Artists

Denny Jiosa Signature Model

We are excited to have Denny Jiosa as part of our family. Denny is recognized and respected worldwide as one of the most dynamic and soulful guitarists on the scene today. He is best known for his six smooth jazz projects, all garnering Top 5, and 10 positions on the smooth jazz charts, as well as delivering his #1 hit single "Wounded Warriors" in the UK. His hit song, “Lights of The City” was SESAC’s #1 most played jazz song of that year, reaching #5 on the smooth jazz charts.

He is equally at home in the studio as a renowned producer and engineer. With four Grammy nominations to his credit, his production skills range from Americana, rock, blues, latin, gospel,and jazz. He has worked with artists such as gospel sensation Yolanda Adams, Master guitarist Phil Keaggy, the late Bobby Hebb (Sunny), Saxophonist Kirk Whalum, Drummer Chester Thompson (Genesis, Santana), Country star Crystal Gayle, Phillip Baily, Ronnie Laws, and Take 6.

Denny plays the FX-PF007, a grand auditorium sized guitar with a solid book matched Bolivian Rosewood top and book matched Bolivian Rosewood back and sides. The bevel armrest adds comfort while playing. We have updated this model to include the FXA electronics with built in delay, chorus and reverb and Bluetooth. Boliivian Rosewood grain is tighter than a typical rosewood specimen, and it is thought to have a more distinctly percussive tone. Its tonal response has tight lows, present mids and a clear, singing high end response. It has a rosewood fretboard and bridge, plus a bone nut and saddle for added tone. The custom gold tuning machines complete this guitar with a very unique combination of exotic top and back woods. All Willow Creek Guitars ship with D'Addario coated strings.

Link to Denny Jiosa's website featuring his music.
 Link to the JVM COLLECTIVE

Paula Jo Signature Model

Paula Jo Taylor recently joined the Willow Creek Guitar family and we could not be more elated. Nashville based Paula Jo Taylor is an acclaimed lead guitar player who performs with her daughter Amanda and their Mama Tried Band. She was featured in Guitar World Magazine as their pick for top 10 female guitarist and performed live at their 2019 summer NAMM show booth in Nashville. A video of Paula Jo playing guitar at the 2017 summer NAMM has gone viral on the Internet. You can see her full bio here:
Paula Jo plays the PAULA JO signature model, a grand auditorium sized guitar with a solid book matched sitka spruce top and book matched Indian rosewood back and sides. The bevel armrest adds comfort while playing. It has a rosewood fretboard and bridge. The custom gold tuning machines have "Willow Creek" engraved in them. All Willow Creek Guitars ship with bone nut and saddle and D'Addario coated strings.

Link to Paula Jo's biography.

Rhonda Milton Hampton with Ronnie Milsap

Rhonda sings and plays guitar with Mr. Ronnie Milsap. After playing Denny Jiosa's signature model, Rhonda showed an interest in having one. Her husband, Adam Hampton, decided to get one for her. We are excited to welcome Rhonda to our family!

Garrett Huffman

We are excited to announce that Garrett Huffman has joined the Willow Creek Guitars family. The pandemic has had an effect on the lives of so many people, but Garrett decided he would turn a negative into a positive. He was well on his way to making a career in basketball, but two years ago when the courts were closed, he bought a guitar and started down the road to a new adventure. At age 18, we see a super star in the making. Watch this young man as he takes the world of music by storm.

Garrett won the "Carolina Country Music Association" CMA Entertainer of the Year award for North and South Carolina.

He has chosen the FX-SG91-GH guitar for his main instrument and the FX-PG00 for his backup. More recently he commissioned the "Card Shark" highly customized model. The FX-SG91-GH is hand made with solid "AAA" sitka spruce top and solid Indian rosewood back and sides. The ebony fretboard is highly adorned with our custom "Tree of Life" design. As with all Willow Creek Guitars it has a bone nut and saddle and die-cast gears. This guitar has our flagship FXA effects system with delay, chorus, reverb and Bluetooth. There is a built in condenser mic that can be blended with the under-saddle piezo for a warmer, more natural sound when amplified.

Link to Garrett Huffman's website
 Link to Garrett's Facebook page
 Link to Garrett's Instagram page

Matt Burmeister

Meet Matt Burmeister, another member of the Willow Creek Guitars family. Songwriter/guitarist/singer, Matt was born in Danville, IL and now resides in Franklin, IN. A graduate of Musicians Institute, He has five #1 songs on Trop Rock radio with his band Tiki Tom Toms & The Pineapple Beach Party. His work has been heard by millions of people in his music for documentaries, indie films, tv and radio commercials, theme parks as well as live performing and writing/recording/releasing original material. ‘I Like Halloween’ song/video aired on regional PBS Stations.

