Photo Provided Guitarist Tommy Emmanuel is bringing his Living in the Light Tour to the Capitol Theatre Wheeling in August. Emmanuel carries the elite title of “CGP” – Certified Guitar Player, as awarded by the legendary Chet Adkins.

WHEELING – As a little boy in Australia, Tommy Emmanuel made a discovery that would span a lifetime. From the time he was just 4 years old, the young musician while traveling the country as part of his family band, Emmanuel found his life’s work – his calling in life.

Now 71, Emmanuel’s long, windy career path will bring the highly acclaimed virtuoso guitarist to the Capitol Theatre in Wheeling for a show on Friday, Aug. 14, beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at: www.capitoltheatrewheeling.com, the WesBanco Arena box office from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, or by calling 304-233-7000.

When reminded that many people either find their calling late in life or never at all, Emmanuel said, “I’m so grateful to have been born into a family that everybody loved music. And we played music as a family. And I think that’s such a wonderful gift. It’s a great way to start in the music business.

“When I was 4, my mother gave me a little guitar. She knew how much I wanted to play and she showed me how to play chords and how a song is constructed. I had a little boy understanding of it, but basically once I got hold of how it worked she and I worked out many songs to play and we practiced together. And I found my mission in life. I found what I needed to do. And that is a wonderful thing in itself.

“I remember those first couple of years from 5 to 7 when we were touring, just the things that were kind of revealed to me. The things that happened on stage where I would get a little bit game, and I would move around and dance around a bit to the music while I was playing and the audience just lit up. So I thought, ‘Man this is good.’ So we had to find other songs where we could do that. And I realized that’s what I wanted to do. And I’ve never really pursued anything else. I’ve always wanted to be an entertainer, and I’ve always wanted to play music, and make people feel good.”

Two very different people had great influence on the young, youthful Emmanuel — first, his music-playing mother, who used music as a way to bring and keep her family together. His brother Phil was the lead guitar player, his sister played lap-steel guitar and he jumped from instrument to instrument, including the drums.

The other: legendary guitarist Chet Adkins. Emmanuel said, “I think my mother was definitely the first one to kind of light a fire in me. And then, thanks to the music we were constantly listening to and hearing on the radio. . . when I heard Chet Adkins I heard a sound that changed my life forever. And I knew it when I heard him playing. I didn’t know what he was doing, or how he was doing it, I just knew that’s what I had to do. And I’ve never moved from that.

“I’m still learning stuff from his recordings. There’s just so much in there. I think I learned a lot of the really important principles in trying to be a good musician and play songs in a good way. And Chet taught me things like find a good key to play a song in, make sure the melody sounds nice. If it needs a key change, try to make it interesting. Things like that. Don’t forget to tap your foot and keep time. Be in tune. All those things that are not talked about enough.”

Emmanuel has learned his musical lessons well, very well. NPR’s World Cafe called him “one of the best acoustic guitarists in the world,” while the New York Times labeled him a “prodigy.” Perhaps the biggest recognition Emmanuel has earned throughout his career came from Atkins, who crowned him a Certified Guitar Player. Only six members belong in Atkins’ honorary club: Atkins, Emmanuel, John Knowles, Jerry Reed, Marcel Dadi and Steve Wariner.

“He was amazing,” Emmanuel said of Atkins. “He was such an incredible guy. I was so shocked when he presented me with that award. It’s very simple. The award, the writing on the award is this: it says the certified guitar player, for lifetime contribution to the art of fingerpicking. He didn’t say anything more. That’s it. He kind of summed it up with that.”

Tommy Emmanuel

Emmanuel has likewise influenced generations of guitar players through his diverse, unique playing style. Professional and amateur guitar players alike recognize the name and his music as soon as he is mentioned. One local, life-long amateur guitarist knows Tommy Emmanuel’s skillset and music very well.

Dave Potter was born in Lansing and grew up in Bridgeport. He has lived in Wheeling and Triadelphia for more than four decades. Playing guitar has been Potter’s hobby since he was 13. Now 72, he has never played in a band nor played on a stage in front of people. His hobby is private. And he knows just how special Tommy Emmanuel is to the guitar-playing world.

“I have had the pleasure of seeing Tommy many times at the annual Chet Atkins Appreciation Society convention which is held over a four-day period in July at the Music City Sheraton in Nashville,” Potter said. “Hundreds of music lovers – a majority of which are guitar players – attend each year to see and hear a wide variety of accomplished guitarists perform over a four-day period. I attended the convention five times and Tommy was always there performing multiple sets each year. He was always the top audience draw. He was always, by far, the most entertaining act down there. For a music lover who actually actively listens closely to Tommy’s arrangements, he will blow you away. If you close your eyes and listen, you will think you are hearing two or three guitarists, but it’s just Tommy.”

Potter continued, “He takes songs that everybody knows and puts his very unique spin on them making them fun and fresh. I saw an interview with him one time and he emphasized that to him, ‘surprise equals entertainment.'”

That won’t change when Emmanuel visits the historic Capitol Theatre in August. He is committed to change, surprise and entertainment. His music has “no borders … no borders.” He loves to shock the crowd and see the reaction.

“I hope they can get the unexpected,” Emmanuel said of the fans attending his show at the Capitol. “I’m always hoping to make a connection with everybody in the room. When I come out on stage I feel like on nights when I play, I’m playing for every single person almost individually. Sometimes people can already have ideas about what I’m going to do. Then when I surprise them with things, it blows their mind. I don’t want anything to be too predictable, to be unpredictable and let my kite fly higher. That’s really what I’m doing out there. I’m pushing myself and I’m trying to fly my kite as high as I can. I’m not going to hold anything back.”

When told his answer produced goosebumps and asked if he’s ever had that happen before, Emmanuel humbly said, “Every night. Well it’s true. I’m just being honest. I love to play for people and the audience is my number one thing for all my energy and all my attention. I’m there to play for the people. It’s a joyous occasion.”