Teddy Kumpel — artist
Teddy played guitar on the Grammy winning album “Home” by Tim Kubart, sang backgrounds with Nine Inch Nails on the MTV music awards, toured and/or recorded with Joe Jackson, Rickie Lee Jones, Goodie Mob, Feist, Toots Hibbert, played on many soundtracks including Anchorman and Talladega Nights, produced, engineered and helped develop many artists all while nurturing his own art and unique vision over his 30 year + career. Teddy was born and raised in Port Jefferson, NY, into a musical family. Teddy’s mom was a classical pianist and church organist who had perfect pitch and could play any instrument. His father was a mathematics professor who enjoyed singing, playing piano and ukulele with The Great American Songbook. His family was always playing music together, which inspired Teddy to write his first song at 4 years old. At around the same time, he began playing baritone ukulele as well as playing any instrument his parents had lying around the house,…violin, flute, piano, organ and guitar. During his teen years, Teddy studied with world renown music teacher Richard Rabatin at the Stony Brook School of Music. After reading the book “For Guitar Players Only” by Tommy Tedesco, at 13, he announced to his parents that he was going to be a professional studio guitar player. Teddy played in school bands, orchestras, choirs and as well as taking classical guitar private lessons.