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Pat Donohue

Pat Donohue is "a masterful guitarist and talented singer-songwriter of blues, folk and jazz" (Los Angeles Times). His talents are displayed weekly in his appearances on public radio's A Prarie Home Companion, where his guitar playing, writing and singing are featured regularly. The 1983 National Finger Picking Guitar Champion, Donohue's style blends blues and folk in a critically acclaimed display of guitar artistry.

According to Chet Atkins, Pat Donohue is "one of the greatest fingerpickers in the world." Any praise that could be given to a guitar player seems insignificant next to such a statement, but Donohue's work warrants even more acclaim. Fans of National Public Radio's "A Prairie Home Companion" have been treated to the fingerpicked guitar work of Pat Donohue for years, whether they know it or not. Donohue started appearing as a guest performer in the '80s and has been a regular member of the show's house band since 1993.

The full range of Donohue's talents, however, are evident on his recorded works, which blend folk, jazz, blues, ragtime, and boogie woogie. After recording "Manhattan to Memphis" and "Pat Donohue" for Red House Records, Donohue founded his own label: Blue Sky Records. In 1991, he released "Life Stories" and an album of jazz and instrumental standards called "Two Hand Band" followed a couple of years later.

Donohue shifted gears with "Big Blind Bluesy", a collection of classic country blues from the likes of Blind Blake and Big Bill Broonzy, as well as Donohue originals. Chet Atkins appears on 1996's "Backroads" which features solo and full-band performances of Donohue-penned songs. "American Guitar" showcases Donohue's ability as a solo performer and includes more of his own songs as well as his arrangements of traditional American pieces such as "Maple Leaf Rag" and "The Star Spangled Banner".

His original songs have been recorded by Chet Atkins, Suzy Bogguss, Loose Ties and other national performers. He has been a featured performer at major music festivals including the Newport Folk Festival, Telluride Festival, and the Philadelphia Folk Festival, and performs regularly in concerts and clubs around the country.

Pat Donohue's guitar skills are shared through his many teaching events. His extensive travels for A Prarie Home Companion and his solo performance engagements enable him to conduct in-person group workshops throughout the country.

He participates in teaching camps and has also released numerous instructional videos. Although he went to college in Milwaukee and lived and performed in Denver for a number of years, Pat is a life-long resident of St. Paul, Minnesota, where he currently lives with his wife Susan and daughter Daisy.