“音乐是灵魂的良药，”柏拉图写道。“它给宇宙赋予灵魂，给心灵赋予翅膀，给悲伤赋予欢乐，给万物赋予生命。”令人惊讶的是，柏拉图在汤米·伊曼纽尔出生前 2000 多年就认识到了这个真理，但它也可以写在他身上。汤米演奏的每一首歌的每个音符都充满了即时的热情，这种热情是显而易见的，具有感染力。他的粉丝们爱上了他作为多才多艺的吉他手的无限天赋，他能够同时演奏三个部分，总是带着纯洁的心和真实的灵魂。他是一位真正的演奏家。但他似乎总是和观众一样对音乐的魔力感到高兴，甚至比观众更高兴，他的快乐照亮了一切。
用原声吉他完美地演奏这些多维度的编曲是一回事。但用那种久经考验的微笑、那种真实、无拘无束的喜悦来演奏，是一种不可抗拒的感染力，邀请人们像他一样深刻地感受他的音乐。“快乐，”他说，“一直存在，因为我通过音乐追逐它。看到人们眼中的惊喜，值得为之而活，为之而努力……我情不自禁地全心全意地为人们演奏，我为这一刻而欣喜若狂，这是我一生都在为之努力的。现在就在这里！”
Tommy 为每场演出和每张唱片带来的那种真诚的热情尤其强大，因为许多人的生活都极度缺乏真正的快乐。Tommy 的快乐就像他的音乐一样，是纯粹的，并且实时表达的。没有虚假。这种品质确实远远超越了任何一种语言，并且他的同胞可以立即理解。这就是他在表演时笑容满面的原因，也是他的观众如此笑容满面的原因。正如许多人所说，在他的演出中很难不感到快乐。因为他的快乐，以及作为源泉的永恒灵感之河，是举世公认的。而且感觉很好。
2018 年，Tommy 制作了一张伟大的专辑《Accomplice One》，这是一系列与他水平相当的优秀音乐家的二重唱。这是一个绝妙的想法，它似乎回答了这个问题：Tommy 能录制什么才能与他已经取得的成就相匹配？何不邀请其他技艺精湛的音乐家和艺术家与他二重唱？这个概念行之有效，因为艺术家的范围反映了 Tommy 对各种音乐的广泛热爱，包括 Rodney Crowell、Mark Knopfler、Amanda Shires、Jason Isbell、Jerry Douglas、Jake Shimabukuro 等。他的每一位同伴似乎都像 Tommy 一样受到了他的活力和激情的启发，而 Tommy 的演奏也毫不费力地优雅地进行着。
现在，人们期待已久的续集《Accomplice Two》即将面世，该专辑将于 2023 年春季发行。它与第一张专辑一样充满活力、多样性和冒险精神，拥有众多艺术家。这张专辑的艺术家包括摇滚传奇人物 Michael McDonald、Jorma Kaukonen 和 Little Feat；蓝草音乐巨星，如 Billy Strings、The Del McCoury Band、Sam Bush、Jerry Douglas、Sierra Hull 和 David Grisman；乡村音乐偶像，如 Nitty Gritty Dirt Band、Jamey Johnson 和 Raul Malo；以及吉他重量级人物，如 Yasmin Williams、Larry Campbell 和 Richard Smith。第一首单曲“White Freight Liner Blues”现已发行，由获得格莱美提名的羊角锤吉他手 Molly Tuttle 演唱。
汤米还有一部名为《Accomplice LIVE！》的新电视特别节目，将于 2023 年 3 月在 PBS 上播出。这部特别节目收录了汤米与他的同伙（如艾美露·哈里斯、罗德尼·克罗威尔、塞拉·赫尔、亚斯明·威廉姆斯等）的一些最著名的歌曲和二重唱。
汤米于 1955 年出生于澳大利亚新南威尔士州的马斯威尔布鲁克。他的父亲是一名工程师，热爱音乐和音乐家。有一天，他带了一把电吉他回家，想弄清楚它是如何工作的。他把吉他一点一点地拆开，想发现它的秘密。但汤米和他的哥哥菲尔对音乐的兴趣远大于对机械的兴趣，所以当他们的父亲外出工作时，他们会偷偷地把吉他带走。 他们俩都喜欢弹吉他，就好像他们已经学会了弹奏一样。他们的母亲会弹奏钢吉他，她向他们展示了和弦，让他们开始弹奏。在兄弟姐妹之间的竞争的推动下，他们组织了既有趣又有教育意义的比赛，他们很快就成为了出色的吉他手，而且没有接受过正规训练。虽然他们认为如果父亲知道了这件事，他会生气，而事实也确实如此，但他们错了。他对自己的儿子能够演奏音乐感到惊讶和兴奋。
不久，他们的大哥克里斯被招募来打鼓，他们的姐姐弗吉尼亚则弹奏钢棒吉他，一个家庭乐队就诞生了。他们欢快地演奏着时髦的吉他乐器，比如 The Shadows 的“Apache”，吉他手是汉克·马文，菲尔和汤米都崇拜并效仿他。他们称自己为 Emmanuel 四重奏。但当人们一直误以为他们是古典弦乐四重奏时，他们就把名字改成了 The Midget Surfaries。 他们参加了一场乐队比赛，轻松击败所有竞争对手，夺得头奖，在全国电视上露面。在那场节目中，他们如此从容地演唱了《阿帕奇》，以至于制片人告诉他们的父亲，他应该带着乐队上路。他同意了。
回到家后，他告诉了所有人这个计划。卖掉房子，上路，大约六岁的汤米开始巡回演出。这似乎是一场梦，但却是真的。他们不知道的是，他们的父亲最近得知自己患有无法治愈的心脏病，预计活不了多久了。他的医生说，如果他真的想做某事，他就应该去做。汤米记得，当他父亲的心脏最终停止跳动时，他的母亲独自悲伤了几个小时，然后出现，让他们选择“正常生活”或继续巡回演出。当然，他们选择了巡回演出，并签约了一个成功的巡回演出，这让他们有一段很长的时间都有收入。但这一切结束了，因为儿童福利部门以涉嫌违反童工法为由强迫他们停止巡回演出。
