Born as David William Kearney in 1934, Guitar Shorty rose to prominence as a classic American blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter. Guitar Shorty spent most of his childhood in Kissimmee, FL, where he began to study guitar. He then moved to Tampa at age 16, where he was given his nickname when someone added it to a concert bulletin at one of his slated performances. It immediately stuck with him, and he has adopted it as permanent performance nickname.
As his dedication and musical skills blossomed, he performed with the likes of Ray Charles, B.B. King, and Sam Cooke. He also incorporated a great deal of showmanship into his stage act including somersaults, flips, and similar acrobatics. This set him apart from other greats, and led Guitar Shorty to success as a touring artist. His discography includes dozens of released records, and he is still performing today. Guitar Shorty maintains an active website at guitarshorty.com.