Biography
Andy McKee stands out as an award-winning fingerstyle guitarist whose technical command and precision allow his work to span bluegrass, progressive rock, and classical traditions. Although he had already gained notice within fingerstyle circles during the early 2000s, his profile rose sharply in 2005 once the video for “Drifting” circulated widely online. Born in 1979 in Topeka, Kansas, McKee took up the guitar at age thirteen. Initial inspiration came from virtuoso heavy-metal and progressive-rock performers such as Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson, and Metallica, yet he later gravitated toward the acoustic fingerstyle methods of Preston Reed, Michael Hedges, Don Ross, and similar players. Largely self-taught, he obtained his GED and left high school to devote himself entirely to the instrument. The decision proved worthwhile: in 2001 he placed third at the National Fingerstyle Guitar Competition held in Winfield, Kansas, and issued his first solo album, Nocturne. Two years afterward he captured first place in the Miscellaneous Acoustic Instrument division of the New Jersey State Fiddling and Picking Championships. During 2004 he brought out his second solo album, Dreamcatcher, and finished second in the fingerstyle event at the Canadian Guitar Festival.
McKee issued his third album, Art of Motion, on Candyrat Records in 2005; the record contained the track “Drifting.” At roughly the same time his online video for the piece began attracting thousands of views on YouTube and accumulating substantial votes on the aggregator Digg. Eventually “Drifting” was featured on YouTube after surpassing 49,000 views. The momentum extended to his other videos, boosting album sales and elevating his visibility on an international scale. Capitalizing on this surge, McKee released his fourth solo album, The Gates of Gnomeria, in 2007 and contributed to vocalist Josh Groban’s holiday collection Noel that same year. In 2008 he collaborated with fellow fingerstyle guitarist and early influence Don Ross on the duo album The Thing That Came from Somewhere. A year later he returned with the EP Common Ground. In 2010 McKee delivered his sixth album, Joyland, through Razor & Tie and appeared as a guest on guitarist Lee Ritenour’s project 6 String Theory. Exposure increased again in 2012 when he opened several Australian dates for the legendary pop artist Prince. McKee released his second EP, Mythmaker, in 2014.
McKee issued his third album, Art of Motion, on Candyrat Records in 2005; the record contained the track “Drifting.” At roughly the same time his online video for the piece began attracting thousands of views on YouTube and accumulating substantial votes on the aggregator Digg. Eventually “Drifting” was featured on YouTube after surpassing 49,000 views. The momentum extended to his other videos, boosting album sales and elevating his visibility on an international scale. Capitalizing on this surge, McKee released his fourth solo album, The Gates of Gnomeria, in 2007 and contributed to vocalist Josh Groban’s holiday collection Noel that same year. In 2008 he collaborated with fellow fingerstyle guitarist and early influence Don Ross on the duo album The Thing That Came from Somewhere. A year later he returned with the EP Common Ground. In 2010 McKee delivered his sixth album, Joyland, through Razor & Tie and appeared as a guest on guitarist Lee Ritenour’s project 6 String Theory. Exposure increased again in 2012 when he opened several Australian dates for the legendary pop artist Prince. McKee released his second EP, Mythmaker, in 2014.
Albums
Singles
