Calgary Artisan Delighted as Tracy Chapman Showcases Her Handcrafted Guitar at the Grammys

Judy Threet, a former philosophy professor turned guitar maker from Calgary, experienced a surprising moment as she watched the Grammys, witnessing folk icon Tracy Chapman strumming on the very guitar Threet had crafted years ago. Threet’s journey into instrument crafting began during her time in a local folk band, where she met a skilled luthier, Michael Heiden.

Inspired by a friend’s guitar gift and her time spent observing instrument construction, Threet made a pivotal decision in 1990 to leave academia and pursue guitar making. In 1999, she created a guitar, initially unsuccessful in selling it locally. However, fate intervened when the instrument found its way to Gryphon Stringed Instruments in Palo Alto, Calif.

In 2001, Tracy Chapman, known for her folk music prowess, walked into the store seeking a smaller guitar to ease shoulder discomfort from her larger instrument. Willie, a store employee, handed her Threet’s creation, and Chapman left with it.

Over the years, Tracy Chapman’s fame may have subsided, but her hit song “Fast Car” experienced a resurgence when country star Luke Combs covered it. Recently, Judy Threet received an email from a friend in Calgary informing her that Tracy Chapman was performing with Threet’s handcrafted guitar on a global stage at the Grammys.

Stunned and delighted, Threet expressed her astonishment, having been unaware whether Chapman still possessed the instrument. The retired guitar maker emphasized the joy of seeing Chapman still cherishing and playing her creation after all these years.

Judy Threet’s guitar-making days concluded when she had to relocate her studio due to unforeseen circumstances. Despite facing challenges like deteriorating eyesight, she reinvented herself. Threet, now part of a swing band playing for seniors at the Kerby Centre, humorously reflects on the unpredictable journey of life.

As she shares this remarkable tale of Tracy Chapman playing her guitar, Threet hopes that the instrument has become a trusted companion for Chapman, embodying the connection that every guitar maker aspires to achieve with their creations.