Peter Finger

Peter Finger
Background information
Born	(1954-10-11) 11 October 1954 Weimar, Bezirk Erfurt, East Germany
Genres	Pop rock folk blues new age
Occupations	Musician songwriter composer record producer
Instruments	Acoustic guitar classical guitar violin piano vocals
Years active	1970s–present
Labels	Kicking Mule, Acoustic Music
Website	peter-finger.com

Peter Finger (born 11 October 1954) is a German acoustic fingerstyle guitarist, songwriter, composer and record producer. His most notable recordings include "Just Another Day in May", "Vielleicht Im Nächsten Leben", "Fanesca", "For You", "101 South", "Blue Horizon", and "No Man's Land".

AllMusic journalist, Tim Sheridan, noted when relating to Finger's 1999 album, Open Strings, that "Finger displays remarkable skill and sensitivity as a musician. The title track is a standout showcase of jaw-dropping technical skill and melodic invention".

Biography

Life and career

Peter Finger was born in Weimar, Thuringia, Germany. He came from a musical family with his father being employed as an orchestral conductor, and Finger studied both violin and piano before taking lessons on guitar playing at the age of 13. He won first prize for classical violin in the Jugend musiziert on two occasions. He later studied music in Münster.

His debut recording took place in 1973, which saw Bottleneck Guitar Solos issued by Kicking Mule Records. Following further releases, Finger toured from 1976 onwards and performed worldwide. He later expanded his activities to include production work for radio, television and films. In 1981, he commenced composing works for orchestral arrangements, and this led four years later to similar work for television and film productions. In 1985, he was awarded first prize in a competition run by the Oldenburgisches Staatstheater, for his composition "Herbstwind" ("Autumn Wind"). In the same decade, Finger also performed in a duo with the vibraphone player, Florian Poser, and in a trio with Trilok Gurtu and Charlie Mariano.

By 1988, Finger had set up his own music publishing business and record label, the latter being known as Acoustic Music Records. From 1995 onwards he worked as the publisher of the Akustik Gitarre magazine.

Finger returned to recording in the early 1990s, which included the albums Niemandsland (1993) and Solo (1995). In 2000, Finger produced the Open Strings Festival in Germany for the third time.

Live performances

In 2008, Finger performed at the Guitares au Palais.

In 2009, Finger appeared at the International Çukurova Instrumental Music Festival.

Production work

Finger has produced albums such as Guitar Bazaar (Tim Sparks, 1995), One String Leads to Another (Tim Sparks, 1999), and Vicki Genfan Live (2003).

Equipment

Finger uses mainly his own-built guitars under his 'Finger' brand, and guitars manufactured by the luthier, George Lowden.

Discography

Albums

Year	Title	Record label
1973	Bottleneck Guitar Solos	Kicking Mule
1975	Detlef & Finger	Kicking Mule
1975	Bottleneck Guitar Solos	Kicking Mule
1978	The Elf King – Acoustic Rock Guitar	Kicking Mule
1979	Zwei Seiten	Stockfisch Records
1990	The Colors of the Night	Shanachie Records
1993	Niemandsland	Acoustic Music
1995	Innenleben	Beachwood Records
1995	Solo	Acoustic Music
1999	Open Strings	Acoustic Music
2002	Between the Lines	Acoustic Music
2003	Blue Moon	Acoustic Music
2004	Dream Dancer	Acoustic Music
2011	Flow	Acoustic Music
2014	Made of Rosewood	Acoustic Music

Compilation albums

Year	Title	Record label
1998	The Best of Peter Finger and Florian Poser	Acoustic Music
2001	Collection	Solid Air Records

See also

• Fingerstyle guitar

External links

• Peter Finger homepage
• Akustikgitarrist.de
• Audio sample: Peter Finger plays Getaway
• Osnabrück: Passing Clouds video with Peter Finger