Lee Barbour

Lee grew up in Charleston, South Carolina and picked up his dad's guitar in the ninth grade. He learned to play by ear, wearing out several tapes and the rewind button on his boombox. By college, he finally owned a cd player and dove into the world of jazz guitar. After reading Charlie Parker's autobiography and learning that the saxophonist practiced eight hours a day for two years, he figured he could get the same results with four hours a day for four years. Mildly successful with this formula, he graduated with a degree in jazz guitar performance from the University of South Carolina. He then moved back to Charleston where, within a year of graduating, he became the youngest adjunct professor of jazz guitar at the College of Charleston. During his six years there, he played in several groups, including a gypsy swing band, several jazz ensembles and a touring rock band.

He has played the Austin City Limits Festival, recorded with jazz guitar legend, Joe Beck, and toured with indie rockers, Band of Horses. As far as he knows, he's the only person to be featured in Spin and Jazz Times in the same year. He loves ping pong, martial arts, and effects pedals more than life itself.