• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

Adam Rafferty

Funky Fingerstyle Guitar

  • Home
  • Guitar Lessons
    • Free Christmas Tabs
  • My Book
  • Store
  • Tour
  • Blog
    • All Posts List
  • Podcast
    • All Episodes List
  • About
  • Contact
    • NEW – “Ask Adam” Voicemail
    • Booking Contact
    • Contact (email)
  • Get Your FREE Guitar Course
  • Show Search
Hide Search
You are here: Home / Guitar / Stevie Wonder Gives the Thumbs Up on the Guitar Arrangements!

Stevie Wonder Gives the Thumbs Up on the Guitar Arrangements!

By Adam Rafferty 21 Comments

Wow!

Gang, I just got some amazing news….just in time for the launch of the Volume II “How to Play Stevie Wonder Fingerstyle Guitar DVD”…

What I am about to tell you is making me grin ear to ear right now!  I can’t believe it.

A friend and DVD student of mine – guitarist Shaun Hopper was at the L.A. NAMM show and performed solo guitar on the “All Star Guitar Night”.

He had purchased the Vol I of my “Stevie Wonder” DVD series and plays all the material from the DVD. (Shaun is a killer player by the way!)

He performed some of the Stevie Wonder guitar arrangements at NAMM and guess what?

Stevie Wonder himself was there at NAMM, and got word of the solo guitar arrangements!

Stevie and Shaun met – and Stevie loved the arrangements of his music for fingerstyle guitar.  Shaun kindly told Stevie about me & the DVD instruction.

It just don’t get any cooler than that!  Here’s the email & pic….

Hey buddy! Wanted you to know I played the All Star Guitar night in LA. at the NAMM show and stole the show with a standing O!! Thanks to you!!!

I gave you complete credit on the mic in front of 1300 people for teaching the style of Stevie Wonder on the guitar and because of that Stevie had his people come find me today and he wanted to hear more.

I got to play for him and  HE LOVED IT!! I told him I learned from you! Channeling your style made me a one of a kind player at NAMM!! You’re amazing, Adam.

 

Update – Vol I & II of the Stevie Wonder fingerstyle guirar DVDS are now available as a bundle – Click Here

Shaun Hopper and Stevie Wonder
Shaun Hopper and Stevie Wonder at NAMM 2012

Filed Under: Guitar, Jazz Education, Online Promotion, Success

About Adam Rafferty

I’m Adam Rafferty – a guitar player born and raised in New York City, and currently spending most of my time on tour playing concerts and coaching my guitar students online at StudyWithAdam.com

Trending

  • 10 Tips for Healthy Guitar Practicing 82.8k views

  • Guitar Right Hand Technique – Nails vs Flesh? 60.1k views

  • How To Build Your Own Fingerstyle Guitar Arrangements – Part 1 55.4k views

  • Should You Use a Thumb Pick for Fingerstyle Guitar? 46.6k views

  • Don’t Use a Metronome 43.6k views

  • My Personal Fingerstyle Guitar Setup Measurements 37.3k views

  • 8 Tips for Playing Fingerstyle Guitar Without Making Mistakes 28.1k views

  • Critical Info for Youtube Musicians Who Perform Cover Songs 20.4k views

  • Youtube Recording Technique for Guitar Videos 14.5k views

  • The Secret to Improving Your Guitar Skills and Battling Frustration 11.5k views

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tym says

    June 24, 2012 at 3:12 pm

    OMG, Adam… That is like the coolest thing… Ever!! Congrats, buddy!!
    Tym

    Reply
    • Alain says

      August 27, 2015 at 6:48 am

      Hello You
      C’est normal, juste retour des choses Adam. Tu donnes tellement avec coeur ce que tu fais … que les retours se manifestent et te reconnaissent : Congratulation guy , that’s it ! :-)))

      Reply
      • adamrafferty says

        September 14, 2015 at 6:01 pm

        Thanks for commenting Alain!

        Reply
  2. Daniel says

    June 24, 2012 at 9:00 pm

    That’s tremendous Adam! Congratulations. You are a testament to what happens when we get down and focus on creating music and taking it out there. Keep on keepin’ on (know you will!)

