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A broad spectrum of
music Americana, with a bit of "the old country" music thrown in for
good measure, has made John McEuen known as America's
instrumental poet. His musical impressions from over 30 years of
worldwide travels are brought to the stage with performing expertise
that sets him apart from others, and focuses on acoustic guitar, banjo,
fiddle, and mandolin.
A founding
member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in the summer of 1966,
multi-instrumentalist McEuen ventured into varied musical genres, taking
his music and other talents to different formats including television
specials, film scoring, unusual award winning CDs and concert production
while keeping up an active road schedule both solo and (as of 2002)
again with his lifetime partners in music.
Onstage, McEuen incorporates his vintage instruments which he has taken
to international venues, with instrumental wizardry that keeps the
audience entranced, whether he is entertaining them live or via CD.His
love for the history of acoustic music and his joy at being onstage is
evident to all those who see him and hear him . . . there's never a dull
moment when McEuen is on!
In
the midst of another busy year, John will have three documentary films
in the market this year for which he wrote the music score (Sizzle -
A Global Warming Comedy; Maynard Dixon - Art and Spirit;
The Last Cowboy), and can be seen on the road either solo (about 48
cities this year) or in his 42nd year with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
(and Capitol just released a remake of Mr. Bojangles by NGDB
with Keith Urban and Dierks Bentley!). McEuen's XM radio show (Acoustic
Traveller - channel 15) begins its 4th year.
This July McEuen also started producing an album for his lifelong
friend, actor Steve Martin, of Martin's original music - for release in
2009. John says "the Steve album is coming along great! People will be
shocked at how vast and varied is music is, and how hot he plays.
Although known as a musician usually as an aside, with comments like
'oh, I've seen him play banjo.. pretty good', this album will show Steve
as a composer of unique hot and soulful music, and as a songwriter with
an unusal twist for lyrics. And, in the 44 years I've known him, I've
never heard him playing better."
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