从这些起源开始，Tommy 的音乐向各个方向发展。二十多岁时，他是悉尼最受追捧的表演者和伴奏音乐家。到了 30 岁时，他在欧洲各地的体育场与几支摇滚乐队一起演奏电吉他。他本可以继续过摇滚明星的生活。然而，他渴望更纯粹、更贴近内心的东西。Tommy 摆脱了可靠的摇滚乐队引擎，即通过大量的放大器产生连锁效果，产生巨大的音效，转而使用原声音乐。
去掉一切，只留下最基本的要素：一把标准调弦的原声吉他，由一位雄心勃勃、不受束缚的吉他手和一位歌曲爱好者演奏。他总是以旋律为中心，用触动心灵的音符来表达曲调，而不是用一连串的音符。他的独特之处在于，他能够将空间动态和编曲的维度转化为吉他的六根弦。尽管许多人嘲笑他能做到这一点，但 Tommy 作为一名独奏吉他手制作了一系列热门专辑，并首先在澳大利亚成为巨星，很快便风靡全球。
汤米的转变灵感来自他的偶像切特·阿特金斯，他代表着一个人、一把吉他的纯粹，以及为音乐服务的无限热情。他一有时间，就亲自去纳什维尔见了切特·阿特金斯。他们之间的联系一触即发，就像他们的音乐一样，无法用言语表达。切特拿起吉他，两个人开心地演奏了几个小时。
这段友谊开启了他们终生的友谊，并永远影响了 Tommy 的音乐。Chet 欢迎 Tommy 加入吉他手行列，并授予他令人垂涎的 CGP（认证吉他手）头衔，有史以来只有另外四个人获得过这个荣誉，他们一起录制了一张专辑《The Day Finger Pickers Took Over the World》。尽管 Tommy 已经致力于独奏演奏家的生活，但获得 Chet 的爱和尊重将 Tommy 提升到了一个不同的境界。因为，正如 Chet 立刻意识到并告诉全世界的那样，像这样的音乐家并不常见；关注这个人吧。从世界各地门票销售一空的演出到多次格莱美提名、ARIA 奖、IBMA 奖，以及在众多音乐杂志读者投票中无数次获得“最佳原声吉他手”称号……全世界都在关注他。
当然，切特知道他在说什么。汤米在他独特的独奏道路上取得了非凡的成就。从 Midget Surfaries 乐队开始，他便受到全世界的喜爱和尊敬。汤米说：“当我还是个孩子的时候，我想从事表演事业。现在，我只想从事快乐事业。我演奏音乐，你会感到快乐。这是一份好工作。”
与指弹中国合作项目：
2013 Tomm&MartinTaylor 中国巡回演奏会
2023越南指弹音乐会
2022与指弹中国联合出版《完整吉他教程》书刊
Tommy Emmanuel
“Music is the medicine of the soul,” wrote Plato. “It gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, joy to sadness, and life to everything.” Remarkably, Plato recognized this truth somehow more than 2000 years before Tommy Emmanuel was even born, but it could have been written about him. The real-time exuberance Tommy brings to every note of every song he plays is palpable and infectious. His fans are in love with his unbound talent as a guitarist of multitudes, his ability to play three parts at once, always with pure heart and real soul. He is a true virtuoso. But he seems as delighted always with the magic of the music as the audience, if not more, and his joy illuminates everything.
It’s one thing to play these multi-dimensional arrangements flawlessly on an acoustic guitar. But to do it with that smile of the ages, that evidence of authentic, unbridled delight, is an irresistibly infectious invitation to feel his music as deeply as he does. “The joy, ” he says, “is there always because I’m chasing it through music. Seeing the surprise in peoples’ eyes is worth living and working for… I can’t help but play to the people with all my heart, which is overflowing with joy of being in that moment that I’ve worked all my life for. And here it is!”
