Biography
13 February 1952, Yokosuka, Japan, and raised in California, USA.The acoustic guitar sound of de Grassi had much to do with the growth and success of the Windham Hill Records label during the 80s. His clean, open-tuned newage music was similar, although more complex, to that of founder William Ackerman. Together with another Windham Hill artist Michael Hedges, they pioneered much of the solo acoustic guitar terrain to which the newage market was receptive. Although he started his musical education on trumpet, De Grassi took up the guitar at 13. Like Ackerman he was drawn to the music of John Fahey and Leo Kottke but also cites John Renbourn as a major influence. De Grassi’s music is both sombre and uplifting, good examples are the title track from ‘Western’ from 1980’s Clockwork and 1984’s Southern Exposure. The arrangements include minimal accompaniment from a small ensemble. De Grassi moved away from the label in...
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