 John McEuen
McEuen’s broad spectrum of music Americana – bluegrass, folk, rock and country – is characterized by his expertise on the acoustic guitar, banjo, fiddle and mandolin, earning him the title of “America’s instrumentalist poet.”“We are very excited to have John McEuen wrap up the 2009 Summer Breeze concert series,” said Summer Breeze chairman Steven White. “We have always tried to make the most out of the last show of the season, and with this performance I think we have booked something special.” In 1966, McEuen and several fellow southern California musicians co-founded the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. The group’s 30 albums included the platinum-selling Will The Circle Be Unbroken (1972), widely considered a country music milestone. Rolling Stone magazine called the LP "one of the most important recordings ever to come out of Nashville."
After 21 years with the band, McEuen broadened his artistic pursuits to include television specials, film scoring and concert production. He continues to tour with the band.
The music McEuen plays today was inspired by the The Dillards, an American bluegrass band that greatly influenced Southern California's country rock movement in the late 1960s. His music further evolved from collaborations with such artists as Jose Feliciano and Michael Martin Murphy prior to the formation of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.
During his career, McEuen also has performed or recorded with Dolly Parton, Andy Williams, The Doors, Phish, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Little River Band, Marshall Tucker Band, Doobie Brothers, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Dizzy Gillespie, The Band, Leon Russell, Hootie and the Blowfish and many others. Summer Breeze concertgoers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and picnic baskets to enjoy the free outdoor show.
The Performing Arts Studio produces the Summer Breeze Concert Series, which is supported by grants from the Norman Arts Council and Oklahoma Arts Council, as well as the generous support of Michael Miller, Norman Smile Center, Gingerbread Nursery, Benvenuti’s Restaurante, Caring Pediatrics, Republic Bank and Trust, Avanti Skin Centers, Hal Smith Restaurant Group, Ed and Sumya Adwon, American First Abstract Company, The Crucible, The Earth Natural Foods and Deli, First State Bank, David Fries Roofing, MDS Plumbing, Pepe Delgados, Cardinal Engineering, T. J. Campbell Construction, The Zoo Amphitheater, The Deli, Modern Wealth Management, The Brookhaven Clinic, The Spirit Shop, The Diner, The Montford Inn, Gilliam Music, Norman Parks and Recreation Department and the University of Oklahoma. |
