Pete Huttlinger
Encyclopedia
Pete Huttlinger is an American
guitarist
. He is a graduate of Berklee College of Music
. He is a respected Nashville
studio artist. In 2000, he won the National Fingerstyle Guitar Championship at the Walnut Valley Festival
in Winfield, Kansas
. He has performed around the world with such artists as John Denver
, LeAnn Rimes
and many others. As a solo artist he performs across the U.S. and Europe.
Born in Washington, D.C.
, Huttlinger descended from two lines of prominent journalists. His grandfather on his mother’s side, Fred Walker, was an editor of the San Francisco Call-Bulletin
, reporting directly to its owner and publisher, William Randolph Hearst
. Huttlinger’s father, Joseph, was a White House correspondent
and a publisher of his own newsletter on the oil industry
. "My dad took my mom to the White House
on their first date," Huttlinger says, "and while they were walking around, President Truman
came out and said, ‘Hi, Joe.’ That got Mom’s attention.”
By the age of 12, Huttlinger had begun music lessons and by 14 he had settled on the guitar. Soon after he graduated from high school, a relative left him a small inheritance. He decided to use this windfall to study at Berklee College of Music. It was there that Huttlinger found he had a knack for music theory and harmony.
During the early ‘90’s, John Denver’s tour manager and producer Kris O’Connor heard Huttlinger on another project and recommended him for Denver’s band. Huttlinger toured, recorded and performed on television with Denver from 1994 until the singer’s death in 1997.
Huttlinger has performed on numerous Grammy-winning
and Grammy-nominated projects. He has also been nominated for an Emmy
for music he both composed and performed for a PBS
special. His performances have been used in several national TV series, including the PBS Nature
special "Let This Be A Voice." He created the theme song for ESPN
’s Flyfishing America, a program on which he has made guest appearances.
As a recording artist Huttlinger has released numerous albums and received wide-acceptance ranging from his critically acclaimed Naked Pop to Things Are Looking Up. His latest CD, released in 2009 on Instar Records is Fingerpicking Wonder: The Music of Stevie Wonder
.
In 2007, Huttlinger made his debut at New York City’s Carnegie Hall
. He was invited back in 2008 and made his first appearance there as a solo artist. He is scheduled to perform again at Carnegie Hall on January 9, 2010.
In 2004 and 2007, he was invited to participate in both of Eric Clapton
’s Crossroads Festivals
. Huttlinger also makes appearances as a side-man. He toured with John Denver for many years and appears with Country/Pop superstar LeAnn Rimes, including the BBC Television’s “Live From Abbey Road
,” a series taped at the famous London studios, and ABC
’s “Dancing With The Stars
.”
He is a regularly featured performer with the Nashville Chamber Orchestra and has appeared with a number of other symphonies.
Huttlinger lives in Nashville.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
. He is a graduate of Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
. He is a respected Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
studio artist. In 2000, he won the National Fingerstyle Guitar Championship at the Walnut Valley Festival
Walnut Valley Festival
The Walnut Valley Festival is a well-known acoustic music festival, held annually in Winfield, Kansas. The main genre of music is bluegrass, but other acoustic styles are represented...
in Winfield, Kansas
Winfield, Kansas
Winfield is a city situated along the Walnut River in the west-central part of Cowley County, located in South Central Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 12,301...
. He has performed around the world with such artists as John Denver
John Denver
Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr. , known professionally as John Denver, was an American singer/songwriter, activist, and humanitarian. After growing up in numerous locations with his military family, Denver began his music career in folk music groups in the late 1960s. His greatest commercial success...
, LeAnn Rimes
LeAnn Rimes
LeAnn Rimes is an American country/pop singer. She is known for her rich vocals and her rise to fame as an eight-year-old champion on the original Ed McMahon version of Star Search, followed by the release of the Patsy Cline-intended single "Blue" when Rimes was only age 13, resulting in her...
and many others. As a solo artist he performs across the U.S. and Europe.
Born in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, Huttlinger descended from two lines of prominent journalists. His grandfather on his mother’s side, Fred Walker, was an editor of the San Francisco Call-Bulletin
San Francisco Call
The San Francisco Call was a newspaper that served San Francisco, California. Because of a succession of mergers with other newspapers, the paper variously came to be called The San Francisco Call & Post, the San Francisco Call-Bulletin, San Francisco News-Call Bulletin, and the News-Call Bulletin...
, reporting directly to its owner and publisher, William Randolph Hearst
William Randolph Hearst
William Randolph Hearst was an American business magnate and leading newspaper publisher. Hearst entered the publishing business in 1887, after taking control of The San Francisco Examiner from his father...
