John McEuen at The Jackson Theatre

About this event

Join us at the Jackson Theatre as we present John McEuen in concert on Saturday, October 24th at 7pm. John McEuen, as a Southern California Orange County high school student, thought his teenage dream job in Disneyland’s Magic Shop (at 16 years old) was “as good as it gets”. He and lifelong high-school friend both got that 1963 job (magic shop co-worker, Steve Martin) the same day. At 18, music came along. After seeing Missouri bluegrass group The Dillards, John headed towards his new dream: make magic with music, and get on the radio. Leaving Garden Grove for Hollywood, dream became a reality more than he imagined it could be! Continually performing since 1964, he joined Les Thompson in 1966 as they put together the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, a relationship that would last over 55 years – over 11,000 concerts, 300 television shows, 10,000 interviews. For this ‘family reunion’ show he is also bringing GREAT picker Byron McDowell from North Carolina, with his magical voice and hot instruments – mandolin, guitar, and fiddle. In 1971, John initiated the landmark Will the Circle be Unbroken* album by asking musical mentors Earl Scruggs and Doc Watson to record with NGDB; then, his brother Bill (manager, record producer) invited Merle Travis. It grew, with Earl’s help, to inviting Mother Maybelle Carter, Jimmy Martin, Roy Acuff, ‘Bashful’ Brother Oswald, Vassar Clements, and Norman Blake to a Nashville studio, hooking them up with Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, for 5 magic hot August days of recording. (John is featured in episode 6 of Ken Burns – Country Music). The now multi-platinum “Circle” is honored both by Library of Congress and the Grammy Hall of Fame. * “One of the most important records to come out of Nashville…” Chet Flippo, Rolling Stone In 2010, Folk Alliance Organization presented McEuen the Best in the West Award solo performer; his rich history preserving original and traditional folk music earned the 2013 Charlie Poole Lifetime Achievement Award. NGDB was…

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