News Archive - 2002

November and December 2002

It Has Been a Busy Fall and Winter Season

Even though the year is winding to a close, Richard continues to tour at a break-neck pace with the increased demand for his concert program and workshop series. Following a successful New Zealand tour on the North and South Island in September, Richard returned to the USA for a 4-state, 2-country tour in October with visits to Missouri, Arkansas, Washington, Colorado, USA and British Columbia, Canada.

November took Richard to Ireland for a 3-week tour, bringing crowds to their feet with his "Fingerstyle Guitar through Time" program. As a guest on BBC radio in Belfast, RTE Lyric Radio in Limerick, Tipp FM in Clomel, News Talk 106 in Dublin, and LMFM in Drogheada, Richard introduced several original tunes to listeners and gathered up new fans of his music and wit.

With a one day rest between air flights, Richard flew into Orlando and back out of Tampa to Kansas for a short after-Thanksgiving appearance, only to return to Florida for a December concert and workshop tour. He will finish up the year sharing the evening with Roy Rogers and Norton Buffalo as they meet at Skipper’s, Tampa’s premier blues venue.

October 2002

Four Scream Halloween

There's no better way to kick off the fall season than with a few road stories by Richard.The October issue of Mel Bay Publications' on line magazine "Guitar Sessions" features a collection of Richard's zany experiences while on tour. These hilarious recollections of road adventures speak for themselves - or should we say "scream"! Click here to read more about the four screams, including the "Night of the Living Pumpkin Head".

September 2002

From Canada to New Zealand

The end of August found Richard in Canada as part of the 31st Music Industries Association of Canada (MIAC) Conference and Trade Show. Sponsored by MOL Marketing Solutions, Tacoma Guitars' exclusive Canadian distributor, Richard showcased on the main stage to a packed arena of exhibitors at the Toronto International Centre. This conference draws exhibitors and attendees from Canada and the United States, and is Canada's largest trade show for musical products and pro audio/lighting equipment. This year's theme, "Make Music For Life", certainly supports Richard's view on making music a part of your life, whether you are a player or an active listener of music.

The beginning of September takes Richard to New Zealand as part of a 3-1/2 week concert tour.

Traveling to this far land is a first for this ever-busy guitarist as he performs in a variety of settings from the North to the South Island. Part of this tour includes an interview with Wayne Mowat's "In Touch with New Zealand" on New Zealand's Public Radio. Stay tuned for Richard's travel log of this tour.

August 2002

Fingerstyle Guitar Magazine Captures the Essence of Richard

"To say Richard Gilewitz has a unique personality would be an understatement. His quick wit and twisted sense of humor has made him an entertainer as well as a fine guitarist." So begins the interview with Richard Gilewitz and Bill Piburn of Fingerstyle Guitar Magazine.

Titled "Left of Center", followers of Richard and his music will want this brief interview to be continued. For those who are just meeting Richard for the first time, the article is a fitting introduction to the man and his music.

Available from fine bookstores such as Barnes and Nobles, and from your favorite guitar shop. Pick up your May/June 2002 No. 46 issue today. Fingerstyle Guitar Magazine (www.fingerstyleguitar.com) is published bi-monthly and is distributed worldwide.

July 2002

"If You're Ever in Nashville.."

July is a busy month for Richard as he travels to Nashville for the Summer NAMM convention -- July 18 - July 21. This session of the east-coast conference of the National Association of Music Manufacturers is a jammed packed trade show for the music industry. Richard has been invited to attend this event which represents the worldwide business interests of music product retailers, manufacturers, publishers, wholesalers and distributors.

On Thursday, July 18, Richard starts off the weekend with a special appearance at "The Sounds of Tacoma " event at The Basement (1604 8th Ave. South, 615/254-1604). Open to the public with no cover charge as part of Tacoma Guitars "Dealer and Customer Appreciation Night", he will kick off the evening with selections of originals, including "Mrs. Firecraker's Place". Written for a movie soundtrack, the entire transcript of "Mrs. Firecracker's Place" is available for downloading from Mel Bay's e-zine "Guitar Sessions®".

The evening will continue with a grand line-up of players, hand picked by Western Beat's Billy Block, demonstrating their chops. This "in-the- round" session will present some of the country's best-known songwriters from both the Nashville scene and from across the nation, including Marcus Hummon (Dixie Chicks), Duane Jarvis (Lucinda Williams), Anne McCue (on tour with Lucinda Williams), Chuck Jones (Diamond Rio), Chuck Cannon (Toby Keith).

A JF21 jumbo maple Tacoma Guitar, personally autographed by Trisha Yearwood, will be given away to a lucky winner attending this event. Sign up that evening for a great opportunity to win this guitar.

