mike erkkinen

Mike Erkkinen became addicted to guitar playing in the early 90’s after listening to a Marcel Dadi record. From Dadi, he started listening to and trying to play like Chet Atkins and Jerry Reed. After coveting the abilities of these guitar monsters for a few years with questionable results, he discovered Reverend Gary Davis, Blind Willie Johnson, and Charlie Patton. The guitar playing of these pioneers was slightly more accessible, but their vocal colors were out of the reach for a middle aged white guy who had never even seen a cotton plantation. His latest musical addiction has been the great Django Rhinehardt and the modern day gypsies and followers of their exciting treatment of jazz standards. He also loves anything by Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys. Mike has studied with Martin Simpson, Bob Brozman, Mike Dowling, John Jorgenson, and a host of other great modern musicians, and has recently begun trying to play mandolin. Along with chasing his musical idols, Mike hopes to solo circumnavigate in his Ketch in the next couple of years.