= Grammy winning guitar virtuoso, Frank Gambale, exploded on the L.A. scene in the early ‘80s. His meteoric rise to fame is a testament to his passion-powered playing – a style Rolling Stone magazine called “ferocious!" Gambale is an inspired songwriter with more than 300 songs published on 20+ albums. His music touches on many styles from rock, funk and jazz to R&B and some Latin and Brazillian influences. As a legendary guitarist, Grammy Award Winner and three times Grammy Nominated, Gambale is an undisputed genius who originated the "Gambale Sweep Picking Technique" ( an economy picking technique and a new way to play the instrument) and elevated it to a precise art form now standard in the guitar lexicon. The "Gambale Sweep Picking Technique" continues to inspire generations of musicians. Jazz, rock, metal and progressive artists alike are united in their awe of Frank as both an amazing technician and an unsurpassed musician. As a jazz legend, Chick Corea, described Frank this way: “Everything you touch with your guitar turns gold – always has." Corea also said "Frank is my favorite guitar player." Guitar great, John McLaughlin, joked: “I’d like to cut his hands off." Jazz guitarist Pat Metheny says of Frank: “I’d like to take a month off and study with Frank Gambale." Dweezil Zappa said "studying Frank Gambale's Sweep Picking technique enabled me to play the hardest parts of my father's music that he himself didn't play." A musician’s musician, a gifted composer, and a brilliant innovator and author of numerous instructional books and DVDs, Frank continues to reach unprecedented sonic and technical heights. His six string prowess and seemingly limitless vision point toward an exciting future of groundbreaking music. Early Years Frank Gambale was born into a family of talented musicians in his native Canberra, Australia. He quickly absorbed the pantheon of ‘60s and ‘70s blues and rock guitar greats. As a teen, Frank’s musical horizons expanded with the influence of jazz and vocal based music under the generous tutelage of a local import record shop owner. At 17, he started playing piano and almost gave up guitar altogether. It was two years before Frank would return to the guitar at the insistence of his older brother. He returned to guitar with renewed enthusiasm but continues to play piano to this day. Gambale says that his move to Los Angeles in the early '80s put him in the middle of “where all the music I loved was being made." His first stop was the Guitar Institute of Technology. Meteoric Rise Frank’s shining prowess and dedication to practice garnered him “Student of the Year” upon graduation from GIT, landing him a teaching gig as well as a publishing deal for his first instructional book “Speed Picking” the first-ever book published on the subject of Sweep / Economy Picking. In 1985, he signed a three-album recording contract and began his recording career. In the summer of 1986, he toured with jazz violin great Jean-luc Ponty. Soon after that tour, his widening reputation led to an invitation by jazz legend Chick Corea to join his groundbreaking “Elektric Band”. He went on to play with the group for 36 years! Frank began a major endorsement with the Ibanez guitar company and began to create four successive FGM series guitars, which became a very popular. He also signed a three DVD contract for instructional videos including Monster Licks & Speed Picking, the first-ever video on the subject of Sweep / Economy picking, Chopbuilder and Modes: No More Mystery, all of which were amongst the best selling instructional guitar videos ever produced. Fresh-faced Gambale graced the cover of Guitar Player magazine in June, 1988, with a headline entitled “Fire Meets Finesse.” Some 30 magazine covers to date and reader's poll wins and other accolades have followed. Fire meets finesse, indeed! On the Road Gambale's musical journey has taken him “at least twenty times around the world,” by his account, with his own groups and as a collaborator with “Vital Information” and several of Chick Corea’s bands. Gambale has produced more than 20+ solo records, another nine during his 16-year collaboration with Vital Information, plus three blazing albums with his off-shoot project, “Gambale, Hamm, Smith.” There were dozens of other guest record projects, as well. His fruitful 36 year alliance with Chick Corea has totaled six recordings and a live DVD recorded at the Montreux Jazz Festival. That band garnered a Grammy and two Grammy nominations. World tours with drumming legend Billy Cobham led to Cobham’s enthusiastic participation on Frank’s album, “Raison D’Etre,” which introduced Frank’s “Gambale Tuning System” to the world. Sweep Picking, Gambale Tuning and Guitars In 2004 nearly 40 years into his career, Frank discovered his revolutionary “Gambale Tuning.”  