Guitar
John Knowles got his start on a plastic ukulele, purchased with paper-route money. A few years later, he bought his first Chet Atkins records and began playing along. John has worked with Nashville's finest guitarists including Chet Atkins, Jerry Reed, Lenny Breau and Tommy Emmanuel. His compositions and arrangements have been recorded by Chet, Jerry, Tommy, the Romero Family, James Galway, Raffi, and XUXA. His work has earned a Grammy and two Emmy nominations. In 1996, Chet Atkins awarded John an Honorary CGP (Certified Guitar Player) and in 2023, the National Thumb Pickers Hall of Fame voted John Thumb Picker of the Year. Guitarists around the world are learning from his publications including his FingerStyle Quarterly.
