Matt Rae

What does it take to become a Master of the Telecaster? To play alongside Forrest Lee, Jr., Arlen Roth, and Redd Volkaert? To be mentioned in the same breath as Brent Mason, Danny Gatton, and Johnny Hiland? If you're Matt Rae, you start "noodling around" on your Mother's 000 Martin acoustic at age 6 and then be able to claim "I have not missed a day of practice in the last 23 years". Just like getting to Carnegie Hall!!Matt's Mom was a guitar teacher and, although his parents tried to interest him in piano, Matt had already settled on guitar as well. A defining moment came at age 12 when Matt transferred to a new school which held regular talent shows. Impressed by upper classmen, nothing compared to the inspiration delivered by Matt's teacher Mark Bisson and his Les Paul. "I'll never forget how inspired I felt when Mark played. He had a great touch and perfect vibrato. He played the solo for Led Zeppelin's "Heart Breaker" note for note and even did the behind the nut bend! After seeing Mark Bisson play, I new what I wanted to do with my life." By age 15 Matt had received his first electric guitar, a US Fender Bullet, and was playing with Mark in the school blues band. He's never looked back...or elsewhere for that matter.Like most Matt went through a series of guitars, but it was the Telecaster that always held his interest. "I grew up listening to classic rock and my favorite guitarist was Jimmy Page. I spent hours listening to Led Zeppelin albums and learning his licks note for note. When I was in college I started getting intoTele players such as The Hellecsters, Jimmy Bryant, Danny Gatton, Roy Buchanan, Vince Gill, Albert Lee, James Burton and Arlen Roth. When I heard Albert Lee I fell in love with the Tele. When I went to college in Boston I heard Duke Levine play live for the first time and thats when I went out and bought a Tele."Perhaps the most significant event in Matt's career so far came in 1997. "I heard Arlen Roth live on a radio show in New York City. I was so inspired by the interview and his playing that I contacted the station and asked if they could put me in touch with Alren to ask about lessons. The station called contacted Arlen and he got in touch with me. It turned out he lived 4 miles from my house. I started lessons a year later Arlen asked me to join his band. Of course I said yes! I still take lessons from Arlen and he always has something to teach me".Matt's trademark guitar is his '63 Esquire with added neck pickup. He had always wanted a vintage Tele and Arlen helped him decide on this one. Matt also uses a hollow body guitar built by Rob Engel. "This guitar has inspired me to write more bluesy Jazz songs and is also great for country and surf music." Another guitar Matt has been using is a Blue Paisely Tele clone from Crook Custom Guitars. "It has a one piece maple neck which gives it a different tone than my Esquire. I'm using all three guitars on my new CD".Matt has yet to teach a guitar clinic, but it's something he'd very much like to do. Beyond that? "I just want to keep doing what I'm doing which is recording, writing, teaching, getting my name out there, and above all PRACTICING EVERY DAY!CDs available at www.mattrae.com and i-tunes