National Fingerpicking Champion, Steven KING

Steven King is a relative rarity among guitarists - a fingerstylist who plays jazz on a acoustic steel-string. The resident of Washington State is a accomplished improviser, composer, orchestrator, arranger, and accompanist.

King is most known for his trademark simultaneous execution of "true" walking bass lines, melody, chords, and rhythms. Although King developed a powerful solo electric guitar style during his years as a dance band leader, his favorite performance mode is acoustic guitar, with which he won the 1994 National Fingerpicking Championship at the prestigious Walnut Valley Festival, in Winfield, Kansas. He has made numerous recordings of original and cover material, as well as several instructional books and videos.

King was born in New York and grew up in Los Angeles, where he began guitar lessons at age 13. His natural musical ability, a commercial arts major in college, additional coursework at Dick Grove School of Music and occasional private lessons have combined to make King a true master of his art. In addition to his solo concerts, Taylor Guitars clinics, and performances with his dance band, King produces and performs at Muriel Anderson's "All Star Guitar Night" concerts nationwide, as well as the annual Chet Atkins Appreciation Society's Festival in Nashville.