(July 2012) John B and fellow Flying
Burrito Brothers band mate Larry Patton
have been knocking country-rock fans in
Norway & Denmark, playing a series of
major festivals and clubs promoting
their latest CD PATTON & BELAND "REACH
FOR THE SKY".
For the festivals, the boys have been
joined onstage by ace Norwegian drummer,
Christian Seneger, knocking out two
hours of solid rocking classic FBB songs
as well as a long list of material
ranging from Hank Williams, Dylan, Van
Morrison, Chuck Berry, and more.
On the acoustic duo dates, John plays
mandolin, Telecaster and dobro with
Larry on acoustic guitar doing a wide
selection of material ranging from their
work with the FBB as well as original
and classic country rock & blues tunes.
As always, the reaction in Norway has
been terrific, due in part to the many
times the guys have appeared here and
their ever growing fan base.
The tour comes to an end in August.
Plans are in the works for a winter
return!
7/26/2012
6/25/2012
Summer 2012:
JB returns to Norway with fellow Flying Burrito
Brother Larry Patton for 6 weeks of clubs and
festivals. On the heels of their new CD PATTON &
BELAND - REACH FOR THE SKY" the guys will do a
series of acoustic and full band appearances
throughout Norway and Denmark. (use pic of CD
attached)
NEW JOHN BELAND "LIMITED EDITION"
SIGNATURE ACOUSTIC GUITAR!
Nationally renown artist and guitar maker Ron
Helstern has combined forces with John Beland to
produce the JB Signature Guitar. Based upon John's
specs. This one of a kind beautiful Zebra Wood
acoustic guitar will be for sale in early September
2012.
Says John, "I couldn't be more thrilled than to
have an artist like Ron Helstern build a guitar
based upon what I personally look for in the
ultimate acoustic guitar. He's a true artist and I'm
sure this is going to be one beautiful instrument
when it's completed."
John will be previewing the new JB guitar at a
special performance at Helstern Guitars in Barronett
Wisconsin in September. Details soon!
(pic 2 - John going over designs with Helstern
co-designer Kevin McClain.)
Pic 3- Kevin McClain, John Beland and Ron Helstern
at the Helstern guitar factory in Barronett
Wisconsin.)
JOHN AND SON CHRIS TOGETHER AGAIN ONSTAGE IN BEND, OREGON
John will join up with son Chris for a one night
only house concert in Bend, Oregon August 25, 2012.
The two will be previewing songs from Chris's
upcoming CD as well as songs from John's songbook.
Should be another night to remember! (pic 4 Chris
and John onstage)
5/9/2012
" PATTON
AND BELAND BACK WITH A NEW CD AND DATES IN NORWAY
THIS SPRING & SUMMER"
( April 2012 ) Good news for Flying Burrito Brothers
fans. Former Burrito's John Beland & Larry Patton
will once again be performing in Norway from June
thru August, They will also have a brand new studio
CD out, as well. "Reach
For The Sky" by Patton & Beland will
feature 12 all new recordings by the guys. Sat
tuned! Dates will be listed soon!
5/9/2012
JOHN'S
NEWEST FAN..THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF TEXAS.!
(April 27, 2012) John performed for Lieutenant
Governor ( and Senate candidate ) David
Dewhurst, and his wife Patricia, at their lovely
home in Houston on April 27th. The Lieutenant
Governor had seen John perform at the world
famous Inn At Dos Brisas and personally invited
him to perform for the Dewhurst's and their
guests.
"The Dewhursts are terrific people and I was
very honored to be invited to their home to
perform."
5/9/2012
5 Star resort
get's a
5 star guitarist!
The Inn At Dos Brisas in
Washington County is now featuring John on
guitar for their Sunday brunch's. The Inn is the
only 5 star restaurant resort in the entire
state of Texas, catering to a who's who client
list of the rich & famous.
So if you're in the area,
you can catch John at the Inn At Dos Brisas on
Sundays in beautiful Washington Texas,
"Birthplace of Texas."
1/25/2012
John and Larry
is performing for Radio Norway ,January 20th 2012.
Sorry
for late post.
1/10/2012
John has returned to Norway. This time
accompanied by Larry Patton, his old time partner
from the Flying Burrito years.
Look at the "Touring" page for
information on their appearances. More to
come!!
9/3/2011
JB
RETURNS (Once again!) TO OZ
(August 2011 Byron Bay Australia)
John
is busy at work recording with Australian rock legends
Brian Cadd and Glenn Shorrock (former "original" lead
singer for The Little River Band). at Brian Cadd's home
in beautiful Byron Bay, Australia. John and Brian have
recorded 15 tracks for Brian's upcoming CD "The One's
That Got Away."
The
guitars and bass guitar chores have been handled by JB.
