Most of us remember our forum friend Rory Hoffman. Fantastic keyboard player and guitarist. While blindness would be an obstacle for most of us Rory uses it to escalate his musical abilities. Back in 2014 the prestigeous magazine Guitar Player interviewed him. I bought the magazine when it came out but now it is available online. Here is it is for everyone here to read. Of course they discuss his unusual lap style of guitar playing with him.

http://www.guitarplayer.com/artists/1013/rory-hoffman-self-made-man/25738

For those who don't know Rory, before reading the interview watch his magical performance of "Fast Lane" first then the interview will mean more.

I thought I had seen them all till this one -- I love his talent, and he plays many instruments, great.

Thank you Nigel, John C.

Thanks Nigel

It is great to see what our hometown boy(so to speak) has done with his phenomenal talent. It doesn't seem that long ago he was on our forum asking advice about keyboards that would accommodate his disability.

This guy rocks

Howdy all. Nigel sent me an email telling me he posted this article from a few years back. I haven't been checking in here much lately, mostly because I'm pretty satisfied with my keyboard needs. I'm using a Nord Stage II and my old trusty Roland xp-80, and a Roland Fantom X rack, as well as a few software synths occasionally. I had a PSR something or other for a few years, but I guess arrangers just aren't for me. Especially now that I live in Nashville,way too many great musicians around to get stuck playing to pre-programed beats.

In the guitar world, a great builder from North Carolina, John Buscarino, has custom made a Rory Hoffman oval hole archtop guitar. Local Nashville builder Dan Voight made a custom 3-point mandolin for me. I have had the Seydel harmonica company in Germany make some custom tuned harps for me of a tuning system I devised myself. So my musical interests are as broad as ever.

In terms of career as a musician, things are progressing nicely. I'm not working for any single major artist, but I work part time with quite a few. I've played the Grand Ol' Opry several times with Ricky Skaggs, Kathy Mattea, John Cowan, and 4 times myself as a soloist. Last December I did the Kacey Musgraves Christmas tour, and we got to play Good Morning America, Tonight Show with Jimmy Falon, Late Night with Seth Meyers.
This week I've been in Vermont with the John Jorgenson gypsy jazz quintet.
I just came out with a new album last year, called Tour de Fourth.

So yeah, there's a brief update on what I've been up to since I disappeared from the synthzone a few years ago. Again, Thanks Nigel for reaching out to me. A big howdy to all my pals here.
]Rory

Wow! Nice to hear Rory's career is purring along so nicely, although I'm not surprised, given his prodigious talent. What always amazed me most is how easily he could move from one genre to another (ie Country and Jazz) and play at the highest level in each. I can also understand his attitude about arrangers, given the abundance of great players in the Nashville area.

The other thing that stood out in his post was his use of fairly vintage (keyboard) equipment. Just reinforces the old saying - "it ain't the keyboard, it' the keyboardist".

Good luck to you Rory, and continued success in your career.

chas

Phenomenal!!

This has been one of my favorites that Rory has performed.

Rory, glad to see you posting again. Looks like you are in the fast lane of musical success.

All the best,

Gary

Proud of you Rory! God bless you!

It is so good to hear from you Rory. The gigs you have been doing sound fantastic. If you ever need a talented female vocalist in Nashville check out my good friend Jo Kelly Stephenson who moved to Nashville to perform a few years ago from Australia. https://www.jokellystephenson.com/ She is magic.

Hey Rory. Sorry I was working and couldn't come to Louisville last time I heard from you.

Yours is a GREAT history. Hard work and phenomenal talent is an unbeatable combination.

I fondly remember the few times we just hung out.

Let me know anytime you're in the area.


All the best...


Your friend,


Russ Lay

Here is a great clip of Rory and Tommy Emmanuel playing together in 2014.

Is there any instrument that Rory doesn't play?