SANDY SHALK

Sandy's fascination with the guitar began in February 1964, when he watched the Beatles perform on the Ed Sullivan Show. The lure of playing full-time was strong after high school and Sandy began a career as a guitarist in the early 1970s with local popular and jazz music groups from Northern Delaware. After studying with Philadelphia guitar teacher legend Dennis Sandole, he toured the United States with Turning Point, playing contemporary popular music. The experience included an opportunity to play with oldies groups including Joey Dee and the Starlighters who hit the charts in the 60s with the Peppermint Twist. In the 80s, Sandy became a high school English Teacher after graduating from the University of Delaware. In 2001, he received a doctorate from Wilmington University and assumed a position as the director of curriculum in the Smyrna School District (Delaware), retiring in 2016. His musical journey took new twist when he was introduced to the music of El McMeen, Steve Baughman, Pierre Bensusan and other great artists who arrange music for the guitar in alternate tunings. He eventually released Giving Voice (With Tim Alexander) and Newer Every Day -his solo guitar cd of mostly jazz tunes in DADGAD tuning. The online publication Minor7th wrote that "Sandy Shalk is a fully realized musician who expresses rather than merely plays. His playing both sooths and swings, displaying both individual artistry and sensitivity to his listeners." Stefan Grossman produced three DVDs of Sandy's collections of mostly jazz tunes for Stefan Grossman's Guitar Workshop- two in DADGAD and one in Open G. Recent work includes arrangements with other artists in A festival of tunings for Fingerstyle Guitar (Stefan Grossman's Guitar Workshop) and Early Jazz: Dances, Songs, Instrumentals for Fingerstyle Guitar (SGGW). He has also written two works with co- author El McMeen: The DADGAD Gospel: Gospel Guitar Solos in DADGAD Tuning, and The Glory of CGDGAD Tuning (Mel Bay Publications).