David Qualey

David Qualey was an American guitarist and composer, born on December 30, 1947, in Salem, Oregon. He became known for classical guitar, fingerstyle guitar, and new age/acoustic instrumental music. His official website describes him as an accomplished American guitarist and composer known for his contribution to the classical guitar repertoire.

His important albums include Only Guitar, Soliloquy, Handmade, Blue House, One Way Home, Guitar Parables, and unBEATabLE Songs (for solo guitar). Well-known pieces and recordings include “Santa Cruz,” “Homfeld Suite,” “Opus 20,” and his arrangement of “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.” Qobuz and Deezer both highlight his fingerstyle technique, “Santa Cruz,” and the Bach arrangement, while Apple Music lists albums such as Guitar Parables, One Way Home, and Soliloquy.

Qualey is known especially among guitarists for his refined tone, expressive solo-guitar compositions, and connection to the Windham Hill sound: his album Soliloquy appeared on Windham Hill, and his Bach arrangement was included on A Winter’s Solstice, which was Grammy-nominated in 1987 according to his official biography. His official site announced that he passed away on October 23, 2024