Country legend Bobby Bare once introduced John onstage by saying, “This guy has worked with everybody. I mean “literally” everybody!” Talk about understatements. For four decades John has recorded, toured and written for some of the biggest legends in contemporary pop / country music, and in many cases shared the stage with some of these music icons at the very moment they broke upon the scene.

If one is lucky enough he, or she, may share in the making of history once in a lifetime. In the case of John Beland, partaking in music history became a way of life. His track record is simply astounding, having played his famous B-Bender Telecaster  behind such musical giants as Garth Brooks, Linda Ronstadt, Dolly Parton, Kris Kristofferson, The Bellamy Brothers, Bobby Bare, Buck Owens, Waylon Jennings, Ricky Nelson, Merle Haggard, Kim Carnes, Johnny Cash and last but not least, the pioneering country rock band from Los Angeles, The Flying Burrito Brothers.

During this period, John also established himself as an “A” team session guitarist in Hollywood,  a position he would hold until his departure for Nashville in 1981. His studio work included everything from movie soundtracks, national commercials, record dates, television shows and vocal dates, working with a “who’s who” of the top producers and studio players of the era.

After Guthrie, John became guitarist and musical director for pop singer Johnny Tillotson. Together they toured the world performing for millions of rock and roll fans. It was with Tillotson that John was introduced to Tony King, the head of the Beatles label, Apple Records. King was so impressed with John’s songs and singing that he brought the 23 year old songwriter to the attention of Beatle Ringo Starr, who gave the “OK” to sign John to Apple in 1973. So while on tour in London, John Beland became the last artist to sign with the Beatles record company. 

It was also during this period with Tillotson that John was offered, by conductor Joe Guercio, to replace James Burton as Elvis Presely’s lead guitarist. However, at the last minute, James decided not to jump ship for Emmylou Harris and stayed with Presely until his death. After Tillotson came more sessions, more television shows, more touring, now shuttling between Hollywood and Nashville. In 1974 John joined forces with Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge, performing and recording for them as a duo, and individually. John recorded with Kris in both Nashville and Los Angeles.

That year John was offered a spot in the  LA pioneering country rock band The Flying Burrito Brothers. It was John’s original songs and musical direction that led the act to nine top chart making singles in the 80’s. This was the band’s  first major national chart success in it’s prior 10 year history. 

In 81 John moved to Nashville and became an extremely successful studio musician and hit writer,working with everyone from Mel Tillis, Earl Scruggs, Bobby Bare, Freddy Weller and many more. Working side by side with such great players as Jerry Douglas, Pete Drake, Joe Osborne, Reggie Young, Richard Bennett, Harry Stinson, Glen Worf and all the top players of the day, John became a staple on the Music Row session scene throughout the 80’s and 90’s. It was also duringthis time that John helped launch a campaign that saw his idol, Lefty Frizzell be inducted into the Country Music Hall Of Fame. 

In 1985 John was planning to return to work for his old boss Ricky Nelson following a Christmas tour. However, those plans were dashed when Rick and the band were killed in a plane crash in Texas. Devastated, John remained in Nashville, working alongside a new singer named Garth Brooks on what was to become the biggest selling country single of all time “FRIENDS IN LOW PLACES.” John was also nominated for a Dove Award for his Christian hit song “ISN’T IT AMAZING”, recorded by ex-Grand Funk guitarist, Mark Farner. “Isn’t It Amazing” became the second top selling contemporary song of the year.

In 1990, John reunited with The Bellamy Brothers, playing on their hit single “ She Don’t Know That She’s Perfect”. Touring and more recording followed worldwide. John teamed up with the Bellamy’s, co-writing, playing and arranging their last two major hit records “COWBOY BEAT” ( earning John  an ASCAP Award), and “Hard Way To Make An Easy Living.

Since then John has had much success as a producer and session player, traveling to Australia, where he logged up top 10 hits on Aussie artist, Michael King, as well as producing other acts, performing solo and conducting writer’s workshops. From Australia, John has toured solo to the UK, Ireland, Scotland and most recently Canada and Norway.

Today, John remains in constant demand as a producer, session  player and solo  performer worldwide. Although living in Brenham, Texas, John has scored much success recently in Norway, where country rock remains very strong. With an ever growing fan base happening, John has toured Norway extensively, and has even been a guest lecturer at the Academy of  Music in Kristiansand.

One of the few remaining pioneers of California country rock still touring and recording, John has recently returned to solo live performing, much to the delight of country rock fans everywhere.  His energetic, personal shows reflect the days of the Troubadour, The Palomino Club and a style of music called “country rock”, which has influenced generations of bands and singers around the world, a style he helped create along with the Chris Hillman, Gram Parsons, The Eagles, Poco, Swampwater, Rick Nelson, The Byrds, The Dillards,  and a few others, once upon a time in Los Angeles.