Steve Hicks: Fine Fngerwork
Here is British guitarist and luthier Steve Hicks playing “Spring Fever” by Bill Mize and some information taken from his official website:
“Steve Hicks was born in South Ockendon, Essex in 1956. He started playing the guitar in his early teens, taking his first lessons from Flamenco guitarist Don Wickens in Kingston upon Thames. Hicks discovered folk music whilst at college and became heavily influenced by the music of John Renbourn and other guitarists from the British folk scene.
A major development occurred for Steve in the late 1970’s when he heard Duck Baker in concert. Duck was living in London, recording for Stefan Grossman’s label Kicking Mule Records and giving guitar lessons. Steve took lessons from Duck for over two years and met many of the other great artists recording for Kicking Mule Records. During this time Steve was living in Nottingham and performing floor spots at folk clubs throughout the region, this soon led to offers to play with various bands.
Throughout the 1980’s Steve taught guitar a lot and began studying classical guitar. A move to Scotland in the late 1980’s saw Steve become heavily involved with Scottish traditional music, playing at many sessions and dances throughout Dumfriesshire, Strathclyde and Lothian regions.
In 1994 Steve returned to student life at Anniesland College Glasgow, studying advanced acoustic guitar repair and violin family instrument repair. He progressed to London Guildhall University in 1999 where he studied musical instrument technology, becoming a maker of early fretted instruments. He graduated in 1999
Since 2000 Steve Hicks has built a solid reputation as a fingerstyle guitarist and luthier. He has has performed at prestigious events and venues in Europe and USA including The Chet Atkins Appreciation Society Convention, Nashville Tennessee, The Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago where Steve gave master classes and concerts with Eric Lugosch. The Ullapool International Guitar Festival, Scottish Highlands.The Toronto Fingerstyle Guitar Association on stage with David Gillis. The Stamford Folk and Blues Guitar Festival, Stamford, Lincolnshire UK (3 years running) and the Stevington Guitar Concert Series 3 times where Steve has performed duets on stage with Clive Carroll and John Goldie.“
Author: Robert Harris
