Mike Dowling Explained

Mike Dowling is an American roots music guitarist and songwriter who is best known for his solo arrangements on the Grammy Award-winning composition CD .^{[1] [2] [3]} In 2005, Dowling was ranked as one of the twelve best fingerstyle guitarists in the United States.^[4]

Early life

Dowling was raised in Wisconsin^[3] before moving to Nashville. He learned about song structures while taking piano lessons when he was ten years old.^[5] Dowling got his first guitar when he was twelve years old.

Career

After dropping out of college,^[5] Dowling was hired by fiddler Vassar Clements to play in his touring band, and his playing can be heard on Clement's Grammy-nominated Nashville Jam album.^{[6] [5]} He performed and recorded with jazz violin pioneer Joe Venuti and mandolinist Jethro Burns.^[3] In 1991, Dowling released his first solo album, Beats Workin' , featuring Clements.^[7] Dowling won a Grammy Award for his solo work on Henry Mancini: Pink Guitar. He designed the El Trovador guitar for National Reso-Phonic Guitars.^[8] Dowling was a guest on A Prairie Home Companion.^[9]

Songwriting

While in Nashville, Dowling has written songs that were recorded by artists such as Emmylou Harris, Kathy Mattea, Claire Lynch, Del McCoury and George Fox. A recording of his song Backtrackin' by The Nashville Bluegrass Band^[7] was nominated Bluegrass Song of the Year in 1994 by the International Bluegrass Music Association.^[7]

Personal life

Dowling lives in Wyoming with his wife Jan.^{[7] [10]} Dowling spends some of his free time as a guitar instructor where he also releases material on Homespun Tapes.^[11]

Discography

• Swamp Dog Blues (Strictly Country, 1995)
• Beats Workin' (Strictly Country, 1996)
• Live at the Cafe Carpe with Randy Sabien (Fiddlehead Music, 1996)
• String Crazy (Wind River Guitar, 2000)
• Two of a Kind with Pat Donohue (Solid Air, 2001)
• Bottomlands (Solid Air, 2001)
• Blue Fandango (Wind River Guitar, 2005)
• (2004)
• The Blues Ain't News (Wind River Guitar, 2008)
• Eclectricity with David Lange (Wind River Guitar, 2011)
• Tracks (Wind River Guitar, 2015)

Notes and References

1. Web site: Complete List of the 47th Annual Grammy Award Winners. Christian Broadcasting Network. August 14, 2018.
2. Web site: Pink Guitar . Accenton Music . Accenton Music . 14 August 2018.
3. Web site: Guitarist Dowling debuts in Woodstock . Daily Freeman . Daily Freeman . 14 August 2018.
4. Web site: ADVANCED FINGERSTYLE WORKSHOP with Teja Gerken . Peghead Nation . Peghead Nation . 14 August 2018.
5. Web site: Fingerstyle guitarist Mike Dowling plays Pacifica . Mercury News . Mercury News . 14 August 2018.
6. Web site: Vassar Clements . Grammys . Grammys . 14 August 2018.
7. Web site: Interview With Mike Dowling . Acoustic Finger Style . Acoustic Finger Style . 14 August 2018.
8. Web site: Dowling trio stages Winship, Round . Aaron Davis Music . Aaron Davis Music . 14 August 2018.
9. Web site: Putting on the Style . Prairie Home Companion . Prairie Home Companion . 14 August 2018.
10. Web site: Friends organize fundraiser for Jackson musician with Parkinson's . Star Tribune . Star Tribune . 14 August 2018.
11. Book: Dowling . Mike . Acoustic Masterclass Series: Mike Dowling -- Uptown Blues (American Roots Guitar) . 2004 . Alfred Music . 0-7579-1530-2 . Pap/Com .