Greg Koch (born 1966) is an American guitarist from Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. Koch grew up in the Milwaukee area and began playing guitar at the age of 12. He was influenced by the guitarist and singer-songwriter Jimi Hendrix.[1] In April 2012 Fender Musical Instruments Corporation named Koch one of the top 10 unsung guitarists.[2]
Koch was the youngest of seven children. He attended college for jazz performance at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.[3]
Personal life
Koch met his wife Sarah while he was attending college and together they have four children, two boys and two girls. Koch and his wife have been married since 1993. Their oldest son (Dylan Koch) is the drummer for Koch's band, The Koch Marshall Trio. Koch stands 6 feet 7 inches tall.[4][5][non-primary source needed][6]
Career
Koch won first place in the 1989 Bluesbreaker Guitar Showdown judged by singer/guitar player Buddy Guy.[7] Koch has also played with Joe Bonamassa. Greg Koch is currently a Martin Guitar clinician.[8] In addition to playing guitar, Koch has authored many books on various guitar methods and styles.
Greg Koch and the Tone Controls
The group was formed as a trio that included guitar, bass, and drums. The original band members include Journeyman drummer and vocalist Gary Koehler, bass and vocals Kevin Mushel, and Koch on six-string guitar and vocals.[9] Other members of the band include John Calarco on drums and Tom Goode on bass.
Koch and the Tone Controls won five Wisconsin Area Music Awards for Blues Artist of the Year (1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1998).[10]
Greg Koch and Other Bad Men
Koch recorded a live album (Greg Koch and Other Bad Men Live on the Radio) with bass player Roscoe Beck and vocalist Malford Milligan and various musicians on the drums: John Calarco[11] and Tom Brechtlein.[12]
The Koch Marshall Trio
The Koch Marshall Trio playing live at Tosa Fest September 8, 2018
The Koch Marshall Trio is the most successful band that Koch has assembled. The band has been well received and reviewed. In previous Koch bands there have been some vocals. The Koch Marshall Trio has not used a singer.
The Koch Marshall Trio is an instrumental organ/guitar trio established by Koch in 2017. The Trio includes Koch's son Dylan Koch on drums, Toby Lee Marshall on Hammond organ and Koch on guitar. The Koch Marshall Trio has signed a contract with the Mascot Label Group. They released their debut studio album, Toby Arrives, on February 23, 2018.[13]
Koch works as a clinician for Fishman and Martin. In addition, Koch has his own signature amplifier ‘The Greg’, manufactured by the Koch Amplifier company.[15] Koch also has a signature guitar which was released in 2019 by Reverend Guitars, named the ‘Greg Koch Signature Gristlemaster’. The guitar colors were given somewhat humorous names like: Kochwork Orange, and Blucifer.[16]
Since 2011, Koch has made monthly promotional videos for Wildwood Guitars in Colorado. He has made approximately 4000 videos which have over 50 million views.[17]
Koch released an acoustic album in December 2019.[18] The 38-minute album has 14 songs.[19]
In 2019 Koch signed with True Grit Talent Agency.[20]
Style
Koch has developed his own style of chicken picking on the guitar and has taught his method, referred to as hybrid picking. Koch uses a guitar pick held with the index finger and thumb of his right hand to pick the bass notes; he uses his other three fingers to pick the treble strings.
Koch has termed his style of playing "gristle" and has been called the "Gristle King". Gristle is usually instrumental, guitar-driven music that leads to a crescendo of trading solos.
Koch's ability on the guitar has been admired by other guitarists. When guitar pioneer Les Paul had his 100th birthday celebration Koch was invited to play.[21]Joe Bonamassa and Steve Vai praised his mastery over guitar and versatility in style.[22][23]
Musical equipment
Two Reverend Gristlemaster signature Greg Koch guitars pictured with Greg Koch signature amplifier (The Greg) by Koch Amps.
