Michael O'Dorn

Michael started playing guitar when he was six years old.  He says, "My father was playing Merle Travis records in the house about that time.  I couldn't believe what I was hearing".  He told his dad he wanted to play guitar, so his dad got him a 1952 Gibson acoustic guitar.  He started playing Merle Travis and Chet Atkins records over and over and over until he began pickin' some of those tunes he had heard.  Michael says, "I have not been able to put the guitar down ever since then.  I just love the sound of strings".  After hearing him play we can all be thankful !!!

Michael is a master of fingerstyle guitar who performs, composes and teaches guitar music internationally.  He is a Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI) songwriter, a member of the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), and excelled in lyric writing at UCLA.  His music is published by JOBETTE and EMI.  Michael is a member of the Country Music Association (CMA), the Academy of Country Music (ACM), the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society (CAAS) and the Association of Fingerstyle Guitarists (AFG).

Michael's mastery of the guitar styles of Merle Travis, Chet Atkins, Marcel Dadi, and, of course, his own has him in demand to perform several times a year for the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society in Nashville, Tennessee, and for the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) trade shows in California and Tennessee.  He has taught Merle Travis style guitar at these events and for the National Guitar Summer Workshop (NGSW) at the University of Redlands, California.  Michael has performed numerous concerts in France, California and Tennessee and has opened for country performers Joe Diffie and Jeff Cook of the group Alabama.  He has also recorded on three of Jody Reynolds' albums (of "Endless Sleep" fame).  Also, Michael frequently donates time to perform for hospitals, benefits and telethons for groups such as the United Way.

Michael is endorsed by D'Aguisto Strings, Maton Guitars, Jim Triggs Guitars, B.C. Rich Guitars, R.C.Allen Guitars, Galletta Guitars and Traveler Guitars.  He is an Artist Representative for Standel Amplifiers, is endorsed by Stinger Amplifiers which is owned and operated by Jeff Cook, the lead guitar player of the group Alabama, by Sage Sound amplifiers made by Scott Tonelson and by Fred Kelly thumbpicks.

Michael has released two albums: "Michael's Magic Christmas" and "Hand Picked".  He is currently working on a third album.

For more in-depth information on Michael, visit his Web Site

.
Discography

 

Michael's Magical Christmas  (1992)

Michael's Christmas album is done exclusively on steel string guitar.  Music from this collection was chosen by ABC Channel 7, Los Angeles, for a Christmas news story.  It is beautifully done Christmas music played superbly that you will enjoy not only at Christmas time, but year "round."

 
  1. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen  2:15
  2. Silent Night  1:35
  3. Jingle Bells  2:10
  4. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear  2:05
  5. Winter Wonderland  2:05
  6. O Holy Night  3:50
  7. Away In A Manger  1:32
  8. Little Drummer Boy  2:30
  9. What Child Is This  2:32
  10. Hark The Herald Angels Sing  2:24
  11. O Come All Ye Faithful  1:34
  12. Deck The Halls  1:35
  13. We Three Kings  2:45
  14. O Christmas Tree  2:29
  15. Good King Wenceslaus  1:50
  16. O Little Town Of Bethlehem  1:45

 

 

Hand Picked   (1998)

Michael's latest is pure traditional thumb and fingerstyle listening pleasure.  Containing tunes of his heroes, Merle Travis, Chet Atkins and Marcel Dadi, that he handpicked to play on this CD, plus a couple of his own compositions let him demonstrate his great talent..  All tunes are done in his super clean style of playing and in a variety of tempos to total up to a great CD that you will surely enjoy..
  1. Drive-In  2:32
  2. Happy Again  2:13
  3. Blue Bell  2:23
  4. Je Te Veux  2:13
  5. Freight Train  2:53
  6. Saturday Night Shuffle  2:21
  7. Junk  2:53
  8. Maybelle  3:14
  9. Spirit of Brother Marcel  2:31
  10. I'll See You In My Dreams  3:09
  11. Windy And Warm / My Town Medley  2:15
  12. Elisa Daniel  4:11

 

 

To order you may email Michael at guitartist@msn.com, or send a letter to: 

Michael O'Dorn
P. O. Box 637, 
San Jacinto, CA, USA 92581 

Send check or money order payable to Michael O'Dorn/Skylar Records in the amount of $14.99 (U.S. dollars), plus $2.00 shipping and handling for each CD.