. Huttlinger’s father, Joseph, was a White House correspondent
White House Press Corps
The White House Press Corps is the group of journalists or correspondents usually stationed at the White House in Washington, D.C. to cover the president of the United States, White House events and news briefings. Their offices are located in the West Wing....
and a publisher of his own newsletter on the oil industry
Petroleum industry
The petroleum industry includes the global processes of exploration, extraction, refining, transporting , and marketing petroleum products. The largest volume products of the industry are fuel oil and gasoline...
. "My dad took my mom to the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
on their first date," Huttlinger says, "and while they were walking around, President Truman
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
came out and said, ‘Hi, Joe.’ That got Mom’s attention.”
By the age of 12, Huttlinger had begun music lessons and by 14 he had settled on the guitar. Soon after he graduated from high school, a relative left him a small inheritance. He decided to use this windfall to study at Berklee College of Music. It was there that Huttlinger found he had a knack for music theory and harmony.
During the early ‘90’s, John Denver’s tour manager and producer Kris O’Connor heard Huttlinger on another project and recommended him for Denver’s band. Huttlinger toured, recorded and performed on television with Denver from 1994 until the singer’s death in 1997.
Huttlinger has performed on numerous Grammy-winning
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
and Grammy-nominated projects. He has also been nominated for an Emmy
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
for music he both composed and performed for a PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
special. His performances have been used in several national TV series, including the PBS Nature
Nature (TV series)
Nature is a wildlife television program produced by Thirteen/WNET New York. It has been distributed to United States public television stations by the PBS television service since its debut on October 10, 1982. Some episodes may appear in syndication on many PBS member stations around the U.S. and...
special "Let This Be A Voice." He created the theme song for ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
’s Flyfishing America, a program on which he has made guest appearances.
As a recording artist Huttlinger has released numerous albums and received wide-acceptance ranging from his critically acclaimed Naked Pop to Things Are Looking Up. His latest CD, released in 2009 on Instar Records is Fingerpicking Wonder: The Music of Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
.
In 2007, Huttlinger made his debut at New York City’s Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
. He was invited back in 2008 and made his first appearance there as a solo artist. He is scheduled to perform again at Carnegie Hall on January 9, 2010.
In 2004 and 2007, he was invited to participate in both of Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
’s Crossroads Festivals
Crossroads Guitar Festival
The Crossroads Guitar Festival is a music festival and benefit concert first held in 2004 and again in 2007 and 2010. The festivals benefit the Crossroads Centre founded by Eric Clapton, a drug treatment center located in Antigua. The concerts are also intended to be a showcase for a variety of...
. Huttlinger also makes appearances as a side-man. He toured with John Denver for many years and appears with Country/Pop superstar LeAnn Rimes, including the BBC Television’s “Live From Abbey Road
Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios is a recording studio located at 3 Abbey Road, St John's Wood, City of Westminster, London, England. It was established in November 1931 by the Gramophone Company, a predecessor of British music company EMI, its present owner...
,” a series taped at the famous London studios, and ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
’s “Dancing With The Stars
Dancing with the Stars
Dancing with the Stars is the name of several international television series based on the format of the British TV series Strictly Come Dancing, which is distributed by BBC Worldwide – the commercial arm of the BBC. Currently the format has been licensed to over 35 countries...
.”
He is a regularly featured performer with the Nashville Chamber Orchestra and has appeared with a number of other symphonies.
Huttlinger lives in Nashville.
Discography
- Catch & Release (Instar Records, 1994)
- Naked Pop Favored NationsFavored NationsFavored Nations is a record label started by guitarist Steve Vai and former Guitar Center owner Ray Scherr in 1999. The first album ever released by Favored Nations was Frank Gambale's Coming to Your Senses in 2000...
, 2002) - Hymns for Guitar (Instar, 2005)
- Two Friends Two Guitars - Some John Denver Favorites (Instar, 2005)
- The Santa Rita Connection (Instar, 2006)
- Things Are Looking Up (Instar, 2007)
- First Light - A Pete Huttlinger Christmas (Instar, 2007)
- Fingerpicking Wonder: The Music of Stevie Wonder (Instar, 2009
Books
- The Peter Huttlinger Collection Volume 1 (2004, Instar, ISBN 978-7770039386)
- Hymns for Guitar (2005, Instar, ISBN 978-7770047022)
- First Light - A Pete Huttlinger Christmas Songbook (2008, Instar, ISBN 978-7774559675)
Instructional Videos
- Learn To Play the Songs of John Denver (2001, Homespun)
- Arrangements For Solo Acoustic Guitar (2003, Homespun)
- A Guitarist's Guide To Better Practicing (2003, Homespun)
- Essential Exercises for Fingerstyle Guitar (2004, Homespun)
- Arrangements For Solo Acoustic Guitar #2 (2006, Homespun)
- Learn to Play the Songs of Jim Croce (2006, Homespun)
- Pete Huttlinger's Wonderful World of Chords (2008, Homespun)
- Pete Huttlinger Teaches The Songs Of Gordon Lightfoot (2008, Homespun)