Oscar's Guitar Shop

OSCAR JORDAN

Oscar Jordan grew up on the mean streets of Chicago amidst the snow, the concrete, and the blues. Becoming obsessed with the guitar, he took his lumps playing at local blues jams in venues such as Kingston Mines where he was educated sitting at the feet of virtuosos.

After a stint in the Army and a tour in Europe, Oscar was accepted into Chicago’s Goodman School of Drama where he received an acting degree. While learning his craft Oscar also studied metal, blues, rock, jazz, and funk guitar styles. In addition he performed in local theatrical productions and appeared in film and TV productions.

Moving to Los Angeles to continue his acting career, Oscar studied at the National Guitar Workshop, and began forming early incarnations of his band The Mighty Sons Of Hercules. His first album Mister Bad Luck was critically acclaimed and led to the highly successful blues-rock masterpiece Eclectic Soul in 2004. Living Blues Magazine called it:
"A heartfelt ode to the redemptive power of music... A 70's style meld of rock-tinged funk and neo-psychedelic organ/fretboard interplay, with dollops of pop romanticism... Irony-rich... Harmony-rich... Jubilantly danceable... Inventive lyric juxtapositions... Tough enough for street cred and sufficiently boho-literate to please the hipsters.”

Non-stop gigs co-existed with a recurring role on the TV series ER, more screen roles (opposite Jack Nicholson, George Clooney, Eddie Murphy, and Julia Roberts), commercials, teaching guitar, and the guitar instructional video I Am The Blues Lead Guitarist. He was also runner-up in the Blues Idol Songwriting Competition and later co-starred with Jane’s Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro in a well-publicized Citibank commercial featuring the Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp.

In addition to becoming a guitar educator, Oscar has been a contributing writer to Vintage Guitar Magazine and Music Connection Magazine since 2001. His knowledge of music, history, and iconic guitarists, was a perfect fit for the challenge of interviewing some of the most talented musicians in the world. The short list includes Akon, Bobby Womack, Steve Vai, Darryl Hall, Johnny Winter, Steve Howe, Lee Ritenour, Chris Squire, Trevor Rabin, Eric Johnson, Joe Bonamassa, Joe Satriani, Steve Hackett, Trevor Rabin, Yngwie J. Malmsteen, and Michael Kiwanuka.

Oscar has written for Mojo Magazine, was a contributing writer to Premier Guitar Magazine from 2006 to 2012, produced Oscar Jordan’s Guitar Shop for cable, and continues to write for other online publications. He currently lives in Sherman Oaks, California teaching guitar, working as a sideman, performing original music, acting, and playing authentic 70′s funk.

Listen to Oscar Live
Fridays at 2:00PM (PST)