N.Y. Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Hall of Fame inductee Michael Eck has recorded five albums of original songs—many covered by other artists—and plied his craft from the dark recesses of Manhattan’s famed East Village to the Americana haunts of New Orleans. He’s played beside Patti Smith, Pete Seeger, Aimee Mann, John Sebastian, Peter Case, Jason Ringenberg and 10,000 Maniacs among others. As a roots scholar and multi-instrumentalist, Eck has appeared on well over two dozen releases, including recent efforts by Ramblin Jug Stompers and Lost Radio Rounders. “I’ve been playing primarily acoustic for over 30 years, and I’ve owned a lot of guitars,” Eck says. “Besides settling right into my hands, nothing comes close to the power, ring and tone of my hand-voiced, Sound Optimized Bedells.”