Teachers old and new

George Kahumoku has been described as Hawaii's Renaissance man because of his work with at-risk teens and his ability as a Hawaiian Slack key Guitar Master and Hawaiian cultural teacher for over 30 years. He has over 30 recorded CDs, cassttes, and LPs to date, and has been nominated and won Hawaii's coveted Na Hoku Hanohano awards several times within his music career.

George is also a multi-media artist and his bronze sculptures have been puchased by the Hawaii State Foundation of the arts. He has recently co-authored, released, and Illustrated a book of his Family Stories called "A Hawaiian Life." His recent CD recording on Dancing Cat records called "Hawaiian Love Songs" hit #7 on the Billboard World music Charts in Jan/Feb, 2001 and was recently nominated for a Grammy. He has headed The Annual Slack Key Workshop on Maui where he has Attracted 36 to 120 guitar players from all over the World for the past 5 years, where cultural, Hawaiian Language, exchanges, music, song-writing, food gathering, cooking, and sharing take place. He is currently on Leave from Lahainaluna High school on Maui for 1 year, and working on his Masters of Ed in Santa Cruz.

Cindy Kallet is a singer/songwriter and guitarist whose songwriting mirrors her love for the New England coast. She is a fine guitarist whose musical styles vary from folk, fiddle tunes, traditional, and sea chanties. Her voice is smooth and deep, reminiscent of Joni Mitchell. She is not consumed by her music career, which could explain the reason she is not so well known as she so richly deserves. ~ Chip Renner, All Music Guide

Bill Keith is one of the living masters of bluegrass banjo and the inventor of the melodic picking technique widely referred to as "Keith Style." He has toured and recorded with top bluegrass bands (including Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys), as well as with artists such as Jonathan Edwards, Ian & Sylvia, Judy Collins, The Kweskin Jug Band, Muleskinner, David Grisman, and Richard Greene and The Grass is Greener. Bill has written several banjo tuition books, has recorded instructional tapes (for Homespun), and co- authored the Earl Scruggs instruction book and record. In addition, Bill owns and operates the Beacon Banjo Company in Woodstock, NY.

Kitty King started playing in bands in 1973. Her journey through musical styles began on washtub bass with an old-timey group, then electric bass for bluegrass bands, and finally acoustic bass for swing music. Along the way, she picked up some singing and songwriting skills as well. She performed at Expo 86 and the Vancouver Folk Music Festival, and had the pleasure of playing in the warm-up bands for Doc Watson and Stephane Grappelli.

Kitty has been attending PSGW since 1979 and is a devoted fan of the camp, the people, and the music.

The #1 single "She'll Leave You With A Smile" hit several milestones in one release: the first #1 for songwriters Jay Knowles and Odie Blackmon, and the 50th #1 for MCA superstar George Strait. The song, from Strait's The Road Less Traveled album, is published by Sony/ATV Tree and Big Yellow Dog Music and produced by Strait and Tony Brown. To mark the occasion, BMI Nashville hosted a breakfast for Knowles and the rest of the creative team. Among Knowles's other credits are the Montgomery Gentry single "Self Made Man" and cuts by Billy Ray Cyrus, Chris LeDoux, Cyndi Thomson and Trent Summar.

John Knowles got his start on a plastic ukulele, purchased with paper-route money. A few years later, he bought his first Chet Atkins records and began playing along. John has worked with Nashville's finest guitarists including Chet Atkins, Jerry Reed and Lenny Breau. His compositions and arrangements have been recorded by Chet, Jerry, the Romero Family, James Galway, Raffi and XUXA. His work has earned a Grammy and two Emmy nominations. In 1996, Chet Atkins awarded John an Honorary CGP (Certified Guitar Player) and recently, John was inducted into the National Thumb Pickers Hall of Fame for the second time. John currently publishes FingerStyle Quarterly. He teaches and performs around the world.