David Bromberg

The Guitar Artistry Of David Bromberg

In this intimate portrait, the legendary David Bromberg talks about his influences and performs the music he loves - a wide panorama of American blues, folk, country, bluegrass, ragtime, jazz and contemporary sounds.

Inspired by the music of Pete Seeger and the Weavers, among others, he began studying the guitar at age 13. After graduating from Tarrytown High School, he enrolled at Columbia University intent on a career as a musicologist. During this period he discovered the old recordings of Blind Blake, Lonnie Johnson, Big Bill Broonzy, Marshall Owens, Luke Jordan and other great country bluesmen, as well as contemporary recordings of B. B. King, Freddie King and Albert King. He studied with Rev. Gary Davis for several years and as Rev. Davis said, 'I have no children but I have several sons'. David was a son to the great Reverend.

Drawn to Greenwich Village's flourishing coffeehouse folk music scene of the mid-1960's, David left Columbia University and opted to devote full time to his music. Shortly thereafter, his extraordinary guitar picking and exceptional stylistic range brought him to the attention of many other musicians: Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr, George Harrison, Tom Paxton, and Chubby Checker are only a few of the notables who sought David out as a back-up artist for recording. In all he has played as a sideman on over 100 albums.