 
Irwin started studying piano with professors from the American Conservatory of Music at the age seven, and began studying percussion at the age of twelve. By the time Irwin was thirteen, he was studying piano at Northwestern University as well as continuing his studies with his professor at the American Conservatory.Throughout high school Irwin played in the school bands, jazz bands, orchestras, accompanied the choir, and played in outside theater group musicals. After high school, Irwin majored in piano and instrumental music at DePaul University and the University of Illinois in Champaign/Urbana. He received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Illinois in 1974 and his Master's degree a year later, in 1975. Irwin began teaching instrumental music in the Champaign/Urbana school systems while working on his Master's degree. After receiving his degrees, he ran the music programs for a small town in western Illinois. It was during this time that Irwin began to play the guitar so that he could interact more efficiently with the students in his general music classes. Already an accomplished musician, Irwin's guitar skills quickly developed and before long he became a fairly accomplished folk guitarist. After teaching in public school systems, Irwin went to work at Karnes Music Company in Des Plaines, Illinois as a guitar instructor. Irwin's passion for the guitar continued to grow, and he began to develop a deep passion for the blues. He put the same discipline and work into learning blues guitar as he did mastering classical piano. Irwin began playing in blues clubs all around Chicago, and eventually started playing with some of Chicago's blues legends. They say that bluesmen are born, not made. But Irwin is a self-made bluesman if there ever was one! |