John Goldie

John Goldie

John Goldie is a guitarist known for acoustic fingerstyle playing and for combining different musical styles. He is regarded as one of the leading acoustic guitarists in the world, and his playing is noted for its intricate technique and stylistic range.

Recording work

His album Picked in the Past presents solo guitar arrangements of well-known rock songs. On the record, he interprets material including the Rolling Stones’ Honky Tonk Woman, Deep Purple’s Smoke On The Water, and Queen’s Crazy Little Thing Called Love, using only his Martin guitar. The album draws attention for presenting these songs in a stripped-down acoustic form.

Jazz background and collaborations

Before that release, Goldie’s work is described as having a stronger jazz focus. He works with Martin Taylor in Spirit of Django, a group described as multi award winning. His output shows both his jazz background and his broader interest in adapting familiar songs for acoustic guitar.

Recognition

His interpretations on Picked in the Past receive praise from the press and from musicians including Ronnie Wood, Bill Wyman and Brian May.