John Richard King

I am an Indiana native with a lifelong passion for music. Born in Lebanon, Indiana, in 1964, I grew up in Zionsville, a suburb of Indianapolis. Music was always present in my home, with my parents and older brothers actively participating in school band programs.

Inspired by my family, I started playing the saxophone in 6th grade and fell in love with music. In high school, I picked up the guitar, balancing my interests between classical music and rock and roll. My dedication grew through jazz band and my role as drum major in the marching band, leading me to pursue a career in music education. I earned my bachelor's degree from Butler University and a master's in music from DePaul University in Chicago.

For 17 years, I taught middle and high school band in Indiana while continuing to play acoustic guitar. I studied classical guitar with Mark Maxwell and fingerstyle guitar with Dan DeVries, who greatly influenced my playing and arranging style. After a brief hiatus from guitar, I received a Teacher Creativity Grant in 2009, which allowed me to study with renowned guitarists and record my first CD, "Returning Home."

In 2003, I transitioned to school counseling, earning a Master’s in Counseling from Indiana University South Bend. I have since been a middle school counselor, occasionally consulting for competitive marching band programs.

I discovered a love for the ukulele and am incorporating it into my musical repertoire. I remain active in Northern Indiana, performing at various events and promoting live music. I also help musicians from Nashville, Tennessee, perform in the area. My goal is to continue learning and finding joy in making music, so stay tuned.

I specialize in fingerstyle guitar, incorporating melody, harmony, and rhythm to perform solo without singing or other instruments. I play folk, American pop, Celtic, Hawaiian, Bluegrass, and ragtime on both guitar and ukulele.

The singer/songwriter movement of the 1960s and 1970s, especially from Southern California, and the troubadour tradition greatly influence my music.

My favorite fingerstyle guitarists include Martin Simpson, Ed Gerhard, Tommy Emmanuel, Chet Atkins, Jerry Reed, Leo Kottke, Laurence Juber, Peppino D’Agostino, Mark Hanson, Tony McManus, Pete Huttlinger, and Pat Kirtley.

I've studied under Dan DeVries and Eric Lugosch, who have deeply influenced my playing and arranging. I'm also a fan of flatpickers like Kenny Smith, Bob Minner, Cody Kilby, Keith Sewell, Tony Rice, Norman Blake, and Russ Barenburg.

I admire ukulele players such as Kalei Gamiao, Cory Fujimoto, Kimo Hussey, Benny Chong, Jake Shimabukuro, and Marlowe Teichman.

My favorite singer/songwriters are Jackson Browne, James Taylor, Cat Stevens, Sting, Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Radney Foster, Bob Dylan, Billy Joel, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Townes Van Zandt.