William Thomas "Tommy" Emmanuel AM (born 31 May 1955) is an Australian virtuoso guitarist and occasional singer, and songwriter best known for his complex fingerstyle technique, energetic performances and the use of percussive effects on the guitar. Although originally a session player in many a band, in recent years, Emmanuel has carved out his own style as a solo artist, releasing award winning albums and singles. In the May 2008 and 2010 issues of Guitar Player Magazine, he was named as "Best Acoustic Guitarist" in their readers' poll. In June 2010 Emmanuel was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).