I have an eclectic taste in music. My iPod has everything from classical to rock to pop to dance to hip hop to rap to R&B to country and a tiny bit of jazz. The only thing I don't really like is heavy metal. And I love Christmas music, weird I know. Very few of my friends on this side of the world have heard of Tommy Emmanuel.
He's an Australian guitar player who has been around for a long time. Back when I was still a teenager he played on recordings for Air Supply and Men at Work and was then part of the band Dragon.
He become a little more prominent overseas when he and his brother Phil, performed during the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics Closing Ceremony.
A fingerstyle guitarist Tommy Emmanuel was inspired at a young age by Chet Atkins. As an adult he recorded and album with Chet Atkins. In 1999, in Nashville, Chet Atkins presented him with the guitar world's highest honour - the C.G.P. Award (Certified Guitar Player). Chet Atkins bestowed the C.G.P. award on only 4 guitar players, Tommy Emmanuel, Steve Wariner, John Knowles and Jerry Reed. That's pretty impressive, no?
Anyways, Tommy is currently recording a Christmas Album that's due out later this year. And if it's not in my stocking or someone doesn't downlown it for me, then I download it myself.