ADAM RAFFERTY GOES BACK TO BASICS
http://www.adamrafferty.com


"I think, the first time I heard the guitar I was still in my mother's
womb" says Adam Rafferty.

He was born and raised in Harlem. He was mugged in front of his building
when he was 10. He played in a hard rock band at 12, got ripped off by a
club owner on his first gig at 15, and by 18 he was a rapper on a gold
record in overseas.

By 19 he was playing guitar professionally and at 20 he was playing an
after hours joint in Harlem on 137 street and Adam Clayton Boulevard
where the bandleader would drink himself into to oblivion and regularly
threaten customers with a 10 inch kitchen knife.

Adam has played the New York City subways, street corners - and played
the most upscale music rooms New York has to offer such as Birdland and
The Jazz Standard. He's led his own band through Europe, produced his
own albums, and never doubted for one minute his sole purpose in life -
to play the guitar.

That's callled "paying dues" - and you hear it in his songs, in his
feeling for the blues, in his groove, in his touch. The history and life
experience puts the fire in this man's music. He puts the "sizzle" in
the "steak" musically speaking.

Adam Rafferty (a.k.a. "Raf") has since played as a first-call, in-demand
guitarist with the greatest musicians on the planet at countless music
festivals (US and Europe), concert halls, and New York City night clubs
- with the likes of Dr. Lonnie Smith, The Dizzy Gillespie Big Band, L.A.
Studio legend Bennie Wallace (wrote the soundtrack for "White Men Can't
Jump"), bassist Bob Cranshaw (from the original Saturday Night Live
band), and Alvin Queen (drummer for Oscar Peterson), and Mike Longo -
Dizzy's pianist - to name a few.

Students have traveled across the country, and flown in from Europe -
just to Adam's his brain for of guitar knowledge. He's taught countless
workshops, written books and even has a new instructional DVD available.

So why is he playing solo acoustic guitar?

"When I was a kid my Dad played his old Martin guitar for me - and it
was magic. In fact, that's the original magic that turned me on to
music. I remember the smell of the wood, the crispy sound of the steel
strings, and my connection with my Dad. Playing acoustic guitar feels
like coming home to me."

"I still love playing with a band - the raucous, edgy possibilities of
grooving with the drums and bass. I will never stop doing that, ever.
But right now I am moved deeply by the sound of the acoustic guitar. It
is making my heart sing and making me feel good - so it must be right."

His first 2 acoustic CD's "Gratitude" and "Chameleon" consist of original 
compositions and cover songs by Steive Wonder, The Beatles, Bill Withers, 
and one of his employers - Dr. Lonnie Smith.  



"I chose songs with strong melodies that I love to hear. It's not even
about 'playing guitar' at this point - it's about conveying music and
leading listeners through a musical experience. The guitar is simply my
tool to do that."

"All great artists take chances, break out of their prior molds. The
danger for the artist is to do what worked last week, or last month and
to become a caricature of himself. It 'worked' becasue it was fresh and
in the moment, and now it's old. That's why I am branching into
uncharted territory. I feel excited and refreshed!"

The mix of well-known pop songs and original compositions will satisfy
listeners from different backgrounds. Those who yearn for the familiar,
and those who want original music, will both delight in this musical
experience.

"The challenge of playing Stevie Wonder's music on solo guitar is well -
serious! I had to arrange and practice songs with a bassline, melody and
simultaneious rhythm parts for months, just to get it to gel. And I
still need to practice daily to maintain my fluidity with the music."

"I love the way it physically challenges me and keeps my playing in tip
top shape - and the payoff is that the music sounds great! Once I start
nailing it I feel so enrgized and alive."

Rafferty's affinity for the Beatles started early on.

"The first songs I ever played were Beatles songs, and their records
were the first I heard. In fact, at age 6 I performed 'Blackbird' and
got my first standing ovation. What a thrill! I felt a surge of positive
energy from the audience, and enjoyed giving them the music even at that
early age. This is my way of tipping my hat to the Beatles and saying
thank you."

"The Bill Withers and Lonnie tunes have come into my life recently and I
found that these infectious melodies stuck in my head. They are not
typicallly played as solo guitar pices, to I thought what the heck - I
am the man for this job! And - I love how groovy Dr. Lonnie is - I want
to be able to lay a groove on an audience like he does. I have witnessed
it and experienced being on the bandstand with him and it is AWESOME."

The 6 originals, "Simplicity", "Machine Gun", "Jill's Song", "America",
"Vitamin E Blues" and "Grass" run the gamut from frenzied blugrass style
flatpicking to to boogie woogie style blues, to evocative, lush
picturesque ballads.

"I allow music to flow through me when I write, and for the first time
in years, I am not censoring it. I trust that if i feels right, it is
right - and that it will speak to others if it speaks to me."

And so the story goes - the true artist accomplishes and masters an art
form, yet still seeks new horizons, improvement, growth, and renewal.

"I feel like a kid. There is so much music here, right here on this
guitar of mine, I'll never get it done - but boy do I love working on it
and sharing it with others."

He concludes, "I am so grateful for all the opportunities I have had and
continue to have - and I'm also thankful for the hardships as I look
back. That's why I called this album 'Gratitude'. Thank You, Universe,
for all that you have given and continue to give to me."



New York City, 2007