Guitarist Peppino D'Agostino immigrated fifteen years ago to America to pursue his dream as both a composer and performer. The adventurous guitarist has since released five critically acclaimed albums in the US and two in Europe. D'Agostino has been praised by the San Francisco Chronicle as "a poet...among the best talents around", lauded by Acoustic Guitar as "one of the most capable composers among fingerstyle guitarists," applauded by the San Diego Times as "potentially a giant of the acoustic guitar," and touted by Jazziz as a "phenom in the same league with John Fahey, Leo Kottke, Doc Watson and John Renbourn."

A busy touring schedule has whisked him from Carnegie Hall to Wolftrap, and to music places such as the Vancouver Festival where he's shared the stage with such noted guitarists as Leo Kottke, Doc Watson, Chet Atkins, Laurindo Almeida, Michael Hedges, David Bromberg, David Grisman, John Lee Hooker, and Egberto Gismonti.

But D'Agostino, who claims to have been "obsessed" with music since his childhood, is still exploring and expanding. Few can match Peppino's combined technical prowess and lyrical artistry on the steel string, and not many are as eager to challenge the limits of their instrument--using unconventional tunings, playing the notes on the fretboard only with the left hand while simultaneously creating percussive effects with the right hand and inventing a mini orchestra of sounds that, on first listen, seem almost impossible for one lone guitar.

"His sound is warm and buoyant, like the man himself, and his personality shines through," noted Escape magazine in reviewing D'Agostino's previous Mesa recording, Close to the Heart. "His passionate guitar work and resonant compositions will captivate any listeners," echoed a JazzTimes critic, who urged listeners to "turn up the volume and enjoy."

1997 is full of professional satisfactions for Peppino. In the beginning of the year the long awaited songbook New Acoustic Guitar, with some of Peppino's most well-known compositions was published by Warner Brothers Publications. Within a few months after the initial release, a second printing was issued.

In February 1998 the well-established Homespun Tapes released Peppino's first teaching video entitled "The Guitar of Peppino D'Agostino". In September 1998 "Acoustic Music Records" released in Europe Peppino's latest CD entitled "A Glimpse of Times Past". A few months later Rykodisc/ Polygram after listening to the CD and impressed by Peppino's evocative melodies and virtuosity on guitar decided to distribute the album in the States.

In October 1999 Peppino's tune "Belladonna" was included in the book "Fingerstyle Guitar Masterpieces" published by the US magazine "Acoustic Guitar". This songbook-and-CD package features a dozen of the best fingerstyle players in the world such as Leo Kottke, John Williams, John Renbourn and Jorma Kaukonen. Peppino feels fortunate to have been given so many opportunities to express himself musically.

	San Francisco Chronicle: "a poet...among the best talents around"
	Acoustic Guitar: "one of the most capable composers among fingerstyle guitarists,"
	San Diego Times: "potentially a giant of the acoustic guitar"
	JazzTimes": "His passionate guitar work and resonant compositions will captivate any listeners"