Guitarist Gerhard ready to show class in LV

Friday, March 22, 2002 | 9:30 a.m.

Concert

Who: Ed Gerhard.

When: 7 p.m. today.

Where: Winchester Community Center, 3130 S. McLeod Drive.

Tickets: $12 general admission, $10 for members of the Guitar Society of Las Vegas.

Information: 455-7340.

Workshop

What: Ed Gerhard Guitar Workshop.

When: 2 p.m. Saturday.

Where: Clark County Library's Jewel Box Theater, 1401 E. Flamingo Road.

Tickets: $35 for nonmembers of the Guitar Society of Las Vegas.

Information: 733-7810.

Ed Gerhard is a guitar player's guitar player.

"He's the person you don't necessarily see fronting a band, but the person in the background who does everything to make the lead person look great," said Glenn Cooper, director of the Guitar Society of Las Vegas.

The society has invited Gerhard to perform at a concert in Las Vegas tonight, and to conduct a workshop Saturday.

This will be Gerhard's first performance in Las Vegas.

"I play all over the place," the 45-year-old Gerhard said. "I play some back East and on the West Coast. I used to play in the South all the time. I tour overseas a lot. I will be leaving soon for a tour of Germany."

Gerhard, who lives in southern New Hampshire, says he likes the diversity of places he performs.

"The traveling part gets old, but I love being in different places," Gerhard said recently during a telephone interview from the recording studio at his home.

He says he used to travel at least eight months of the year, but has cut back lately and is spending more time in his studio.

Early in his career, Gerhard recorded for others, but decided he likes to control his own destiny.

In 1987 he started Virtue Records and since then has released several albums, among them "Night Birds," "Christmas," "Luna" and "Counting The Ways."

His most recent CD is "House of Guitars," which was released earlier this year.

Gerhard said after he learned how the recording business works, he didn't want to be involved with other companies.

"This is not a record company we have to release stuff while we're waiting for an offer," Gerhard said. "We really love the way its working."

Gerhard was 10 years old when he was inspired by classical guitarist Andre Segovia.

"I saw him on TV," he said. "Segovia was the first guitarist I ever heard who played completely by himself.

"His tone was just absolutely amazing."

Seeing and hearing Segovia changed Gerhard's life. By age 15 he was performing professionally.

While Gerhard has not reached the height of superstardom in the overall entertainment world, he is universally popular among guitar aficionados.

"The guitar faithful are always faithful," Gerhard said.

The faithful often show up at the Society events.

"We bring in world-class musicians to play for our community and to offer the opportunity to be up-close and personal to learn something from a master," Cooper said.

Cooper said it's impossible to put a label on a person of Gerhard's talent.

"When you talk about a finger-style guitarist, he can do (all genres)," he said. "He's known for taking guitar literature to knew heights."