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"Eminence, ya did good on your Legend series. The 1258/1218 capture all that my Vintage Fenders can put out and more. Coming from a KY boy you make me proud."
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Lexington, Kentucky native Lou Toomey was 13 years old when he received the Jimi Hendrix Experience as a birthday gift. The album would have a powerful impact on his life. Influenced by the music of Hendrix, as well as that of the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Cream, Aretha Franklin, Wilson Picket, and many others, Lou was moved to the point of begging his parents for a guitar. They gave in. He picked it up and has never put it down.
Lou did not realize it at the time, but his father also gave him another powerful gift, the musical influence of what his father referred to as real music. The music of Buck Owens and the Buckaroos, Merle Haggard, Loretta Lynn, Bill Monroe, as well as having the radio tuned to the Grand Old Opry every Saturday night. Although he rebelled against the country music his father listened to at the time, it proved to be as influential to his passion for guitar playing as Hendrix and the others were. The combination of Hendrix and Buck became the foundation of Lou's musical career as a guitar player.
When Lou was 14 years old, he began joining in on jam sessions, and was soon playing in local Rock, R&B, and country bands. He quickly developed a following and was in demand in central Kentucky recording studios, the stomping ground for notable musicians such as Ricky Skaggs, Boonecreek, Exile, J.D. Crow and the New South, which featured a young veteran of the Central Kentucky Bluegrass scene - Keith Whitley.
Lou and Keith's paths crossed one night at a local nightspot and they soon became mutual fans. Keith's decision to cross over to main stream country eventually led him to success with the 1988 hit album Don't Close Your Eyes. Soon afterward, Keith called and asked Lou to join him on the road as his lead guitarist in support of the album, which spawned four number one hits and a U.S., Canadian, and European tour. Lou worked with Keith until Keith's untimely death in 1989.
Throughout the 90's Lou continued to tour and record with numerous artists, including Faith Hill, Brooks & Dunn, and Jessica Andrews. He is still moved by the same artists who influenced him when he began playing at 13, and his passion for guitar and music continues into the new millennium.
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