That authentic exuberance Tommy brings to every show and every record is especially powerful, given the profound deficit of real joy in so many lives. Tommy’s happiness, like his music, is pure and expressed in real-time. Nothing is phony. It’s a quality that does reach far beyond any one language, and it’s instantly understood by all his fellow humans. It’s the reason he smiles so much while playing, and why his audience does as well. As many have said, it’s hard not to be happy at his shows. Because his joy, and the timeless river of inspiration, which is the source, is universally recognized. And it feels good.
In 2018, Tommy made the great album, Accomplice One, a series of duets with musicians great and varied, and all at his level. An inspired idea, it seemed to answer the question: What could Tommy possibly record that would match the energy and greatness he’s already achieved? How about bringing in other virtuoso musicians and artists to duet with him? It’s a concept that worked, as the range of artists reflected Tommy’s expansive love of all kinds of music, including Rodney Crowell, Mark Knopfler, Amanda Shires, Jason Isbell, Jerry Douglas, Jake Shimabukuro and more. Each of his accomplices seemed as inspired by his energy and passion as much as Tommy was by theirs, and he played with effortless grace.
Now comes the long-awaited sequel, Accomplice Two, out in spring of 2023. It shares the same exuberance, diversity, and sense of adventure as the first album, with a great range of artists. This album features rock legends Michael McDonald, Jorma Kaukonen, and Little Feat; bluegrass superstars such as Billy Strings, The Del McCoury Band, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Sierra Hull, and David Grisman; country icons such as Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Jamey Johnson, and Raul Malo; and guitar heavyweights like Yasmin Williams, Larry Campbell, and Richard Smith. The first single “White Freight Liner Blues” is out now and features the Grammy-nominated claw hammer guitarist, Molly Tuttle.
Tommy also has a new television special called Accomplice LIVE! which begins airing on PBS in March of 2023. This special features some of Tommy’s best-known songs and duets with his accomplices such as Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell, Sierra Hull, Yasmin Williams, and many others.
