are organic by nature because, of course, they
are for the most part made of wood.
They fluctuate with different temperatures,
humidity, and such. They are always con-
tracting and expanding. They can change in 15
minutes. You have to understand that
to make them play like they're supposed
to."
KEITH PILKINGTON, STRINGED INSTRUMENT
TECHNICIAN, THE DIXIE CHICKS
"I was kind of born into pursuing music," says
Keith Pilkington, who grew up in a
family of guitar pickers in Shelbyville,
Tennessee. "On Sunday we used to go to my
grandparents' house. My grandfather would play
banjo and my grandmother played
guitar. They would sit around and pick gospel
songs and everybody would sing along."
Pilkington became an accomplished player
himself, adding his guitar prowess to rock
bands before becoming interested in the
technical aspects of the instrument. He got a
job with acoustic bluegrass guitar
manufacturer, Gallagher and Sons, and learned how
to build instruments by hand. During that time,
he earned a degree in electronics engi-
neering at a local technical
school.
In 1990, Pilkington combined his acoustic and
electronic expertise at Gibson
Guitar in Nashville, doing repairs and custom
modifications for two years, until being
promoted to the artist relations department.
For a year, he networked with the artists
who endorsed Gibson guitars, making custom
modifications and building relation-
ships. Wanting a new challenge, he left in 1993
to spend three years on the road as a
guitar tech with Alan Jackson. The ability to
repair acoustic and electric stringed
instruments including guitar, mandolin, dobro,
banjo, and fiddle--beyond merely
tuning and changing strings--is what sets
Pilkington apart from the vast majority of
other guitar techs.
Looking for a different challenge, he became
merchandise manager for Trace
Adkins, touring and learning another aspect of
the music business. After 18 months,
Pilkington needed a break from the road. He
sold guitars in a small retail outlet until
1999 when he went to work for the Dixie Chicks.
On the road since then, he accom-
panied the Dixie Chicks on their 2000 tour, the
largest production touring out of
Nashville that year.
MUSICIANS
MUSICIAN · SINGER · GROUND
VOCALIST
JOB OVERVIEW
A road musician is hired to travel with an
artist and recreate the music on his
album and other material as
directed.
CASE STUDY:
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