Matt selected the FX-PG91Y guitar for his main instrument. The FX-PG91Y is a hand made grand auditorium sized guitar with a solid "AA" book matched sitka spruce top and book matched Indian rosewood back and sides. The bevel armrest adds comfort while playing. It has a rosewood fretboard and bridge. The custom gold tuning machines have "Willow Creek" engraved in them. It has a bone nut and saddle and D'Addario coated strings. The fretboard is highly adorned with our custom morning glory inlay design. His guitar has our flagship FXA effects system with delay, chorus, reverb and Bluetooth. There is a built in condenser mic that can be blended with the under-saddle piezo for a warmer, more natural sound when amplified.

You can follow Matt here:
Tikitomtoms.com
Link to Matt's website
Music available on all major streaming platforms.

John Sullivan

Introducing another member of our family, John Sullivan, a singer/songwriter from Denver, North Carolina. John has been playing music his whole life and writing for the past 15 years or so. He started his journey on piano at the ripe age of 4 years old and steadily transitioned into guitar 18 years later. He has a steady, easy vibe comparable to Jack Johnson, Dave Matthews, with a touch of Grateful Dead influence. John was Featured on season 19 of NBC's The Voice where he worked closely with coach Blake Shelton. He is a devout Christian with a loving family; his blessing of a wife, Staci, two young boys Hayes and Boone, and their white golden retriever Goose. John performs all around North Carolina from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Outer Banks, and travels south a bit to play shows in South Carolina and Florida throughout the year as well. "The songwriting process unraveled for me as the guitar learning process progressed. The more I challenge myself, the more I learn, the more I become inspired to write/create. It has taught me to respect that process in many aspects of my life. I'm excited to continue my journey with my new friends/family at Willow Creek."

John selected the FX-SG9CY, also known as the "Pirate Ship." The Pirate Ship custom shop hand made grand auditorium sized guitar with a solid "AAA" sitka spruce top and solid book matched cocobolo back and sides. The flamed maple bevel armrest adds design and comfort while playing. It has an ebony fretboard and bridge and florentine cut-a-way. The custom pearl and gold tuning machines, bone nut and saddle, 5 piece neck of mahogany, ebony and flamed maple make this a very unique guitar. The icing on the cake is the pirate ship design fretboard inlay. This guitar has our flagship FXA effects system with delay, chorus, reverb and Bluetooth. There is a built in condenser mic that can be blended with the under-saddle piezo for a warmer, more natural sound when amplified.

John and his music can be found here:
Links to John's website
 Link to John's Facebook page
 John's Spotify link

Hoss Ridgeway

Hoss Ridgeway is a comedian, songwriter and singer from Franklin, IN. He has performed in 40 states and 2 countries using his musical comedy, storytelling and sound effects to entertain at comedy clubs, churches, cruises, corporate shows and TV. He is totally in love with Willow Creek Guitars!

Hoss is using the Suncreek Mahogany guitar for his travel instrument. The 38" Mini Grand Auditorium has the FXB Digital Effects with reverb, delay and chorus. It has a solid mahogany top, mahogany Back & Sides, rosewood fretboard & bridge, wood, pearl & abalone Inlay and binding, custom die-cast tuning machines and a gloss natural finish. He also has also aadded the newest Jumbo Pro guitar to his collection.
Check out HOSS on iTunes and on the web at:
Hoss Ridgeway

Ken Jehle

Ken is a life-long career musician and is currently the full time music director for Saint Joseph Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Music with a concentration in Classical Guitar and is equally skilled in rock and classical. Ken is the lead guitarist for ‘Pink Droyd’, northern Indiana’s premier Pink Floyd tribute band. Ken Jehle has recently recorded several solo guitar arrangements which can be heard on Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube.  In college, he performed with the all original band ‘Angel X’ which opened up for many national acts including 38 Special, Quiet Riot, Blue Oyster Cult, Foghat. 

Ken selected the FX-PGE4F, also known as the "Herringbone Pro". The Herringbone Pro grand auditorium guitar has a solid Englemann spruce top, mahogany back & sides, forward shifted “X” bracing for enhanced bass and projecioon, hand scalloped sitka braces, 5 piece neck Strength & Stability, rosewood fretboard & bridge for enhanced tone and feel, abalone cherry blossom inlay custom aesthetics, Volute on the back of the headstock, herringbone body binding, bone nut and saddle, custom die-cast tuners, and FXA digital effects system with delay, chorus, reverb and Bluetooth. There is a built in condenser mic that can be blended with the under-saddle piezo for a warmer, more natural sound when amplified.

