Legendary Welsh guitarist John James, will be making a rare live appearance at the Islwyn Acoustic Guitar Club tonight .

Born in Lampeter, the dexterous master of the fret-board has recorded 15 albums, presented the highest selling 'how to play guitar' video of all time, written theme music for ITV and aproduced guitar books for Ry Cooder and Rory Gallagher.

He was schooled on the ivories but switched to cat gut and plywood aged 12 and spent his teenage years playing lead for pop and R&B bands in clubs and dance halls.

In the 1970s he concentrated on instrumental versions of music written for piano and became the first person in Britain to record the music of Scott Joplin.

And with Peter Berryman he recorded an innovative guitar album, Sky in My Pie.

Live exploits included opening for Led Zeppelin and popping up in the Royal Albert Hall, Olympia Paris and the Edinburgh and Cambridge Festivals.

When Virgin came to make their Music Maker video they wanted someone who could play everything well - and that was John.

Tonight's gig in the Ynysddu Hotel features a workshop for guitarists at 7pm before John performs at 8.30pm.

* Tickets are £6 (£5 for members). For info dial 01495 270078.