Biography – Discography – Bibliography
Finger-picking guitarist, teacher and author — since 1982.
Michel Lelong, born in 1961 in Tours (France), started playing guitar at age 13, influenced by his older brothers — all passionate about traditional American music, from Blues and Old-time to Jazz.
- 1961 — Born in Tours, France
- Age 13 — Self-taught on guitar
- 40+ years — of music teaching
- International — France, UK, USA, Central Europe
Career path
Encouraged by his older brother Jean-Marc, a gifted self-taught finger-picking blues-folk guitarist, Michel began learning country blues entirely by ear from vinyl records. He worked through the styles of Mississippi John Hurt, John Jackson, Big Bill Broonzy, Reverend Gary Davis and Doc Watson — among many others — along with the ragtime arrangements of Dave Laibman. After these first steps with the masters of blues and ragtime, Michel kept learning “note by note”, still by ear, the traditional “Kentucky style”, often called “Travis style”.
Music theory and first students
At 17, while pursuing solid music theory studies with a private teacher, Michel successfully began teaching finger-picking guitar.
First instrumental album
At 22, he recorded his first album of instrumental American guitar with his own compositions, drawing on ragtime piano, folk and country-jazz influences.
Stefan Grossman’s Guitar Workshop — USA
Michel was noticed by the American guitarist, musicologist and music publisher Stefan Grossman — one of the world’s most renowned acoustic blues guitar teachers. Four transcription books were published by Stefan Grossman’s Guitar Workshop (USA), covering the styles of Merle Travis, Chet Atkins and Jerry Reed. These titles were also distributed through Homespun Tapes and Happy Traum’s network in the United States.
CD, video lessons and a reference method
First CD recorded with some of France’s finest blues and bluegrass musicians. The same year, first instructional video on country-folk styles for a French publisher, followed in 1997 by a video on Celtic guitar techniques. In 1999, Michel published a 75-page acoustic blues guitar method with a CD of 99 examples — described by music critics as one of the best books of its kind.
Blues Week — University of Exeter
Assistant then tutor at Blues Week, organised by the European Blues Association, alongside John Jackson, John Cephas & Phil Wiggins, Jerry Ricks, Sam Mitchell, John Miller, Bob Hall, Dana Gillespie, Johnny Mars…
“Blues & Co” exhibition
Travelling exhibition and lecture on the history of North American music “with instruments in hand”. Caricatural and realistic portraits of blues and country legends drawn by Michel’s brother Jean-Marc, author of the “Carmen Cru” graphic novel. The exhibition has since toured many French blues and folk festivals.
Augusta Blues Week — West Virginia, USA
Invited by American harmonica player Phil Wiggins to the Augusta Blues Week in Elkins, West Virginia. The same year, Michel jammed with US blues scholar and musician David Evans.
Return to Blues Week with Michael Roach
Michael Roach invited Michel Lelong as pedagogical advisor to his country blues class: “After a 16-year absence, we are announcing the return of French guitarist Michel Lelong to teach at Blues Week 2018. He will assist Michael Roach in the beginners class and will be available for one-to-one and small-group sessions.”
Festivals & collaborations
Michel has performed at many festivals across France, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, England, Belgium and Holland, sharing the stage with Michael Roach, John Jackson, John Cephas & Phil Wiggins, Louisiana Red, John Miller, Michael Messer, Jerry Ricks, Paul Geremia, Bob Hall and many other European artists — all while teaching guitar, running workshops and writing methods.
An established solo artist with a wide stylistic palette, Michel also plays old-time banjo and autoharp. His versatility has led him to play with artists at every level — from blues legends in the USA to French singer-songwriter Hubert-Félix Thiéfaine in a very different register.
Teaching
In addition to more than 30 years of teaching music in his Tours workshop, Michel Lelong has taught and assisted at many workshops in France and abroad — England, Holland, the USA and more.
Publications (non-exhaustive list)
- 1982Guitar Instrumental — Vinyl LP with tablatures, self-released.
- 1988The Guitar Of Merle Travis — Transcription book with six audio cassettes, Stefan Grossman’s Guitar Workshop (USA).
- 1989The Guitar Of Chet Atkins — Transcription book with six audio cassettes, Stefan Grossman’s Guitar Workshop (USA).
- 1990The Guitar Of Jerry Reed — Transcription book with three audio cassettes, Stefan Grossman’s Guitar Workshop (USA).
- 1992Guitar Rag — The Music Of Merle Travis Vol II — Transcription book with three audio cassettes, Stefan Grossman’s Guitar Workshop (USA).
- 1996Black & White — CD album with tablature booklet, Mailody Editions.
- 1996Plans & Techniques — Country Guitar — Instructional video with tablature booklet, Play-music Editions — Paris.
- 1998Plans & Techniques — Celtic Guitar — Instructional video with tablature booklet, Play-music Editions — Paris.
- 1999The Acoustic Blues — 150-page method (double-sided) with CD of 99 example pieces and exercises (74 min), Play-music Editions — Paris.
- 2007Home Cookin’ — Duo album with bassist Anicet Debien, Mailody association production, Z production distribution.
Memories — with the masters