Ken's Music can be found here.

The 25th Hour

We welcome The 25th Hour to the Willow Creek Guitars family. The 25th Hour hails from Knoxville, Tennessee. Joshua Lynn has been playing music independently for most of his life. He has developed his unique style of musical expression over the years. His music is characterized as bold and edgy, fun with relentless rhythms. The 25th Hour is currently performing the Knoxville and surrounding area. Be sure to catch Josh live for an unforgettable experience! https://www.facebook.com/The25thHourDuo/ @The25thHourDuo

Josh have chosen the Koa Pro (FX-PGKKY) as his first instruments of choice, and has commissioned a new guitar with his band logo near the octave fret.

 Link to The 25th Hour Facebook page.

Peyton Aldridge

Introducing another member of our family, Peyton Aldridge. He was born and raised in Mississippi, near the birthplace of the Delta Blues. He's been singing his whole life in the church choir and at local music venues. His family is everything to him; his wife and daughters are his world.

In September 2022, Peyton tried out for The Voice and turned the chairs of three judges. He chose John Legend as his coach after John blocked Blake Shelton from choosing Peyton. He says he had a great time on the show and learned so much.

Peyton officially launched his solo career in January of 2023 with a concert in his hometown town. Since then he has released several new songs. They're available to stream everywhere. Let's show him some support by checking out his music.

Peyton is playing a custom shop FX-SJ95-PA.

Link to Peyton's Linktree page.
Link to Peyton's Tik-Tok page.
Link to Peyton's music page.
 Link to Peyton's Facebook page.
 Link to Peyton's Instagram page.
 Link to Peyton's Shopify page.

George Marinelli

Welcome another family member to Willow Creek Guitars, George Marinelli.

George was the guitarist with Bonnie Raitt from 1993 to 2022, and as an original member of Bruce Hornsby & the Range for which he received a Grammy for Best New Artist. He has recorded at least seven solo albums and his latest, Self Made Fool, is a marvelous culmination of his development as an artist.

George has recorded with Reba McEntire, Vince Gill, Dixie Chicks, Robert Earl Keen, Ray Charles, Duane Jarvis, Faith Hill, Randy Scruggs, Wynonna Judd, Cliff Richard, Trisha Yearwood, Garth Brooks, Colin Hay, Peter Cetera, Rascal Flatts, Cindy Bullens, Maia Sharp, Art Garfunkel, and many others. He also toured Europe with James Taylor.

Link to George Marinelli's Official Music Channel.

Patsy O'Brien

Welcome Patsy O'Brien to the Willow Creek Guitars family.

As well as supplying the driving guitar rhythms on Celtic/World Music diva Eileen Ivers' last European tour, and frequently treading the boards and collaborating with many giants of the Celtic/World music scene (Paddy Keenan. Cathie Ryan among them), Patsy's songwriting reflects a strong interest in roots americana as well as Jazz influences.

With critically-acclaimed solo albums under his belt along with numerous live and studio collaborations, it's no surprise that Patsy's songwriting ability and guitar prowess are in demand. Patsy hosts guitar workshops all over the country, and NPR saw fit to feature one of his song arrangements on the prestigious All Songs Considered.

Link to Patsy O'Brien's website.

Jack Gafford

We are happy to welcome Jack Gafford to the Willow Creek Guitars family.

A passion for music has been one of the driving forces throughout my life, from playing country and bluegrass on a friend's back porch as a young teenager in my hometown of Auburndale, Florida, to chasing that "neon rainbow" in Nashville for a decade. Several major label deals were in the works, and although music was my life, it just wasn't my time. I was blessed to have many leadership opportunities while serving in the Air Force and the corporate world, including Lead Trainer for "Warrior PATHH," a program dedicated to helping post-traumatic veterans and first responders forge strength from struggle. In 2013, I reconnected with my faith through the help of a mentor. I finally came to the point where I gave it all up to God - my questions and frustrations, my dreams, and my future. During this time however, my love for music never flagged. In 2014, I returned to my roots, blending my faith and artistry to create what has been described as "cutting-edge Christian Country." Working with my longtime friend, Producer / Singer / Songwriter, Adam Wheeler, we recorded the album "Sinner to Sinner," and a second album in 2020, "Love is Louder." Now, as the founder of Sinner to Sinner Ministries, I'm living out my passion and faith by "connecting ordinary people to an extraordinary message through word and song."
Jack is playing the Ported Pro FX-PG94P and the Bolivian Pro FX-PG00.

Link to Jack Gafford's website.