JOHN MCEUEN

John McEuen is a founding member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, which formed in August, 1966. Jeff Hanna, Jimmie Fadden and John are now in their 46th year playing together. The NGDB has continually played over 7,500 shows and traveled 3 million miles to do it. They have performed on over 200 television shows. Solo, John has done another 2,500+ shows. One of his particular points of pride has been performing on the Grand Ole Opry - many times with NGDB, John has also featured numerous times solo, and as a guest with several other Opry member acts, and he brought Steve Martin there in 2010 for the Opry debut of The Crow. But his highest point on the Opry was playing it with sons Jonathan and Nathan, which they have done twice . McEuen has recorded with the Nashville's Country music iconic creators, and had records in the pop and country charts. In 1971 John instigated what Rolling Stone called 'the' most important record to come out of Nashville, and what the 2004 ZAGAT survey called the most important record in country music, "Will the Circle Be Unbroken." By askin both Earl Scruggs and then (10 days later) Doc Watson if they would record with the band, followed by his brother Bill lining up Merle Travis would be perfect, as would Roy Acuff. It was Louise Scruggs who then helped line up, at their request, Jimmy Martin, Maybelle Carter, and Roy Acuff..Scruggs secured Vassar Clements and Junior Huskey, and the whole band went to Nashville in August of '71 to make that historic album, released on United Artists Records in 1972. As a multi-instrumentalist (banjo, guitar, mandolin, fiddle) and solo entertainer, John McEuen plays to the boomer/'old hippie' crowd and the traditional/bluegrass and folk audience, as well as the older country audience... and now the younger group is showing up to see 'where it all came from'. John has made over 40 albums (six solo) that have earned four platinum and four gold recognition awards, Grammy nominations and awards, CMA and ACM awards, Western Heritage Award, Emmy nomination, and IBMA record of the year award. In addition, John has performed on another 25 albums as guest artist. As 'a presenter', McEuen has produced over 250 concerts (his first one was Bob Dylan in 1965 at a long Beach high school). John has known and worked with Steve Martin since high school years to the present. They both worked in Disneyland's Magic Shop as teenagers. John scored Steve's television specials, and arranged his music; The NGDB was the band on Steve's hit song, "King Tut. Recently, John's production of Steve's album The Crow - New Songs for the five-string banjo won the Grammy for Best Bluegrass album. John's own XM Satellite radio show, Acoustic Traveller on The Bridge, runs twice a month and is in its 6th year. McEuen created the music scores for 14 film/television projects, including the Emmy nominated 10-hour mini-series for Warner Bros. 'The Wild West.' John has also raised his six kids (five boys and a girl) ages between 32-42, and a 27-year-old stepson. Some of the artists John McEuen has performed or recorded with include: Dolly Parton, Steve Martin, Willie Nelson, Bill Wyman, Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash, Jerry Garcia, Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Phish, Jerry Jeff Walker, Kevin Nealon, Alison Krauss, Bill Cosby, Stephen Wright, Mark OConnor, Tommy Lee Jones, Sissy Spacek, Linda Ronstadt, Leon Russell, Maybelle Carter, Kris Kristofferson, Bob Dylan, Kenny Rogers, Steve Vai, Doc Watson, Jimmy Buffett, The Smothers Brothers, Rowan & Martin, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Bobby Sherman, Jose Feliciano, Allman Brothers, John Denver, Roy Acuff, Earl Scruggs, Jack Benny, Glen Campbell, Steve Goodman, Waylon Jennings, Robin Williams, Little River Band, Marshall Tucker Band, Doobie Brothers, Andy Williams, Merle Travis, Vassar Clements, Dizzy Gillespie, The Osmond Brothers, Everly Brothers, Crystal Gayle, Gary Morris, Doug Kershaw, Michael Martin Murphey, The Doors, Donovan, Lee Marvin, Ramblin Jack Elliot, David Amram, Arlo Guthrie, America, Bill Monroe, and Asleep at the Wheel.