NFCC Presents John McEuen and His String Wizards April 20 at Van H. Priest Auditorium
MADISON, FL– The North Florida Community College Artist Series welcomes music legend John McEuen (a founding member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band) and His String Wizards to the Van H. Priest Auditorium stage on Friday, April 20 at 7 p.m.
When the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and McEuen recorded Will the Circle Be Unbroken in 1971, the icons of bluegrass, country and west coast country rock convened for what is considered one of the most important American recordings and the beginning of “Americana” music. Join in the fun on Friday, April 20 at NFCC as Grammy-award winning host John McEuen, with his banjo, guitar, fiddle and mandolin, and His String Wizards take us on an incredible journey interwoven with music, stories and memories of the iconic ‘Circle’ album including Dirt Band favorites and hot bluegrass.
McEuen has made over 40 albums (7 solo) that have earned four platinum and five gold recognition awards, Grammy nominations, CMA and ACM awards, an Emmy nomination, IBMA record of the year award, and performed on another 25 albums as guest artist. He's also produced another 7 albums, and 14 film scores (two Emmy nominated shows) and more than 300 concerts throughout his career - the first in 1965 in Long Beach Calif., with Bob Dylan.
In September of 2017, McEuen was inducted in to the American Banjo Museum Hall of Fame. His countless jams include street performers to Phish, Earl Scruggs, Levon Helm… and even on Sesame Street with a herd of goats and a cow! Arguably, McEuen's most important legacy may be his initiating 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.
Don’t miss John McEuen and His String Wizards when they grace the NFCC stage on Friday, April 20 at 7 p.m. The performance is being held in conjunction with the Madison County Down Home Days Festival. Tickets are $15 reserved seating and $8 with student ID or children ages 17 and under. A special “buy two get one free” promotion is being offered to help celebrate the Down Homes Day festival.
Tickets are available by calling (850) 973-1653 or online at www.ticketsource.us/nfc. Visit www.nfc.edu/artist-series for more information.
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BIOGRAPHY – John McEuen
John McEuen has been a “professional performer” since 1962, working as a magician in Disneyland’s Magic Shop as a teenager. Music soon came along, which led to his long and varied career first solo, then as a founding member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in 1966. Over 10,000 concerts and 300 television shows throughout more than 3 million miles - with the band and as a solo performer – John has pursued his passion for performing and recording. John left NGDB at the end of their 50thyear touring to focus on the demand for his solo performing and projects. Beyond performing, he concurrently has a rich history of creating, producing and preserving original and traditional folk and acoustic music, and taking it to new audiences.
He brings his guitar, banjo, fiddle, and mandolin along with favorite NGDB songs and the stories behind them to the stage in a manner that earned the honored Best in the West Award from the Folk Alliance Organization.
McEuen has made over 40 albums (7 solo) that have earned four platinum and five gold recognition awards, Grammy nominations, CMA and ACM awards, an Emmy nomination, IBMA record of the year award, and performed on another 25 albums as guest artist. He's also produced another 7 albums, and 14 film scores (two Emmy nominated shows) and more than 300 concerts throughout his career - the first in 1965 in Long Beach Calif., with Bob Dylan.
His production of Steve Martin - The Crowwon the 2010 Best Bluegrass Album Grammy. Prior to that, The Music of the Wild West CD- produced by McEuen, was honored with the Western Heritage Award. A Grammy nomination for String Wizards II preceded the1994 Uncle Dave Macon Award for his excellence in preservation and performance of historic music. On Sirius/XM's The Bridge, John's popular Acoustic Traveller show is now in its 9th year. McEuen produced and directed the 2006 documentary film The Dillards - A Night In the Ozarks, which captures his early mentors at their best.
In April of 2018 John officially became an author, with his first book The Life I’ve Picked Being published (On Chicago Review Press). A memoir, a telling of incredible stories from raising 6 kids in the music business and the ins and outs of being an iconic band member to being a single father to his current full and varied career, his book takes the reader on his unusual journey.
In September of 2017 John was inducted in to the American Banjo Museum Hall of Fame.
McEuen's countless jams include street performers to Phish, Earl Scruggs, Levon Helm… and even on Sesame Street with a herd of goats and a cow! Arguably, McEuen's most important legacy may be his initiating 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.