Matt Hammer Bio Matt Hammer hails from Idaho Falls, Idaho. Music has been Matt’s lifetime passion; at eighteen he started entertaining and hitchhiking his way through the American countryside, from Chicago to San Francisco. Arriving in Alaska in 1976, he fell in love with her rugged, intrinsic beauty and determined he would make his life in Alaska. Hammer has opened for many acts playing the Alaska circuit: Emmy Lou Harris, Bonnie Raitt, Hoyt Axton, Jerry Jeff Walker, Steve Goodman, and Air Supply. Where ever there is music in the air, you’ll find Matt Hammer; Talkeetna Bluegrass Festival, Alaska State Fair, Homer Concert on the Lawn, to name just a few. In the late 80’s Matt and that renowned musicologist, Doc Schultz, combined their talents and entertained many Alaskans until Doc left the state in 1986. Matt established The Great Alaskan Opry in 1990, creating an expressive forum for some of Alaska’s finest musical talent. He has also performed for many years at fundraising events in support of Colonel Norman Vaughn’s Iditirod efforts. He helped produced and recorded the 1994 "It's Marvelous Adventure" music video in support of Colonel Norman Vaughn’s climb up Mt. Vaughan in Antarctica at age 89. In the mid 90's Hammer joined forces with long time friend Loren Arment to form the Arment/Hammer Band. The CD “Alaskasongs” was released in 1998 and sold several thousand copies. In 2005 Hammer formed The Matt Hammer Band and performed throughout Southcenteral Alaska. 2008 brought the release of "Matt Hammer's Surreal Sessions"