John McEuen

Head Line News

Grammy Win! Steve Martin and John McEuen - Posted 04/28/2009

McEuen's album production for his lifelong friend, actor Steve Martin. All Martin's original music and lyrics - released on Rounder Records May 19, 2009 - Has won the Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album. John says "The Steve album is great! People will be shocked at how vast and varied is music is, and how great he plays… this album shows Steve as a composer of unique hot licks and soulful lyrics. He is definitely a songwriter with an unusual twist for notes and lyrics; and, in the 45 years I've known him, I've never heard him playing better. I am working with the Chaplin of our era”

a strange note here is that John's brother Bill (William E.) produced all of Steve's other albums in the '70's, including King Tut that was performed by the Dirt Band.

Martin's album (a dozen instrumentals and four vocals) features such diverse musician talents as Earl Scruggs, Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, Tony Trishka, Pete Wernick, McEuen, David Amram, Craig Eastman. Vince Gill duets with Dolly Parton on Pretty Flowers, Ireland's Mary Black sings Calico Train, Tim O'Brien sings Daddy Played the Banjo), and Steve sings Late for School. John brings together traditional folk instruments to Steve's world of notes where you hear combined influences from their mutual past - Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm, The Music Man, Aaron Copland's Appalachian Spring, and bluegrass - in way that “it has taken the music world by surprise”, says producer McEuen.

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