Michael Chapman

During a career that stretched over seven decades, Michael Chapman gained a dual reputation as one of England's finest original singer/songwriters and most restlessly talented guitar players, equally comfortable in folk, rock, free improvisation, global music styles, blues, and jazz. With over 40 albums to his credit, this former art and photography teacher was embraced by a host of boundary-crossing younger musicians. No two albums in his catalog are alike, starting with his 1969 fingerpicking Brit-folk classic Rainmaker and his 1970 singer/songwriter masterpiece Fully Qualified Survivor. Later recordings, including 1976's rock & roll outing Savage Amusement, his proto-new age 1987 offering Heartbeat, and instrumental forays in the 21st century including the "guitar travelscapes" of Americana and Words Fail Me, as well as Pachyderm and The Resurrection and Revenge of the Clayton Peacock, showcase the full range of his playing, composing, and improvising styles.