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Contemporary acoustic guitarist Billy McLaughlin was born and raised in Minneapolis, later studying music at the University of Southern California. There he explored composition as well as finger-style acoustic guitar, and soon after graduating independently issued a pair of 1989 LPs, Inhale Pink and Exhale Blue. Regularly playing upwards of 200 live dates a year, McLaughlin issued his third album, The Archery of Guitar, in 1993; upon its release, he was named "New Age Artist of the Year" at the Minnesota Music Awards. Wintersongs and Traditionals followed in 1994, and with the Hindu Rodeo Crew McLaughlin recorded The Bow and Arrow a year later. With 1996's Fingerdance, he made his Narada label debut, returning in 1999 with Out of Hand. Stormseekers followed a year later. ~ Jason Ankeny