo work

Koch works as a clinician for Fishman and Martin. In addition, Koch has his own signature amplifier The Greg, manufactured by the Koch Amplifier company.[12] Koch also has a signature guitar which was released in 2019 by Reverend Guitars, named the Greg Koch Signature Gristlemaster. The guitar colors were given somewhat humorous names like: Kochwork Orange, and Blucifer.[13]

Since 2011, Koch has made monthly promotional videos for Wildwood Guitars in Colorado. He has made approximately 4000 videos which have over 50 million views.[14] Koch released an acoustic album in December 2019.[15] The 38-minute album has 14 songs.[16] Also in 2019, Koch signed with True Grit Talent Agency.[17]

Legacy

Koch has developed his own style of chicken picking on the guitar and has taught his method, referred to as hybrid picking. Koch uses a guitar pick held with the index finger and thumb of his right hand to pick the bass notes; he uses his other three fingers to pick the treble strings.[18]

In April 2012 Fender Musical Instruments Corporation named Koch one of the top 10 unsung guitarists.[19]

Koch's ability on the guitar has been admired by other guitarists. When guitar pioneer Les Paul had his 100th birthday celebration Koch was invited to play.[20] Joe Bonamassa and Steve Vai praised his mastery over guitar and versatility in style.[21] [22]

In April 2023 The Wisconsin Area Music Industry announced that Koch would be inducted into the WAMI Hall of Fame.[23]

Personal life

Koch met his wife Sarah while he was attending college and together they have four children, two boys and two girls. Koch and his wife have been married since 1993. Their oldest son (Dylan Koch) is the drummer for Koch's band, The Koch Marshall Trio. Koch stands 6 feet 7 inches tall.[24] [25] [26]

