Amongst a phalanx of steel-string acoustic guitar masters, Leo Kottke stands alone as a virtuoso whose combination of innovation, precision, sensitivity, timing, and dexterity remain unmatched over a career spanning five decades, 30-plus records, and thousands of solo concerts worldwide. Although his recordings have gained consistent critical acclaim, he is best known for his scintillating live performances, each markedly different in form and content from the next.

When Taylor Guitars crafted its Leo Kottke signature model, they described its namesake as follows:

“More than any other artist, Leo Kottke has defined the role of the contemporary acoustic guitarist as self-styled virtuoso, amassing a worldwide following in the process. The self-taught guitarist first surfaced with his legendary 1969 recording, “Six and Twelve-String Guitar”. Since then he has blazed a singular stylistic path that continues to diverge from mainstream guitar music. Classical precision, pop attractiveness, jazz fluency, 20th-century harmony, bluesy fundamentalism, rubbery, syncopated rhythms, and lyrics that feature quasi-literary characterizations all vie for supremacy in his music and challenge preconceived notions of how acoustic guitar music should sound. In addition to his masterful musicianship, Kottke is beloved for a droll perspective on life that puts a tilt on his material and keeps concert audiences highly amused.” – Taylor Guitars