Tommy Emmanuel is an Australian fingerstyle acoustic guitarist and composer, born in Muswellbrook, New South Wales, who began performing professionally as a child and developed a self-taught, highly percussive Travis-picking-derived technique inspired by his idol and mentor Chet Atkins. Unable to read music, he built a career as a solo instrumental performer, releasing dozens of albums of original compositions and arrangements and touring internationally for over six decades.

One of only five guitarists ever awarded Chet Atkins’ personal “Certified Guitar Player” honor, Emmanuel is widely regarded as among the world’s foremost acoustic guitar virtuosos; he was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2010, won a 2024 Grammy Award for Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella, and is credited with elevating the solo acoustic guitar to a major concert instrument.

Sources:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Emmanuel