DH and I went to see a documentary on him tonight followed by a live performance.
I am now a fan.
He was a unique guitar virtuoso who was struck w/ focal dystonia who had to re-learn to play his music in a way that was hard for me to comprehend, even though I saw him do it. And he's as good as ever to me, a person who is not at all musical.

Here's a link for more info:

About Billy McLaughlin

It was a muy pleasant way to spend a date night.

DH's fav was Church Bells, my least fav, but I *knew* it would be his fav, and (natch) I was spot on. I felt it sounded more like horses running than church bells. My fav was Away with Words. DH turned to me after he played it and said he *knew* it was my fav, and he was 100% correct, I just loved that one unreasonably. I asked why he knew I would like that one the best and he said cuz I am a *word chick* and he knew that piece would get me.

We LOVE Billy McLaughlin!! I didn't know anyone else knew of him!!!! We saw him many years ago (in the late '90s, I think) at Musikfest which is an AWESOME 10-day music event in Bethlehem, PA. He was part of a whole acoustic event sponsored by Martin Guitars and he was fantastic.

I just went and found my "fingerdance" cd and am listening to it right now. Thanks Momziller!

__________________
Cecilia

"We must love them both--those whose opinions we share and those whose opinions we reject. For both have labored in the search for truth, and both have helped us in the finding of it."
Saint Thomas Aquinas

Hey, I lived in Nazareth in the late 90's, right across the street from Chris Martin and the Martin specialty wood shop (Woodworker's Dream, I think?) was behind his house. Also went to Musikfest as many years as possible till it got to be too hard to navigate steps down to venues with a coupla strollers ;-)
He was fabulous before the dystonia and now that I know the whole story and have heard him he's stinkin' awesome. I had never seen anyone play that style of guitar till him, blows me away to watch him do it. I'm torn between watching him perform and closing my eyes so I can just get carried away with his music. Ah, good ole Billy Mac.

Small world! I'm just across the river in NJ. We're in Nazareth often -- mostly passing through to get to the shopping centers on 248.

I just looked at the web site you linked. Wow, he is amazing and dedicated. I watched the short clip of fingerdance with the whole orchestra. It sounded beautiful and it was interesting to see him playing that way.

__________________
Cecilia

"We must love them both--those whose opinions we share and those whose opinions we reject. For both have labored in the search for truth, and both have helped us in the finding of it."
Saint Thomas Aquinas