22/07/2012
Harry Taussig: American guitarist back after 47 years

In 1965 Harry Taussig released 'Fate Is Only Once' as a short-run private press LP. It has long been a coveted collectible among American Primitive guitar enthusiasts arriving early in the movement which includes other six-string luminaries such as John Fahey and Robbie Basho. Now, forty seven years later Harry is back with 'Fate Is Only Twice'!
Acoustic musicians were still largely stuck in a rigid "Folk" mindset in 1965, and there are just not that many other examples of the exploratory guitar sounds found on 'Fate' during this time period. Alternating between haunting originals and jaunty blues-based traditional numbers, 'Fate Is Only Once' was reissued by Tompkins Square in 2006. Taussig's only other recorded works appear on the long out-of-print Takoma compilation 'Contemporary Guitar Spring '67' alongside John Fahey, Robbie Basho, Max Ochs and Bukka White. Taussig spent years as an educator, published instructional guitar books, and traveled extensively to photograph weird museums.
'Fate Is Only Twice' will be available on 21st August.