Adam Rafferty wsg/ Jaime Holka

Sportsmen's Tavern

Wed. Dec. 2, 2015

Adam Rafferty
wsg
Jamie Holka

7pm

$20

www.adamrafferty.com

“The fi rst time I heard the guitar I was still in my mother’s womb” says Adam Rafferty.
Born and raised in Harlem, Adam started playing blues guitar at age 6, got mugged in
front of his building at 10, played in a hard rock band at 12, was ripped off by a club
owner on his fi rst gig at 15, and by 18 he was a rapper on a gold record overseas.
He’s led a true musician’s life since his earliest days on planet earth.
By 19 he was playing guitar professionally and at 20 he was playing an after hours joint
in Harlem on 137 street and Adam Clayton Boulevard where the band leader regularly
drank himself into to oblivion and threatened customers with a 10 inch kitchen knife.
Adam has played in the New York City subway on up to New York’s and Europes most
upscale music rooms and concert halls. He’s led his own band through Europe, produced
his own albums, and never doubted for one minute his sole purpose in life to play
the guitar.
You hear that Adam has paid his dues. You hear it in his feeling for the blues, in his
groove, in his touch. History and life experience fi res this man’s music, puts the “sizzle” in
the “steak.”
Adam Rafferty (a.k.a. “Raf”) has played as a fi rst-call guitarist with the greatest musicians
on the planet at countless music festivals (US and Europe), concert halls with Dr. Lonnie
Smith, The Dizzy Gillespie Big Band, L.A. Studio legend Bennie Wallace, bassist Bob Cranshaw
from the original Saturday Night Live band)to name a few.
Students have fl own across the country and from Europe to tap Adam’s brain for of
guitar knowledge. He’s taught countless workshops, written 2 books and has a new instructional
DVD available where he teaches fi ngerstyle versions of Stevie Wonder’s most
popular songs.
And now he is playing solo acoustic guitar. In just a few years, he’s become a YouTube
guitar sensation - his views are in the millions. Due to this new popularity he’s being discovered
and this year he performed festivals in Bangkok, Helsinki, Germany and Austria
to name a few.
Among Adam’s musical innovations is the ability to play 2 simultanoeous melodies on
the guitar and do hip hop fl avored “human beatbox” with his mouth at the same time.
Some say that hIs solo version of Herbie Hancock’s “Chameleon” sounds like the “guitarist
with 3 heads”. It has to be heard to be believed.
His solo versions of Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” and Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” are
his most popular and requested songs and can be heard on YouTube as well. Basslines,
horn parts and vocals are replicated and the groove will make you jump out of your
seat.
“When I was a kid my Dad played his old Martin guitar for me - that’s the original magic
that turned me on to music. I remember the smell of the wood, the crispy sound of the
steel strings, and my connection with my Dad. Playing acoustic guitar feels like coming
home to me.”
“I choose songs with strong melodies that I love to hear. It’s not even about ‘playing
guitar’ at this point - it’s about conveying music and leading listeners through a musical
experience. The guitar is my tool to do that. There is so much music here, right here on
this guitar of mine, I’ll never get it done - but boy do I love working on it and sharing it
with others.”
“I am so grateful for all the opportunities I have had and continue to have” Adam concludes.
“And I’m also thankful for the hardships. That’s why I called my fi rst solo album
‘Gratitude’. Thank You, Universe, for all that you have given and continue to give to

www.jamieholka.com