  thumb|leo kottke, herbst theatre, san francisco ca 1/27/07. photo by brian mcmillen leo kottke (born september 11, 1945, athens, georgia) is an acoustic guitarist. he is known for a fingerpicking style that draws on influences from blues, jazz, and folk music, and for syncopated, polyphonic melodies. he overcame a series of personal obstacles, including partial loss of hearing and a nearly career-ending bout with tendon damage in his right hand to emerge as a widely recognized master of his instrument. he currently resides in the minneapolis area with his family. focusing primarily on instrumental composition and playing, kottke also sings sporadically, in an unconventional yet expressive baritone famously self-described as sounding like "geese farts on a muggy day".1994 james jensen interview with kottke, solidairrecords.com; accessed april 29, 2008. in concert, kottke intersperses humorous and often bizarre monologues with vocal and instrumental selections from throughout his career, played solo on his signature 6- and 12-string guitars. ==biography== ===early life and career=== born in athens, georgia, kottke moved with his parents so frequently that he was raised in twelve different states.ankeny, jason; accessed september 27, 2008 [ all music review] as a youth living in muskogee, oklahoma, he was influenced by folk and delta blues music, notably that of mississippi john hurt. kottke learned to play trombone and violin before trying the guitar and developing his own unconventional picking style. a mishap with a firecracker permanently damaged the hearing in his left ear, a condition that would be exacerbated by exposure to loud noise during firing practice while serving in the united states navy reserve, when his other ear was also damaged.life in northern colorado interview, may 2007; accessed may 30, 2008. 
1945_births Acoustic_guitarists American_blues_guitarists American_folk_guitarists Fingerstyle_guitarists Living_people Musicians_from_Athens,_Georgia Musicians_from_Georgia_(U.S._state) Musicians_from_Oklahoma People_from_Muskogee,_Oklahoma Private_Music_artists Slide_guitarists St._Cloud_State_University_alumni Windham_Hill_Records_artists