Versatile guitarist opens up about new recordings, shares stories about Tommy Tedesco and tells us why he likes the roasted maple necks on Xotic guitars
June 30, 2017
By David Sands
Don’t let Allen Hinds’ easy-going manner or the seemingly effortless way he can make his guitar sing fool you; the man is a musical whirlwind.
Well-versed in jazz, rock and R&B, Hinds has contributed his “grassroots” touch to recordings and performances by artists like Boney James, Roberta Flack, Gino Vannelli, Bebe and CeCe Winans, Randy Crawford, the Crusaders and others. He’s also performed with the jazz fusion group Hiroshima, written songs for Larry Carlton, Patti Austin and Jeff Kashiwa and had his music appear on TV shows like Duck Dynasty and Pawn Stars. And, as if that’s not enough, he’s also an active teacher and solo artist.
A child of the south, Hinds grew up in the college town of Auburn, Alabama where he became acquainted with a wide variety of sounds and styles. He picked up the guitar his late teens and later studied at the Berklee College of Music and the Musician’s Institute in Los Angeles, where he now teaches. Hinds is also currently an instructor at Shepherd university and has taught clinics and master classes around the world. Hinds recently released two recordings, a solo album called Fly South (which features Jimmy Earl, Abraham Laboriel, Genevieve Artadi and Vinnie Colaiuta among others) and Just Get In with his band Wonderland Park.
FBPO’s Jon Liebman caught up with Hinds at the 2017 Winter NAMM show in Anaheim, California to learn more about his fascinating career.
Watch our interview with Allen!
