Roger Landis

After playing guitar in several "garage" bands in his teens, Roger took up the classical guitar during his first year in college. Progressing quickly, he devoured the standard guitar repertoire and within two years was teaching full time. Soon, his interest shifted from the 19th Century works in that repertoire to works from the Renaissance and Baroque, then to European dance music from the Middle Ages. His initial interest in Irish music was sparked by hearing a recording by The Chieftains, when he was struck by a certain similarity between medieval music and modern traditional music. He soon obtained a bouzouki and set about learning the intricacies of Irish and Scots dance tunes and accompaniment.

In 1982, Roger helped form the popular Celtic group Scartaglen. He appeared on the recordings: "Scartaglen", "The Middle Path" and "Last Night's Fun". In 1993, with Scartaglen, he contributed one track to the best-selling Narada collection "Celtic Odyssey," which was on the Billboard charts for almost two years. Since June of 1995, Roger has performed in a duo with singer and keyboardist Connie Dover. During his decade with Scartaglen, Roger Landes established himself as a first-rate accompanist and arranger. Since the dissolution of that band in 1994, he has emerged as a master soloist, performing Celtic tunes on the bouzouki, mandolin, and guitar with dazzling technical skill and creativity. He is also gaining recognition as a producer and composer. Roger's first solo CD, Dragon Reels, was recorded in Nashville with Grammy Award-winning engineer and producer Bil VornDick. Released in 1997, it has garnered unanimous critical praise. He is in great demand as a teacher and has been on the staff at the Swannanoa Gathering Celtic Week, the Milwaukee Irish Festival Summer School, and the Seattle Cittern Symposium, and as director of his own ZoukFest, the first international gatherings devoted to the bouzouki in 1998 and 1999. This summer ZoukFest will move to Roger's new home town of Taos, New Mexico. Roger has produced recordings for Michael Dugger (At Early Dawn), Chris Grotewohl (Under the Influence), Dan Grotewohl (Bear in the Greengrass), and Celtic group Gabriel's Gate (Departures). He has recently completed a duo recording with world music pioneer Gerald Trimble, and a collection of original bouzouki duos with Chipper Thompson - both soon to be released. Roger appeared in and contributed to the soundtrack of the 1999 film Ride With the Devil, directed by Ang Lee and starring Jewel, Skeet Ulrich and Toby Maguire. He has appeared on the National Public Radio shows Mountain Stage and A Prairie Home Companion. This April his music will be part of a primetime PBS documentary on the Tallgrass Prairie in Kansas. With Connie Dover he will appear at the film's premier at the National Museum of Natural History at the Smithsonian Institution this March.

Ranger Music
PO Box 1065
Taos, New Mexico 87571 USA
Phone/Fax: 505.751.3512
Email: Roger@CelticMusic.Com
Website: http://www.CelticMusic.Com/roger_landes

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Last updated on June 11, 2001
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