    Reply
  3. Kayla Finlay says

    June 25, 2012 at 5:21 am

    Adam! This is amazing, though not surprising. You are so gifted and talented, and you inspire me with the way in which you keep putting yourself “out there.”

    Not sure what your fall schedule is but I hope I can get you back here for another house concert. I miss hearing you LIVE!

    Keep up the great work. I know how much time, effort and passion you put into sharing your music with us. You are a joy to watch and listen to!

    Reply
    • adamrafferty says

      June 25, 2012 at 5:17 pm

      Thanks Kayla – I’ll contact you for sure!

      Reply
  4. Berto says

    July 27, 2012 at 6:36 pm

    Awesome Adam!! I was wondering do arrangers also get paid royalties like the way the composers do when another artist use their arrangements of popular songs like yours?

    Reply
    • adamrafferty says

      July 28, 2012 at 12:44 am

      Berto

      No I get no royalties. I get to legally create arrangements and sell the stuff I create, but then I pay the publishers a royalty based on the percentage of what I sell. A license agreement is required beforehand.

      Hope that explains it.

      Stay In Touch!

      Adam

      Reply
      • Berto says

        July 28, 2012 at 4:31 am

        really? so that means that anybody can just use your arrangements for their own purposes? You have no protection at all from people using your arrangements of popular songs like for example for your MJ guitar covers ? what if somebody just use them and make their own CD based on your arrangements of them? there’s no way for you to go after them at all? that seems unfair as you also put a lot of time and effort in working out those arrangements.

        Reply
        • Michael Fix says

          March 19, 2014 at 6:05 am

          Berto> that’s why we appreciate it so much when a player acknowledges the arranger! Kudos to, Shaun…and Adam, of course!

          Reply
  5. paul bowman says

    March 5, 2014 at 5:36 pm

    Sweet post, supporting your students, sharing the love.

    Reply
  6. Keno Sanchez says

    March 6, 2014 at 12:29 am

    Well it’s about time!! You sure are special Adam because you make us play special like you! Thanks ans congrats!

    Reply
  7. Phil Flattley says

    March 27, 2014 at 8:45 pm

    I’ll be seeing Shaun at a house concert next week in Tampa Adam. He and I are both big fans of your DVD. I would highly recommend you arrangements to any aspiring musicians . I’ll make sure I mention you to Shaun .
    ‘

    Reply
  8. jon dcosta says

    November 26, 2014 at 9:48 am

    And here’s the link
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyvMnosmD6M

    Reply
  9. Tom says

    January 7, 2015 at 1:03 pm

    Hi Adam,
    I’m not surprised at all and I’m sure most of your students will be able to reach target like this….
    ….and their satisfaction will be your success!

    Nice shot, buddy. My congrats you deserve more than this!

    A bear hug.
    Tom

    Reply
    • adamrafferty says

      September 16, 2015 at 5:33 pm

      Tom, thanks for your comment and sorry for the late response! – AR

      Reply
  10. Eduard says

    March 26, 2015 at 11:06 am

    so cool!

    Reply
  11. Charlie Negron says

    November 9, 2016 at 6:20 pm

    When will you come to southwest Florida? Seen Tommy Emanuel twice in Fort Myers. My 2 favorite guitar players in the world are Adam and Tommy. Come to Florida please?

    Reply
  12. Steve Young says

    May 23, 2017 at 7:19 am

    Congrats Adam , you are an inspiration and deserve all recognition for your talents and teaching skills. I always let people know about you and your website hoping that they too will benefit from your video lessons. Best wishes.

    Reply
  13. Michael Miles says

    January 8, 2019 at 5:33 pm

    Adam,
    No surprise that Stevie digs your arrangements. How could he not!? And what a beautiful statement of both admiration and respect to create these compelling arrangements, and then to share them in the manner you do for the rest of the world to play. That is true north, and beautiful. Michael

    Reply
    • Adam Rafferty says

      February 22, 2020 at 4:14 am

      Thanks Michael! 🙂

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Learn my arrangements, get personal feedback and more. Try Study With Adam FREE for 14 days CLICK HERE

Adam Rafferty

Copyright © 2025 Adam Rafferty and Crescent Ridge Publishing | Email Policy | Privacy GDPR, & Cookies