He’s got a winning style

It’s a name made for a headline: “King crowned National Guitar Champion,” and indeed guitarist Steven King earned that headline by winning the National Fingerstyle Guitar Championship in 1994.

It’s a name made for a headline: “King crowned National Guitar Champion,” and indeed guitarist Steven King earned that headline by winning the National Fingerstyle Guitar Championship in 1994.

That coveted win is backed up by praise from a wide variety of sources. An L.A. Times jazz critic said, “Listening to these songs, it’s hard to believe a guy can achieve such division of brain waves. You’ll swear there’s a bassist, rhythm guitarist, and lead fretman on hand. “

A columnist for Guitar Player Magazine called King “the greatest solo guitarist I’ve ever seen or heard.” He added three exclamation points to the pronouncement.

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King brings his guitar virtuosity to Kitsap County for a performance April 12 at the Admiral Theatre in Bremerton.

King was born in New York, grew up in Los Angeles and has called Seattle home since 1993. He studied jazz, arranging and composition in college in the 1970s, and developed his guitar style over the next two decades.

King plays a variety of styles, from Gershwin and Mancini to Manhattan Transfer and The Beattles, as well as his own compositions.

He is a prolific musician in the recording studio, with seven CDs in his “Beatle-ing” series, four CDs of original compositions, five featuring arrangements of other works and two Christmas CDs. For those who want to learn to play in his style, he offers three instructional books and a DVD.

For live inspiration, Steven King performs 7 p.m. April 12 at the Admiral Theatre, 515 Pacific Ave., Bremerton. Tickets are $25-$30, available at (360) 373-6743.

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