Welcome to my web site,
one and all. I'm very
happy and honored to be
able to share my musical
journey with you,
through a few stories,
comments and photos, as
well as updates on what
I'm doing these days.
Feel free to drop me a
line, and let me know
who you are and where
you're from...and most
importantly, thanks for
stopping by!
When I first picked up a
guitar back in 1954, I
never imagined that I
was really holding a
magic carpet in my
hands. Like the
methodical adventurer
Sinbad, the guitar has
taken me on a soaring
ride I never could
have imagined as a
little kid back in
Hometown, Illinois. To
all corners of the earth
we have traveled
together, performing for
millions, recording in
some of the greatest
studios of the world,
alongside some of
greatest musicians,
writers and recording
artists of our time.
This guitar and I have
taken part in musical
history, sometimes as
bit players, and
sometimes at the
forefront. How
blessed am I to have
been asked to add my
musical talent to the
works of some of the
greatest legends in
contemporary music!
When I received my
Davy Crockett guitar as
a Christmas present back
in 1955, I was given a
very special gift of
profound proportion, the
gift of music...and a
ticket to a lifelong
career.
Music has always been an
obsession to me. It
still is.
From the my
earliest beginnings, I
listened to records in a
much different way than
my schoolmates and
fellow band members did.
With each 45 rpm record,
I was transported to a
place thousands of miles
away from my little
bedroom in Hometown. I
literally traveled to
where each and every
record was
recorded...that is, in
my mind I could se the
players laying down the
tracks, and the
engineers moving the
microphones into
position, the artist in
the booth, the producer
behind the board. I
could smell the studio,
coffee, cigarettes, the
instrument cases..This
is how I listened to
records. In my heart, I
knew this was my life's
calling. I wanted to be
a studio guitarist..a
session man, the guy
"behind the hits." And
through the grace of
God, the help of
friends and the luck of
the Irish, I
achieved just that.
I've been recording for
over 40 years. My first
session took place in
downtown Chicago at a
funky 2 track R&B studio
back in 1965. From the
moment
that neon recording sign
first went on, I knew
what my life's calling
would be, even at 15
years old.
Since then I have
recorded in nearly every
big time, and small
time, recording studio
imaginable, both here
and
abroad. Language never
seemed to be a barrier,
for music was always the
common thread.
I owe my career to the
kindness and knowledge
of quite a few guarding
Angels who took me under
their creative wings
when I was a broke,
runaway, young teen on
the streets of
Hollywood. With every
session, I watched and
learned from the best. I
grew and I matured as a
musician very quickly,
always reminded of how
fortunate enough I was
to be in the shoes I was
walking in.
Looking back, I still
find it boggling when I
review the list of
artists I have recorded
and toured with. From
giants like Johnny Cash,
Buck Owens, Dolly Parton
to legendary producers
such as Lalo Schifrin,
Peter Asher, Jimmy
Bowen, Michael Lloyd,
Billy Sherrill and
others, it's been one
hell of a ride.
Yes, the guitar has been
mighty kind to me. It's
been a best friend, and
a lifelong partner. It's
provided more than just
a living for me. From my
work as a studio
guitarist to my other
career as a hit
songwriter, the guitar
has helped create a
legacy I can hand down
to my children with
pride.
I still love it, just as
much today as
yesterday, and I'm happy
to say that the journey
is far from over. To
this day I'm still
flying the friendly
skies, guitar in hand
off to another recording
date, concert or
club, always with the
same feeling of
excitement...always with
the same passion and
love for what I do.
So, let me end by
saying "thanks and
deepest appreciation"
to Leo Fender and
Orville Gibson for the
ticket to ride!
John Beland
March 2010
