*1984 Graduate- Musicians' Institute- Hollywood, CA- Professional Guitarist program
*Private guitar and bass instruction since 1985 in Los Angeles, CA, Raleigh, NC and Dallas, TX.
* Contributing Editor- Gig Magazine- 1987-1990, Gigmeister column in "Vintage Guitar" magazine- 1993-2006, contributing writer with Electronic Musician, Guitar School, Guitar World and Real To Reel magazines.
*Live and studio performances with The Eccentrics, Senate, Blue Steel, The Men of Distinction, Network, Tiffany, Speed Limit, 401 Opryhouse Band, Still Creek Band, Lone Star Band, Images, Scarlett, The Fabulous Shades, Triad, Mirror Image, Think Twice and Sojourn.
Riley Wilson began playing guitar in 1966 at the age of ten. Inspired by a friend as well as his guitar playing father, he began lessons at a Lexington, KY music store. The store went through three different teachers in as many months. Frustrated by this lack of consistency, he began teaching himself. By age 13, he began playing with numerous bands and was earning money performing before graduating high school. Upon graduation in 1973, he turned professional and gigged casuals on weekends while attending college. He played all over the Southeast and Midwest with several groups, simultaneously earning a communications degree at UNC-Chapel Hill. At age 27, he moved to Los Angeles and attended the prestigious Guitar Institute of Technology. He even guest lectured on getting and keeping gigs while enrolled as a student! Following graduation in 1984, he began teaching guitar, inspired by GIT teachers like Ron Eschete, Eric Pascal and Les Wise. He returned to Raleigh and began teaching at a torrid pace, averaging over 60 students per week. After a decade in North Carolina, he moved to North Texas in 1996 and rebuilt a successful teaching practice within nine months. Riley began writing in 1987 with "Gig" magazine. He was a contributing editor to the publication in the late '80's. Since then, his writing has appeared in a variety of publications, including “Electronic Musician, “ “Guitar School,” “Guitar World,” “Real To Reel” and “Vintage Guitar,” where he was a monthly columnist from 1993-2006. Riley is also an in-demand voice talent, doing commercials and industrials for companies like Black & Decker, Disney, Home Depot, North American Phillips, United American Insurance, etc. He maintains a busy teaching schedule, using the same material contained in “Guitar Made Simpler” with students in his North Texas studio. He also continues to play live shows, both as a solo performer, with the duo "Think Twice" and the variety trio "Sojourn." He and his wife, the former Angelica Morgenroth of Miami, FL, have four children.
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