John Fahey Guitar Tab Books, Instruction DVDs, Solos, Arrangements, Video Lessons

John Fahey

    John Fahey was born on February 28, 1939 in Takoma Park, Maryland (a suburb of Washington, DC). In 1959, Fahey started his own record label, Takoma, and made his first "American Primitive" guitar album.

    The album did not generate great public interest, but it became legendary for introducing John's arrangement of the hymn "In Christ There Is No East or West," which became a fingerpicker's standard. The album presented Fahey's personal blues-based style.
  
    Setting music aside for a time, Fahey studied philosophy in the late 50's and early 60's at the University of Maryland, American University, and U. C. Berkeley. The folk boom of the 1960's drew him back into performing and in 1963 the Takoma label was revived for a recording of Delta blues guitarist Booker T. Washington White. Following this, Fahey returned to the South with fellow blues enthusiasts Bill Barth and Henry Vestine in search of Skip James, whom they found and recorded.
  
    By 1964, Fahey was composing again combining the influence of Skip James with his earlier exposure to symphonies and Gregorian Chant. By the early 1970's, Fahey had developed a respectable following. He recorded two of his most acclaimed albums, "Of Rivers and Religion" and "After the Ball" on the Reprise label. In 1972, John took an interest in the music and personality of Brazilian guitarist Bola Sete which led him to pursue meditation and yoga as forms of enlightenment.
    
    By the early 1980's, Fahey was again recording for Takoma. He recorded his first "live" album in Tasmania in 1981, the same year he moved to Oregon. The Takoma label disbanded, but Fahey continued to record for Rounder's Varrick label. After some health problems in the early 1990's, he made a strong comeback late in the decade.

    His style had changed though, using electric guitar but still incorporating a wide variety of influences. At the same time he retained an interest in American folk music. Several of his early recordings were reissued on a new label, Revenant, which he co-owned. Fahey's musical influence touched not only close associates such as Leo Kottke but also such rockers as Chris Stein. Fahey passed away on Feb 22, 2001 at the age of 61.