Guitars
1953 Fender Telecaster
Wildwood Spec #10 Fender Telecaster with Fishman Fluence pickups
Fishman Fluence Signature Series Greg Koch Gristle-Tone™ Pickups
T Jauernig Electronics, Greg Koch The Gristle King V3 effect pedal
Amplifiers
Koch Amplifier signature amp "The Greg"
Books authored by Koch
Hal Leonard Guitar Method Book 1: Book/CD Pack By will Schmid and Greg Koch January 1995
Hal Leonard Guitar Method - Blues Guitar by Greg Koch January 2002
Hal Leonard Guitar Method, Complete Edition: Books 1, 2 and 3 By Will Schmid and Greg Koch May 2002
Rhythm Riffs: Over 200 Riffs in All Styles Hal Leonard Guitar Method (Hal Leonard Guitar Method (Songbooks)) by Greg Koch May 2003
Lead Licks: Over 200 Licks in All Styles Hal Leonard Guitar Method (Hal Leonard Guitar Method (Songbooks)) by Greg Koch January 2003
Hal Leonard Country Guitar Method (Hal Leonard Guitar Method) by Greg Koch January 2004
Hal Leonard Guitar Method Book 2: Spanish Language Book Only (Spanish Edition) by Will Schmid and Greg Koch December 2004
Greg Koch (Guitar Play-Along, Vol. 28 by Greg Koch February 2005
Hal Leonard Metodo Para Guitarra - Libro 2: Spanish Edition Book/CD Pack by Will Schmid and Greg Koch January 2005
Hal Leonard Guitar Method, Book 1 - Left-Handed Edition (Hal Leonard Guitar Method Books) by Greg Koch August 2009
Guitar Gumbo: Savory Licks, Tips & Quips for Serious Players by Greg Koch June 2012
Slide Guitar In Standard Tuning by Greg Koch March 2016
Hal Leonard Guitar Method - Book 1, Deluxe Beginner Edition: Includes Audio & Video on Discs and Online Plus Guitar Chord Poster by will Schmid and Greg Koch January 2016
Guitar Clues: Operation Pentatonic by Greg Koch 2017
Brave New Blues Guitar: Classic Styles, Techniques & Licks Reimagined with a Modern Feel by Greg Koch May 2018
Discography
Greg Koch and the Tone Controls (1993)
Double the Gristle (1997)
Defenestrator (1998)
The Grip (2001)
Radio Free Gristle (2003)
13 X 12 (2003)
4 Days in the South (2005)
Mixed Feelings (2005)
Live on the Radio (Greg Koch and Other Bad Men) (2007)
Lisa Lauren - Lisa Lauren Loves the Beatles - Greg Koch: guitar, Dobro (2006)
Blues Power - Track 13 Change Is Gonna Come (2009)
Ray Riendeau - Atmospheres - Track 4 Alias (2010)
Various Artists - Pepper Shakers: Pepper Cake Label Sampler 3 Greg Koch Trio: Agree To Disagree (2011)
Various Artists - Grooveyard Records: Best of, Vol. One (The Sound of Guitar Rock) Track 15 Foolish Mortals (2012)
Carmen Grillo - A Different World - Track 1 Come and Gone (2013)
John Sieger - A Walk in the Park - Greg Koch: Composer, Featured Artist (2013)
Various Artists - Blues Essentials [Pepper Cake] Disc 2 track 7, Disc 3 track 13, Disc 5 track 6 (2014)
Various Artists - Blues from a Smoky Bar, Vol. 2 Greg Koch: Track 3 Sleep Tight (2015)
References
Prato, Greg. "Greg Koch". AllMusic. Archived from the original on January 24, 2018. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
Duffy, Mike. "TOP 10 UNSUNG GUITARISTS". Fender. Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. April 2, 2012 Page 1. Archived from the original on January 24, 2018. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
Luhrssen, David. "Greg Koch: Blues in Mind". Shepherd Express. Shepherd Express December 13, 2007. Archived from the original on January 24, 2018. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
"Greg Koch". truegrittalent.com. True Grit. Archived from the original on December 19, 2019. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
Levy, Piet (August 3, 2015). "Happy Birthday to Les". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Archived from the original on March 1, 2018. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
Mathley, T-bone. "Greg Koch". Volume Treble Bass. Worldpress. Archived from the original on September 17, 2017. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
"Greg koch". Fender. Fender Music Australia March 1, 2013. Archived from the original on March 1, 2018. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
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