John McEuen
John McEuen is an American folk musician and a founding member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.
Career
Solo work
John McEuen was born in Oakland, California. In 1964, at age 18, he became interested in music after seeing a performance by the Dillards, and learned to play the banjo. Eventually, he took an interest in fiddle and mandolin. In 1986, after twenty years with the Dirt Band, McEuen departed to pursue a solo career. From 1991–1997, he released four albums for Vanguard Records. He composed music for movies and television and he appeared as a guest on albums with several artists including five albums with Michael Martin Murphey. He then returned to the Dirt Band in 2001. McEuen departed the band once again in late 2017.Steve Martin
McEuen has known Steve Martin since high school, when he would give Martin occasional lessons on the banjo. In 1978, he was asked by Martin to provide the backing band for a comic, novelty song called King Tut. With Martin on vocals, the Dirt Band recorded the song under the alias "The Toot Uncommons".McEuen produced and played on Martin's album The Crow: New Songs for the 5-String Banjo. The album was Number 1 for seven months and won the Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album.
Other ventures
McEuen published an autobiography in 2018 titled The Life I've Picked - A Banjo Player's Nitty Gritty Journey.Awards and honors
- The American Banjo Museum Hall of Fame Inductee
- Independent Music Award for Best Americana Album, "Made in Brooklyn"
Discography
John McEuen String Wizards String Wizards II Acoustic Traveller Vanguard Visionaries At The Warehouse - Cowboys In The Sky Roots Music Made In BrooklynWith Jimmy IbbotsonStories & Songs At The Warehouse - Cowboys In The Sky
With Jimmy Ibbotson and Jennifer WarnesNitty Gritty Surround
With The Nitty Gritty Dirt BandThe Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Ricochet Rare Junk Uncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy All the Good Times Will the Circle Be Unbroken Stars & Stripes Forever Symphonion Dream The Dirt Band An American Dream Make A Little Magic Jealousy Let's Go Plain Dirt Fashion Partners, Brothers and Friends Hold On Workin' Band Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Volume Two The Rest of the Dream Not Fade Away Acoustic The Christmas Album Bang, Bang, Bang Will the Circle Be Unbroken, Volume III Welcome to Woody Creek Speed of Life
With The L.A. String WizardsRound Trip: Live in L.A.
With The McEuen Sessions
- ''For All The Good''