Then on Friday night July 19, Richard will be joined by other Mel Bay authors performing at the 10th Edition of Muriel Anderson's "All Star Guitar Night" at The Ryman Auditorium. This prestigious event at NAMM brings together artists of various genres and will honor Chet Atkins. Scheduled performers include the Second Nashville Guitar Quartet, as well as solo appearances by Muriel Anderson, Ed Gerhard, Alex DeGrassi, Richard Smith, Nokie Edwards, John Pell, Seymour Duncan, Alison Brown, Phil Keaggy, and Richard. Other surprise guests will be announced that evening.

June 2002

Fingerstyle Guitar Selections Now Available!

Gillazilla Music is pleased to announce the June 1 release of Fingerstyle Guitar Selections, a new music book by Richard. This long awaited project is now completed and is available exclusively from his web site and from Gillazilla Music.

Now utilizing TablEdit©, Fingerstyle Guitar Selections for the acoustic guitar is a revised edition of the 1986 Richard Gilewitz Songbook and contains many of the most popular pieces of the earlier release, as well as several musical notation elements not previously available.

Within this 96-page book, you'll discover 7 songs in both musical notation and tab, personally transcribed by Richard. Ranging from "Echoing Gilewitz" (the excerpt from Richard's original "Echoing Wilderness" which was titled and recorded by Leo Kottke) to "Gove's Tune", a treasure of a tune once forgotten by Gove Scrivenor, these tunes are individually numbered with study notes at the beginning of each song.

Designed for the beginner -- with easy to follow picking patterns from which to build skills -- a 12 point "Gillahintz" section offers inspiration and common sense techniques to the player.

For the advanced player seeking the challenge of discovering the wide range of possibilities available from the guitar, this edition offers complex alternatives to predictable fingerpicking patterns.

May 2002

Now you never have to miss out playing a 12-string guitar because of tuning problems! Richard has offered to share his secret to tuning a 12-string guitar. Click here to read Richard's take on tuning in an exclusive article on the GHS Strings site.

New Book Soon to be Released

Gillazilla Music is pleased to announce the upcoming release of a new book by Richard. He has just completed this project and it will be available shortly. Watch for the notice on this site in the "Music" section or e-mail Richard to be placed on a notice list.

Fingerstyle Selections for the Acoustic Guitar is a revised edition of the 1986 Richard Gilewitz Songbook. Now utilizing TablEdit©, this brand new version contains many of the most popular pieces of the earlier release, as well as several musical notation elements not previously available.

Designed for the beginner -- with easy to follow picking patterns from which to build skills, and simple pathways to help the player develop ways to improve techniques -- this book will provide the opportunity to expand the learning curve.

For the advanced player seeking the challenge of discovering the wide range of possibilities available from the guitar, this edition offers complex alternatives to predictable fingerpicking patterns.

Fingerstyle Selections for the Acoustic Guitar promises to be a welcome addition to every player's repertoire.

April 2002

Touring Updates

Richard is always moving from town to town as he tours this spring from Wisconsin to Massachusetts, Arkansas to California, Vancouver to Toronto, Nashville to New Zealand and beyond. His concert series, "Fingerstyle Guitar through Time", has been receiving great reviews and his workshop/seminar program for Tacoma Guitars, Peavey Electronics, and GHS Strings is not to be missed. If you wish to receive an e-mail notice when he will be in your area, please sign up here. Your name will be placed on his mailing list for use only for announcements. This list is private and personal and is never sold!

March 2002

Now you can send a greeting to your family and friends with a click of the cursor! No more late birthday messages, forgotten anniversaries, or guilt feelings about missing those important and significant benchmark dates -- a major move that could save you from being in the "dog house".

Send a Gilla-Greeting! It's easy and you can add your own personal message. Plus "Mrs. Firecracker's Place" is a perfect lively tune to brighten up anyone's day. Just click on this link and you are on your way to a hassle-free way to remember those special people in your life. [site no longer available]

February 2002

Set your sights on the February issue of Mel Bay Publishing "Guitar Sessions"®. A complete transcription of Richard's original tune "Mrs. Firecracker's Place" is now available for downloading. It's free, too! As the first cut on the 1994 recording of Voluntary Solitary, this tune has a special reason for being written. Read the history behind the piece and take a look at the real Mrs. Firecracker!

Curious about what Richard does during downtime on the road? Tales from the Road within "Guitar Sessions"® will take you into the pits as Richard makes a move to save himself.

Well, you will just have to read the rest of the story......

January 2002

Tacoma Guitars has announced that they are teaming up with Richard in launching their new program of educational and informative workshops. Dealers and attendees will have the opportunity to meet firsthand with Richard as he shares a wealth of experience that is based on years of conducting fingerstyle guitar and sound reinforcement seminars. As Tacoma Guitars' exclusive traveling clinician, Richard will conduct these interactive clinics at local Tacoma dealers nationwide. For clinic dates, be sure to check Richard's calendar. Visit www.tacomaguitars.com for more information about Tacoma Guitars and their clinic program.