This system aligns the close-voicing chordal capabilities of piano onto a reachable and familiar fretboard - yet another of his monumental contributions to the guitar alongside the Gambale Sweep Picking technique. Yamaha and now Kiesel quickly jumped in to arm Frank with a new double-neck guitar, necessitated by the quick change-over in tunings while flying on the new adventurous tracks. The Frank Gambale DV Mark Signature line of amplifiers fires up the incredible new Gambale Signature FG-1 Guitar by Kiesel Guitars. This semi- hollow chambered guitar was a year in the making at Kiesel’s Custom Shop. Frank’s instructional materials are used in many schools and universities throughout the world. His mystifying Gambale Sweep Picking Technique, featured in his first instructional book and masterfully demonstrated in the Monster Licks & Speed Picking video, continues to amaze and inspire guitarists. Frank generously conducts master classes around the world. On the road in 2011 In 2011, the All-Star “Return to Forever IV” (Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Jean- luc Ponty, Frank Gambale, Lenny White) ignited the greatest stages around the world. The iconic band played more than 100 concerts starting in Australia at the famed Sydney Opera House. The World Tour culminated in the 2 CD/DVD album The Mothership Returns. New Release in 2012 2012 brought more terrific new directions for Frank Gambale: an album he wanted to make for 30 years. Soulmine is a return to Gambae's vocal roots, and the first collaboration with inspirational songstress and muse, BOCA. Gambale and BOCA wrote, arranged and produced this release. It features Boca’s sexy, strong and evocative vocals and inviting lyrics -  luring listeners to “stir their soul." Also present is Gambale’s soulful guitar playing and signature sweep-picking prowess throughout the album. “Soulmine” has catchy tunes punctuated with shining vocal harmonies, unexpected sass, funky rhythms and saucy guitar lines. The delicious guitar tones that tie the tracks together are complemented by the combination of the new Frank Gambale DV Mark Signature line of amps firing up the incredible Gambale Signature FG1 Guitar by Carvin’s Custom Shop. Frank Gambale Soulmine feat. BOCA is available here. Soulmine Tour of Europe 2012 The first single, “Forbidden Kiss,” hit the radio waves and video channels in January, 2012. Released on FrankGambaleTV (FGTV), the video was created and directed by the legendary Nigel Dick. This award-winning, British-born filmmaker boasts a resume of more than 300 music videos, multiple commercials and numerous films. His creativity and vision enhances the key elements of musical expression and sensuality that comes through Gambale and BOCA’s collaboration. Watch the video here Forbidden Kiss. 2014 Gambale continued to tour with his various groups. His group, Soulmine, graced jazz festival stages from USA, Mexico, Sweden and the Canary Islands 2015 Frank launched is first online guitar school in October 2015 the Frank Gambale Guitar School Gambale had always wanted his own forum to deliver his unique brand of teaching music and guitar and has been an oasis for musicians seeking serious online educational and inspirational video courses. Amongst the epic courses are "Spicing Up The Blues", "The Definitive Gambale Sweep Picking Course" and "Target Tones. 2017 2017 saw a world-tour of the iconic Chick Corea Elektric Band, featuring Chick Corea, Frank Gambale, Eric Marienthal, John Patitucci, and Dave Weckl. The band delighted longtime fans all over the world. 2018 It was another busy year for Frank Gambale, including the release of Soulmine's second album (SALVE),  another brilliant collaboration with singer/songwriter BOCA. Salve finds Frank sharing some of the lead singing along with Boca. The album also features two more fantastic song videos directed by Nigel Dick. See the videos here Fear of Flyin' and Through The Darkness 2019 Frank toured the US East Coast in September 2019 with Dennis Chambers on drums, Mike Pope ( a former Elektric Band member ) and Sean Wayland on keys. It was a sellout tour. Frank reformatted his popular online school and relaunches it on a brand new platform. He has released a huge amount of new courses including his Peace & Harmony: The Theory Of Creativity, Pentatonic Heaven, Rhythmic Displacement, Rhythm Guitar Crash Course and his latest (June 2022) Playing Outside amongst other great lessons, play-along tracks and album transcriptions and downloads. 2020 to early 2022 and Beyond Frank just completed a sellout 6-week Sweeping Across Europe and Scandinavia Tour March - April 2022 with his All-Star Band after a long 2 year Covid lockdown."I was so happy to be back on stage doing what I love". The audiences were happy too, many of them were at their first show post-Covid. Frank just completed a new single soon to be released called"Happiness Is...?" Performing with him on the new song is fellow Aussie giant Tommy Emmanuele and bass great Victor Wooten and Canadian percussionist Rick Lazar. The song video was directed by the legendary videographer Nigel Dick. Frank is currently working on his eagerly anticipated next album release. Whether Gambale is touring the world with his All-Star band, the Natural High Trio, his cool new vocal group Frank Gambale Soulmine, or joining forces in an iconic jazz super group, Frank continues to amaze audiences around the world. - Dura and Matthew X. Curry (last updated June 2022)