Tommy was born in 1955 in Muswellbrook, New South Wales Australia. His father, an engineer who loved music and musicians, brought home an electric guitar one day with the intention of finding out how it worked. Piece by piece, he took it apart to discover its secrets. But Tommy and his older brother Phil, were much more interested in music than mechanics, so when their dad was away at work, they’d surreptitiously sneak away with the guitar. They both took to it like they already played. Their mother, who played steel guitar, had shown them chords which got them started. Driven somewhat by a sibling rivalry, they developed contests that were both fun and educational and they became exceptional guitarists rapidly, and without formal training. Though they assumed their father would be angry if he found out, which he did, they were wrong. He was surprised and thrilled his sons could play music.
Soon their big brother Chris was enlisted to play drums, and with their sister Virginia playing lap-steel, a family band was born. They joyously rocked hip guitar instrumentals such as “Apache ” by The Shadows, featuring Hank Marvin on guitar, who both Phil and Tommy adored and emulated. They called themselves The Emmanuel Quartet. But when people kept mistaking them for a classical string quartet, they changed the name to The Midget Surfaries.
They entered a band competition, and easily surpassed all contenders to take first prize, a national TV appearance. On that show they burned through “Apache” with such aplomb that the producer told their dad he should take the band on the road. He agreed.
Back home he told everyone the plan. To sell the house and hit the road, and around age six Tommy went on tour. It seemed to be a dream, yet it was true. What they didn’t know was that their dad had learned recently that he had an incurable heart disease and was not expected to live for much longer. His doctor said if there was ever anything he really wanted to do; he should do it. When his father’s heart finally gave out, Tommy remembered, his mother grieved for a few hours alone, and then emerged to give them the choice of a “normal life” or staying on the road. They chose the road, of course, and signed up with a successful traveling show, which kept them gainfully employed for a good stretch. But that came to an end when the child welfare department forced them off the road for perceived child labor violations.
From these origins, Tommy’s music expanded in every direction. In his twenties, he was the most sought-after performer and session musician in Sydney. By age 30, he was burning on electric guitar with several rock bands in stadiums across Europe. He could have gone on to live the rock star life. Yet, he yearned for something purer and closer to his heart. Casting off the reliable rock band engine of monstrous sonics blasting with chains of effects through monstrous stacks of amps, Tommy went acoustic.
Stripping away everything but the essentials: one acoustic guitar in standard tuning played by one ambitiously unchained guitarist and a lover of song. Always it’s about melody, of expressing the tune not with a barrage of notes, but with those which touch the heart. And it’s about his singular greatness at translating the dimensional dynamics and dimensions of arrangements onto the six strings of his guitar. Although many scoffed that it was possible, Tommy made a series of hit albums as a solo guitarist, and became a major star first in Australia, and soon everywhere.
The inspiration for Tommy’s transformation was his hero, Chet Atkins, who represented the purity of one man, one guitar, and unlimited passionate for serving the song. Soon as he was able, he went to meet the man himself, in Nashville. Their bond was immediate, and like their music, existed beyond words. Chet picked up his guitar, and the two men jammed joyously for hours.
It started a lifelong friendship which shaped Tommy’s music forever. Chet welcomed Tommy into guitarist knighthood by bestowing upon him the coveted title of CGP (Certified Guitar Player), an honor awarded only to four other humans ever, and they recorded an album together, The Day Finger Pickers Took Over the World. Though already devoted to the life of a solo player, receiving the love and esteem of Chet lifted Tommy into a different realm. Because, as Chet recognized instantly and told the world, musicians like this don’t come along that often; pay attention to this man. And people have paid attention from sold out shows all over the world to multiple Grammy nominations, ARIA Awards, IBMA Awards, and countless “Best Acoustic Guitarist” wins in numerous music magazine readers polls…. the world is taking notice.
Of course, Chet knew of what he spoke. Tommy’s triumph on his singular solo path has been extraordinary. From the Midget Surfaries, he’s become beloved and revered around the planet. Tommy said, “When I was a kid, I wanted to be in show business. Now, I just want to be in the happiness business. I play music, and you get happy. That’s a good job.”
Collaboration project with Finger Bullet China:
2013 Tomm&MartinTaylor China Tour Concert
2023 Vietnam Finger Art Concert
Complete Guitar Tutorial to be published in 2022