On November 23^rd 2010, the Department of Musicology at the Faculty of Fine Arts organized a musical show for the Grammy-nominated American roots musician, singer and song writer, Bill Kirchen in cooperation with the United States Consulate General in Jerusalem and the Palestinian-American Cultural Exchange Program.

 

Kirchen was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. He was the guitarist with the original Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen band from 1967 to the mid 1970s. He is best known as "The Titan of The Telecaster" for his unique twangy licks and different musical styles.

 

Kirchen's band performed a number of shows that featured several musical styles in front of the audience at the Faculty. Styles included the Rockabilly which is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music which emerged in the early 1950s. Kirchen played several musical pieces of Country music, Blues, Rock and Roll, and Bluegrass.

 

In turn, a number of students from the Department of Musicology at the University performed an Arab musical show which attracted the attention of the visiting musician and impressed the audience.

 

Frank Finver, the U.S Consul for Press and Public Affairs at the U.S Consulate General in Jerusalem, said that Kirchen was honored during his visit to Palestine and expressed his happiness to host this renowned and great musician who represents the unique American  music and whose songs address issues that focus on unifying all humanity.

 

For more than 40 years, Kirchen has performed in different countries around the world. In 2002 Bill Kirchen was inducted into the Washington Area Music Association Hall of Fame along with Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters, Nirvana) and John Phillip Sousa as well as winning 10 additional Wammies including Artist of the Year and Musician of the Year. Bill recently played guitar on Doug Sahm's last album, performed with Elvis Costello and Nick Lowe in San Francisco, and accompanied Ralph Stanley on a national broadcast of Mountain Stage radio.  He performed at the 25th year reunion radio show of Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen on the widely syndicated Garrison Keillor's Prairie Home Companion in January 2001.