Already a legend in his native Australia, guitarist Tommy Emmanuel's fame is spreading fast across Europe and the US.

In Britain, he already has a dedicated cult following.

Emmanuel has been playing guitar on stage since he was four as he worked his way up from an impoverished childhood in The Outback.

In his 40-year career, he has had four platinum and three gold albums and won numerous awards.

Perhaps the greatest measure of the esteem in which he is regarded Down Under was when he was chosen to join Australia's highest achievers, including Kylie Minogue, golfer Greg Norman and comedian Paul Hogan, to play at the closing ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

He says: "I've spent all my life playing music and entertaining people. I never wanted to do anything else. Music brings people together."

Among his peers, he is regarded as one of the greatest players working today.

Despite such accolades, the Melbourne resident refuses to grow into a tall poppy. He says: "To me, music is something that is beautiful and positive. If I can pass that torch on to others, I'm happy."

The secret of his success seems simple: Few instrumentalists have his knack for bringing jazz improvisation into a mix of blues, country, rock, classical and Spanish guitar music. He is also a master of his chosen instrument.

He says: "I have roots in all sorts of styles of music, and I'm able to draw on all of that. At the end of the day, what pulls it all together is my sense of melody."

Like his great hero and mentor, the late Chet Atkins, whose work as a producer and session musician made him an architect of the Nashville sound, Emmanuel spent years cutting his teeth as a session player and songwriter before launching a solo career in earnest.

1988's Up From Down Under was followed by classics such as The Journey, Midnite Drive and The Day Fingerpickers Took Over The World (with Atkins).

Emmanuel has also worked with Sir George Martin, Stevie Wonder, Eric Clapton and Olivia Newton-John and has been one of Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings.

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