Neil Haverstick

Born in St. Louis, Neil Haverstick started playing the guitar in 1965 after the British Invasion bands like Rolling Stones, The Beatles and Cream inspired him. But it was Over Under Sideways Down, a Yardbyrds tune with a Jeff Beck solo, that captivated him. In the late sixties, he was influenced by blues legends like John Lee Hooker and Muddy Waters. He also expanded his musical tastes to include jazz, folk, classical and flamenco. In 1976, he was introduced to George Keith, a saxophone player who he performed with. In 1989, after performing throughout the Colorado area, Haverstick was introduced to the 19-tone guitar by John Starrett. Fascinated by its sound and oddly structured arrangements, Haverstick perfected his guitar and unique tuning system, using 19 and 34 notes per octave instead of the standard 12. In 1990, he began working as a faculty music teacher at the Swallow Hill Music Association. He was also featured in Guitar Player Magaze, winning the magazine's Ultimate Guitar Competition in the experimental division. In 1994, Haverstick played at the America Festival of Microtonal Music in New York. In 1997, he released his debut album Acoustic Stick. In 2000, he released Other Worlds as well as The Gate. Haverstick has also authored two books, including "The Form of No Forms" and "19 Tones: A New Beginning". He has opened up for B.B. King and Steve Miller.
© Jason MacNeil /TiVo