Will Ackerman

Grammy Award–winning guitarist and producer Will Ackerman is the founder of Windham Hill Records and one of the most influential figures in contemporary instrumental music. In 1976, Ackerman recorded 300 copies of his debut album, The Search for the Turtle’s Navel, financed with the help of friends who had heard him playing guitar in the stairwells at Stanford University. The unexpected response to that deeply personal record inspired him to create Windham Hill Records, which grew from a small independent label into an international musical phenomenon. Along the way, Windham Hill introduced audiences to artists including George Winston, Michael Hedges, Shadowfax, Alex de Grassi and Liz Story—and helped create an enduring new landscape for acoustic and instrumental music. After selling Windham Hill, Ackerman moved to Vermont and built Imaginary Road Studios, where he has continued to record his own music and produce generations of artists from around the world. His work as a guitarist is known for its emotional directness, spaciousness and quiet intimacy, while his production has earned more than 30 platinum and gold records. The years 2026 and 2027 mark Ackerman’s 50th year as a recording artist and the 50th anniversary of Windham Hill. His newest album, Home, continues a musical journey begun half a century ago. Rooted in the magical landscape surrounding his Vermont home, it celebrates the people, places and memories that have shaped his life there over the years.