Stefan Grossman (born April 16, 1945) is an American acoustic fingerstyle guitarist and singer, music producer and educator, and co-founder of Kicking Mule records. He is known for his instructional videos and Vestapol line of videos and DVDs.
Early life and influences
Born in Brooklyn, New York, to Herbert and Ruth Grossman. Grossman described his upbringing, in Queens, New York, as "lower middle-class", and his parents as "very leftist", valuing education and the arts. He began playing guitar at the age of nine, when his father bought him a Harmony f-hole acoustic guitar. Later he moved on to an archtop Gibson guitar which he played between the ages of nine and eleven, taking lessons and learning to read music. For a few years, he gave up playing but resumed again at the age of 15.
Grossman's interest in the Folk revival was sparked by attending the Washington Square Park "Hoots", and he started listening to old recordings of artists such as Elizabeth Cotten, Big Bill Broonzy, Lead Belly, Josh White, Lightnin' Hopkins, Rev. Gary Davis, Blind Willie Johnson, Blind Boy Fuller, Son House, Charlie Patton, Skip James, Blind Blake, Blind Lemon Jefferson and Woody Guthrie.
Podcasts:
Stefan Grossman
ALBUMS
- Played A Little Fiddle released: 2006
- Keeper of the Vine: The Best of John Renbourn & Stefan Grossman released: 1999
- Shake That Thing released: 1998
- Black Melodies on a Clear Afternoon released: 1991
- Love, Devils and the Blues released: 1988
- The Three Kingdoms released: 1987
- Crosscurrents released: 1969
- Philadelphia Folk Festival, 1988 released:
- Guitar Duets released:
- Bottleneck Serenade released:
- Celtic Airs, Jigs, Hornpipes, & Reels released:
- Live... In Concert released:
Keeper of the Vine: The Best of John Renbourn & Stefan Grossman
Released 1999- Why a Duck
- The Shoes of the Fisherman's Wife Are Some Jive Ass Slippers
- Looper's Corner
- All Things Parallel Must Converge
- Swedish Jig
- Idaho Potato
- Under the Volcano: Resurrection of Blind Joe Death / Four for the Roses / Montagu's Pact
- 'Round About Midnight
- The Three Kingdoms
- Rites of Passage
- Keeper of the Vine
- Catwalk
- Goodbye Porkpie Hat
- Midnight on the Water
- Spirit Levels
Black Melodies on a Clear Afternoon
Released 1991- Struttin' Rag
- Blake's Breakdown
- Blues Ain't Dry
- St. Louis Tickle
- Working on the New Railroad
- Atlanta Rag
- Nobody's Business
- Haag City Dance
- Mabel's Dream
- Spoonful
- East Colorado Blues
- Little Boy, Little Boy, Who Made Your Britches
- Smokey Mokes
- The Entertainer
- Glory of Love
- Slippin' Til My Gal Comes in Partner
- Harlem Rag
- John Henry
- It Won't Be Long
- Sister Kate's Syncopated Dance
- Silver Swan
- Charley James
- Buck Dancer's Choice
- Down South Blues
- See That Girl Sitting on the Fence
- See See Rider
- Powder Rag
- Sugarbabe
- Franklin Blues
- A Salty Dog Rag
- King Porter Stomp
- Bill Bailey
- Delta Crossroads
- Faretheewell Titanic
Love, Devils and the Blues
Released 1988- Love, Devils and the Blues
- A Heart Much Obliged
- The Windblown Star
- Trainfare Blues
- Return to Little Rock
- Bottleneck Delight
- The Vamp of Oblivion
- Descending Into the Jaws of Change
- Grandad Clough and Kirkhamgate Jim
- Castus Boogie
- Memories of Perls
- Stompin' on the Tappahannock
- Jo and Her Daughters
- Charged and Ready
- Late Night Apollo Blues
- Ode to Mississippi John Hurt
- Love, Devils and the Blues, Part 2
Celtic Airs, Jigs, Hornpipes, & Reels
- Callahans's Hornpipe
- Pretty Girl Milking a Cow
- Swedish Jig
- Seargeant Early's Dream/The Red Haired Boy
- St. Andrew's/The Fiddler's Contest
- The Rights of Man 1
- The Rights of Man 2
- The Landlady
- Blind Mary 1
- Blind Mary 2
- O'Hara's Cup
- Charles O'Connor
- O'Carolan's Concerto
- Sheebeg n Sheemore
- Princess Royal
- O'Carolan's Farewell to Music
- Thomas Lexlip the Proud
- O'Carolan's Concerto
- Planxty Eleanor Plunkett
- Planxty George Brabazon
Live... In Concert
- Looper's Corner
- The Shoes of the Fisherman's Wife Are Some Jive Ass Slippers
- Twelve Sticks
- Cocaine Blues
- Tightrope
- Medley: Sheebeg An Sheemore / Drunken Wagoner
- Medley: Cincinnati Flow Rag / New York City Rag / Hot Dogs
- Medley: Judy / Angie
- Medley: Lament for Owen Roe O'Neill / Mist Covered Mountains of Home
- Great Dreams From Heaven
- Sweet Potato
- Goodbye Porkpie Hat
- Midnight on the Water
- Spirit Levels
- Mississippi Blues No. 2
1-2
by: Sol SeppyThe power of angels
You left at my door
I wrapped it up
In tinfoil
And hastened away
Towards hills
Begging for someone
to give me a sign
But my heart wrapped in silver
Could cry any louder
Hello, the silver hearts
That you cannot remark
Go on, go on
You shall never know
You shall ever be