Alan Thornhill was born and grew up on the coast of California with parents who had come from Oklahoma. He picked up the guitar at a very early age, and through the influence of his folks' bluegrass and country radio and LPs, he began his musical journey into the realm of midwest meets west coast. Along with influences from artists like Jackie Wilson, the Everly Brothers, Sam Cook, Charlie Byrd, Chet Atkins to the Beatles, he developed his own style.
After years of performing with various groups as well as solo, he has come to be known for a style which is very unique and very much his own. An award winning guitarist, he won the 1995 Telluride Fingerstyle Guitar Championship. He has played on countless recordings for artists like Kenny Loggins, Kate Wolf, The Beach Boys, Hoyt Axton, and has toured as guitarist for Hoyt Axton, Kim Carnes, Jim Messina and The Rincon Ramblers. As a songwriter, he has won awards with the American Songwriters Festival and has had his songs recorded by Chis Hillman, Herb Pederson and the Rice Brothers, The Desert Rose Band, Kenny Loggins, Jim Messina, The Cache Valley Drifters, Michael Parks and The Rincon Ramblers.