How did the making of music become your life? How did you get your start?
GK: I started singing and playing music at a very early age, it has always been a great love of mine. Hearing music in the house and at friends houses got me started. I sang a lot, then started playing Clarinet at the age of 6, playing in an orchestra, and then picking up the guitar at the age of 13-14.

Who were your major influences? What guides your playing style?
GK: There are many great musicians listened to and learned from: Ray Charles, Wes Montgomery, B.B. King, Albert King, Stevie Wonder, Erroll Garner, Marvin Gaye, Eric Clapton, Elton John, Dire Straits, Robert Johnson, Lightnin Hopkins, Stevie Wonder, James Brown, Bill Withers, Really a lot of musicians from different musical styles and eras. The feeling and honesty of the song is what is most important to in general and when it comes to my playing style. It's important to remember the song you're playing and always relating to it in the parts or solos that you're playing.

What's your rig? First guitar? Current? Any gear you can't live without?
GK: I play a Gibson ES 335. It's an 1983 model that I love and play these days. I usually play it through my 1968 Fender Pro Reverb. For 19 years I played a Telecaster through a Fender Quad Reverb almost exclusively, but about a year and a half ago I switched to Gibson and started playing the ES-335 and I'm loving it and pretty much only play that now. My first guitar was a nylon string classical guitar, then an acoustic, then my first electric was a Fender Stratocaster. As far as gear I can't live without, I'm mostly a "Guitar to amp" guy, so it's really a good expressive guitar through a good expressive amp, preferably tube amp. I really love the Gibson ES-335 and a good vintage Fender amp.

What do you or the band have coming up? Albums? Tours?
GK: I'm in the studio now with my band recording a new album scheduled for a late summer release. It's a different album than anything I've done so far and looking forward to sharing it with the people. I'll be heading to Europe for a spring tour of France, Belgium and the Netherlands In March, and then San Francisco in April, with more national and international tours later in the year. I've been touring and traveling more in the last few years and looking forward to continuing this further more, reaching new places and new listeners and fans all over the world.

Website: www.guyking.net