Musical equipment

Guitars

Accessories

Amplifiers

Books authored by Koch

Discography

DVDs

Other contributions

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Prato . Greg . Greg Koch . January 2, 2018 . AllMusic . January 24, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180124070952/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/greg-koch-mn0000800484/biography . live .
  2. Web site: Moberg . Glen . March 3, 2016: Live Blues Music with Greg Koch and the Tone Controls . January 2, 2018 . Wisconsin Public Radio . Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board March 3, 2016 . January 24, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180124070928/https://www.wpr.org/shows/march-3-2016-live-blues-music-greg-koch-and-tone-controls . live .
  3. Web site: Wilson . Sharon . July 31, 2014 . Legendary Milwaukee Rock/Blues Guitarist Greg Koch . January 2, 2018 . January 24, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180124070905/https://urbanmilwaukee.com/pressrelease/legendary-milwaukee-rockblues-guitarist-greg-koch-and-canadian-rumba-flamenco-guitarist-jesse-cook-headline-second-annual-wilson-center-guitar-competition-festival/ . live .
  4. Web site: Greg Koch . November 11, 2018 . Martin Guitar . 2018 C.F. MARTIN & CO., INC. . November 12, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181112040040/https://www.martinguitar.com/players/greg-koch/ . live .
  5. News: Horsley . Jonathan . 15 of the greatest all-star guitar teachers . 6 April 2023 . Guitar World . 22 October 2020.
  6. Web site: Greg koch - Strat's Got Your Tongue . January 2, 2018 . Grooveyard Records . Grooveyard Records Inc. . December 24, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171224174743/http://www.grooveyardrecords.com/gregkochstratsgotyourtongue-.html . live .
  7. Web site: Henkle . Doug . April 4, 2016 . WAMI Site Map . January 2, 2018 . Folklib . December 13, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171213073211/http://www.folklib.net/wami/ . live .
  8. Web site: Brookes . Joachim 'Joe' . Greg Koch And Other Bad Men / Live! On The Radio . February 1, 2018 . Rocktimes . Rock Times November 26, 2007 . April 2, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130402185805/http://rocktimes.de/gesamt/k/greg_koch/live_on_the_radio.html . live .
  9. Web site: Luhrssen . David . Greg Koch: Blues in Mind . January 7, 2018 . . Shepherd Express December 13, 2007 . January 24, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180124005857/https://shepherdexpress.com/music/local-music/greg-koch-blues-mind/ . live .
  10. News: Luhrssen . David . September 7, 2017 . The Funky Organ Sounds of the Koch Marshall Trio . Print Issue . Louis Fortis . 37 . January 2, 2018 . February 2, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220202191919/https://issuu.com/shepherdexpress/docs/09-07-2017print . live .
  11. Web site: Marlowe . Graham . The Koch-Marshall Trio Updates an Old Sound with Contemporary Flair . November 28, 2018 . Shepherd Express . Shepherd Express . November 28, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181128050709/https://shepherdexpress.com/music/local-music/koch-marshall-trio-updates-an-old-sound/ . live .
  12. Web site: The Greg . November 28, 2018 . Koch Amps . Koch Guitar Electronics . November 28, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181128122631/http://www.koch-amps.com/guitar_combo_thegreg.html . live .
  13. Web site: GREG KOCH SIGNATURE GRISTLEMASTER . Reverend Guitars . REVEREND GUITARS . January 24, 2019 . January 25, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190125073354/https://www.reverendguitars.com/guitars/greg-koch-gristlemaster . live .
  14. News: Durand . Jean-Pierre . January 30, 2020 . GUITARIST GREG KOCH'S IMPROBABLE RISE . The Hollywood Times . February 7, 2020 . November 28, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201128134508/https://www.thehollywoodtimes.today/guitarist-greg-kochs-improbable-rise/ . live .
  15. Web site: Marlowe . Graham . The Koch-Marshall Trio Updates an Old Sound with Contemporary Flair . November 28, 2018 . Shepherd Express . Shepherd Express . November 28, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181128050709/https://shepherdexpress.com/music/local-music/koch-marshall-trio-updates-an-old-sound/ . live .
  16. Web site: 5 Incredible New Guitar Albums To Listen To . February 7, 2020 . chasingsound.com . Chasing Sound . February 2, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220202191920/https://www.chasingsound.com/posts/5-incredible-new-guitar-albums-to-listen-to . live .
  17. Web site: Greg Koch . December 19, 2019 . truegrittalent.com . True Grit . December 19, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191219015447/https://truegrittalent.com/artist/greg-koch/ . live .
  18. News: Diversify your playing with Greg Koch's red-hot hybrid-picking lesson . 8 April 2023 . Guitarist . 26 February 2020.
  19. Web site: Duffy . Mike . TOP 10 UNSUNG GUITARISTS . January 2, 2018 . Fender . Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. April 2, 2012 Page 1. . January 24, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180124070611/http://www2.fender.com/experience/fender-picks/top-10-unsung-guitarists/ . live .
  20. News: Levy . Piet . August 3, 2015 . Happy Birthday to Les . Milwaukee Journal Sentinel . January 2, 2018 . March 1, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180301225006/https://www.pressreader.com/usa/milwaukee-journal-sentinel/20150803/282127815189559 . live .
  21. Web site: Mathley . T-bone . Greg Koch . 2 January 2018 . Volume Treble Bass . Worldpress . September 17, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170917133238/http://volumetreblebass.com/greg-koch/ . live .
  22. Web site: Greg koch . 2 January 2018 . Fender . Fender Music Australia March 1, 2013 . March 1, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180301164535/http://www.fender.com.au/dev/feature/roadshow2013/ . live .
  23. Web site: WAMI announces its 2023 Hall of Fame Class . Wami . Wisconsin Area Music Industry . 8 April 2023.
  24. Web site: Nash . JD . Koch Marshall Trio Debut Launches New Mascot Imprint . September 28, 2018 . American Blues Scene . American Blues Scene . September 12, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180912204718/https://www.americanbluesscene.com/koch-marshall-trio-debut-launches-new-mascot-imprint/ . live .
  25. Web site: Greg Koch . July 5, 2019 . Facebook . February 2, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220202191917/https://www.facebook.com/login/?next=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGregKochMusic%2Fposts%2Fmarried-20-years-today-to-my-power-minx-wife-sarah-her-sainthood-has-been-secure%2F10151986911244009%2F . live .
  26. Web site: Wacker . Dirk . Greg Koch: Meeting the Gristle-Man . July 5, 2019 . Premier Guitar . Premier Guitar . July 5, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190705183303/https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/Greg_Koch_Meeting_the_Gristle_Man . live .
  27. Web site: GREG KOCH SIGNATURE GRISTLEMASTER . Reverend Guitars . REVEREND GUITARS . January 24, 2019 . January 25, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190125073354/https://www.reverendguitars.com/guitars/greg-koch-gristlemaster . live .
  28. News: Levy . Piet . 12 top new Milwaukee albums and songs to check out in April 2023 . 6 April 2023 . Milwaukee Journal Sentinel . 30 March 2023.

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