The Left-Handed Guitar Players That Changed Music By John Engel
DILLON HODGES


guitar
Plays Guitar Left Handed with default stringing.
view DILLON HODGES's website


DILLON HODGES
At the age of 13 he was given an artist endorsement by Gibson guitar, making him the youngest acoustic guitar player ever endorsed by Gibson. Since then he has won numerous adult competitions and placed in dozens of others - including winning seven in 2004. He has performed on several television shows across North Alabama, has been featured in numerous news articles and has played at events across the Southeast, including providing the pre-race entertainment at Aaron's 499 at the Talladega SuperSpeedway on May 1, 2005.
Having already won two flat-picking national championships and released his debut CD by age 17, Hodges has now signed a five-year deal to exclusively represent DHR Music, Inc., of Cincinnati.  He will also exclusively endorse Breedlove acoustic guitars, Benedetto arch-top guitars and Hamer electric guitars.
Less than two years after he first picked up a guitar, Dillon won a national championship as the best flat picking guitar player in the country for ages 12-and-under.
In September of 2007, just one month past his 17th birthday, Hodges won the Flat Picking National Championship at the 36th Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas, besting a field of 40 of the nation's top pickers.
With the win Hodges became the first guitar player ever to win the title of National Champion Country Music Beginner in Flat Top Guitar and the Flat Picking National Championship.
In winning the Walnut Valley Festival, Hodges became the first left-handed player in the 36 years of the event to win. He is also the first winner from the state of Alabama and is the second youngest winner ever - second only to Mark O'Connor.

(from Dillon's website)