Guitar and voice for weddings and events, since 1985.
The Guitarist Locals Call Back
Musician
Jeff McCargish started playing professionally in 1985. His range goes beyond genre lines: classical, country, pop, blues, and R&B, and for years a country band called The Chiselers, known for turning unexpected songs into something new, once even a bluegrass, yodel-backed version of an '80s pop hit.
Performer
Decades of gigs have taken him everywhere from a wedding at Darby Dan Farms to a reception at a VFW hall, and he knows the difference. He reads a room and adjusts, rather than running the same set regardless of who's in front of him. That same instinct shapes every booking: take what's asked for, and make it fit.
Educator
Jeff also teaches music. When the German Village Society needed a full band for their Home and Garden Tour, he built it almost entirely out of his own current and former students, including a gifted young bassist still in high school. Some of his students have gone on to perform alongside him professionally, not just study with him.
Upcoming Public Performances
Blues & Beyond: North of Memphis
Wednesday, September 23, 2026 • 5PM
Natalie’s – Grandview
Grandview, OH
2026 Columbus Blues Hall of Fame
Sunday, October 11, 2026
Natalie’s – Grandview
Columbus, OH
Solo Guitar/Vocals @ Hollywood Casino
Friday, October 23, 2026 • 8–11 PM
Hollywood Casino & Hotel Columbus
Columbus, OH
Hear Jeff Play
Conway Twitty. Johnny Cash. Kenny Chesney for a crowd that wants to dance. A quiet classical piece for the ceremony. Blues and R&B to get a reception moving.
Jeff brings the experience of forty years of actual gigs, not a list of styles he’d like to try.
…and more on SoundCloud.
Jeff will work with you ahead of time to figure out the music that fits your day.
Jeff is a 2026 Columbus Blues Hall of Fame Inductee, recognition from the Ohio community he’s been part of since he started playing.
Where Jeff’s Live Music Fits
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Weddings & Receptions
Ceremony, cocktail hour, reception. Solo guitar, or the fuller sound of a trio, matched to the day you’re actually having, not a package.
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Private & Company Events
Home and garden tours, private parties, company gatherings. The kind of rooms where the music should be felt more than noticed.
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Solo or Live Band
Most bookings are Jeff solo or as a duo with Paul Brown (guitar) or Chris Saetti (violin). For bigger events, he can also assemble a larger band with current and former students as needed.
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Music for the Moment
Classical, country, pop, blues, and R&B. He’ll talk it through with you ahead of time so the songs are the ones that matter to you.
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As Far As It Takes
Jeff is based in Columbus, but has traveled as far as Seattle, WA for a booking.
“If it’s worth playing…it’s worth the drive.”
Booking a Venue or a Series?
You need someone who arrives ready, can read a crowd, and doesn’t need managing.
Jeff scales from solo guitar to a full band depending on the space. Click here to inquire about references and past bookings.
Natalie’s Grandview
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The Junto
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New Albany Country Club
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German Village Haus und Garten Tour ‘26
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CCAD
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Columbus Museum of Art
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Natalie’s Grandview ♩ The Junto ♪ New Albany Country Club ♫ German Village Haus und Garten Tour ‘26 ♬ CCAD ♩ Columbus Museum of Art ♫
Frequently Asked Questions
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Almost certainly. There's no real limit. The farthest I've traveled for a booking is Seattle.
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Yes. I'll talk through the music with you beforehand. For weddings, it's customary to build in a couple of requested songs, and I make sure those are there. This isn't the same as learning a whole new set from scratch, but what matters to you will be part of the day.
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Classical, country, pop, blues, and R&B. A range built over forty years of actual gigs, not a list I'd like to try someday.
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Yes. Audio samples are available here, and performance footage is on the YouTube channel: Jeff McCargish.
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It depends on your venue and the scope of the event. A formal reception and a casual hall event are priced differently. I work within your budget. Send your details and you'll get a real quote back, not a guess.
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Either. Solo guitar for something quiet and intimate, or the full trio when the room calls for more.
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No. I play for all kinds of crowds, formal to casual, and I don’t turn down work based on who’s in the room.
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Yes, I also take on students. Some current and former students have gone on to perform alongside me professionally.