Matthew Meldon was born in Cincinnati, Ohio to a strangely nonmusical family.  Having always been the class artist well into high school, he got his first guitar at the angst ridden age of 15 and spent the first month working on 2 of the 3 chords in “Johnny B. Good”. From there, many a musical obsession took hold, beginning with (and still going strong) the great Jimi Hendrix.

After graduating high school, Matthew was accepted at the world renowned Berklee College of Music in Boston.  Coming from a background of playing cover songs, with a new found desire to understand jazz, Berklee was a tremendous wake up call.  Like a little fish in the big pond, that year in Boston was spent in the few square blocks surrounding Berklee’s self contained music microcosmos, but mostly in the practice room learning scales and reading music for the first time.

Having now learned the basics, Matthew desired a more one on one approach to further his education.  He opted to continue his studies at CCM, the University of Cincinnati’s world renowned music conservatory. Lucky enough to be one of the two guitarists accepted into the jazz program, Matthew was completely immersed in music for the next few years.  Cincinnati had always had a small but vibrant jazz scene that was unrivaled in the United States except by the music capitals New York City and Chicago.  Besides studying with the wonderful Jazz Department instructors, Matthew was also lucky enough to meet the great Cincinnati based guitar masters Cal Collins and Kenny Poole, the amazing pianist Steve Schmidt, and living jazz legend, drummer John Von Ohlen.

Upon graduating from CCM with honors in 2000, Matthew moved to New York City with some friends.  But the west coast was soon calling.  He was also broadening his musical horizons.  Exploring other types of musics now with all he had learned along the way playing jazz, Matthew began composing and learning different styles of guitar playing: fingerstyle, classical, slide, and mastering other guitar effects.  Besides all the jazz greats, Mississippi John Hurt, John Fahey, and Neil Young were now highly influential.

Upon arriving in Berkeley, California, he was soon asked by his good friend Josiah Wolf (the drumming phenomenon) to round out the newly formed Anticon records band, Why?  Along with Josiah’s brother, Yoni (the founding member/songwriter of the band), and fellow Cincinnati native/musical juggler, Doug McDiarmid, Why? set out on the first many lengthy US and European tours.

During the next few years, Matthew composed, arranged, and recorded as member of Why?  Together they recorded the well received album “Elephant Eyelash”, as well as the “Dumb Hummer” and “Rubber Traits” EPs.  He never thought he would ever be playing for audiences in Norway, much less Croatia.  Nevertheless, six months of straight touring each year soon lost its appeal, and Matthew opted out of his position in Why?  He returned to set up base in Seattle.

Now firmly established in the Northwest, Matthew has a roster of around 30 weekly students.   Always looking for a new sound, he has continued his own musical development studying classical guitar with renowned virtuoso Michael Partington, the head of UW’s guitar department.  He is also currently recording his own compositions and continuing collaborations with old Why? bandmate Doug McDiarmid.  Matthew also performs solo guitar regularly at various cafes, weddings, and events throughout the Puget Sound area.