All vocals & keyboards by Brian with additional vocals
by Glenn Shorrock. All three mates have known each other
for years and the sessions have been a real gathering of
old friends.
Additional guitars for John were provided by 10CC
guitarist Rick Fenn, who lived right around the corner
from Brian. Says John " Instead of borrowing a cup of
sugar from your neighbor, we simply borrowed an extra
Les Paul guitar. This place is fabulous!"
Also,
while in Australia JB had a chance to hook up with the
great Russell ("Real Thing") Morris, who's last CD (with
Brian Cadd) JB played guitars on.
John
returns home to Texas on September 9th.
(attached photo)
JB,
Glenn Shorrock and Brian Cadd in the studio and JB,
Brian and rock legend Russell Morris.
01/4/2011
Here's
a couple more Burrito videos
for
your entertainment...
01/01/2011
Please
Enjoy the Music!
So
sorry this Rick Nelson video is cut a
little short...
12/30/2010
John Beland
"LIVE" at Bob Stane's
"Coffee Gallery" in Altadena, January 18th, 8 pm.
John will be
opening for singer songwriter, Bob Lind (Elusive
Butterfly).
John Beland and his son Chris meet for the first time just before Chris' release party for his sophomore recording "The Weatherman." John flew in and collaborated with Chris one afternoon to play this song for the show. Watch father and son play live together for the first time. Amazingly, John had Chris at the age of 31, and it wasn't until 31 years later that Chris actually was introduced to his father!
12/13/2010
The following article is posted a little late due to
Webmaster's schedule. This event has already
occurred. More to follow!!
Music in his genes
Bend singer-songwriter Chris Beland just discovered
his biological father is veteran guitarist John
Beland. On Monday, they'll meet for the first time.
By Ben Salmon / The Bulletin
Thanks to John Beland's long and high-profile career
in the music business, the veteran guitarist,
songwriter and producer receives his share of
unusual e-mails from fans and other folks.
Some know his solo work or one of his songs that
another singer turned into a hit. Others may
recognize him as the leader of legendary
country-rock band the Flying Burrito Brothers in the
1980s and '90s. And some may remember his years as
an in-demand guitarist to big stars like Dolly
Parton, Ricky Nelson and Linda Ronstadt.
Barbara Chabot, a 53-year-old social worker who
lives outside Denver, wrote Beland a few months ago.
She didn't fall into any of those categories, though
she did see Beland perform with Nelson at a county
fair in California in 1978.
But it was the highly personal nature of Chabot's
message that drew Beland's attention.
“I sent him an e-mail and it said, ‘I really need to
have contact with you.' And he wrote me back and
said, ‘Um, do I know you?' ” Chabot said in an
interview earlier this week. “And I said, ‘I think
better than you remember.'
“
‘This is a embarrassing, but a couple days ago I was
shocked by the results of my son's paternity test,'
” Chabot continued, recalling her note to Beland. “
‘And the person I thought was his biological father
is not his biological father.' ”
From his home in Brenham, Texas, Beland, 61, said he
didn't think too much of Chabot's correspondence
until she included a link to a video of her son,
Chris, performing at a church. He clicked on the
video and suddenly, everything changed.
“My first impression was he looked exactly like my
father and he looked a lot like my son, Tyler, who's
21,” Beland said, speaking with a distinct
Midwestern accent that surfaces when he gets
excited. “The similarity was just jaw-dropping.
“His vocal and his guitar playing were very similar
to mine, and his mannerisms were similar to mine.
The way that he looked and his actions were pretty
amazing,” Beland said of Chris. “I told my
girlfriend about it and she just said, ‘I don't
think you even need a DNA test, it's so obvious. But
go ahead, and let's see where it goes.' ”
Growing up in California
On Friday, a local singer-songwriter named Chris
Beland will celebrate the release of his new album,
“The Weather Man,” with a concert at The Kilns
Bookstore in Bend (see “If you go”). He'll sing his
lush, acoustic folk-pop songs, and he'll be backed
by a band of close friends who for years have known
him by a different name, Chris Chabot.
Chris, 31, grew up in Santa Maria, Calif., a midsize
town on the state's central coast, where he lived
with his mom, Barbara, an older brother and sister,
and a man who left the family around the time Chris
was born. Both Barbara and Chris believed that man
was Chris' father for the past 31 years. (The man's
last name was not Chabot. That name came from
Barbara's second husband, who adopted Chris when he
was 4.)
Chris never had much of a relationship with the man
he thought was his biological father. He said
earlier this week he has met the man a few times,
and “shied away from getting to know him.”
Chris took an early interest in music; he remembers
enjoying the sound of a record player's needle
against a vinyl LP while wearing “footie pajamas.”
He learned to play guitar at age 11, wrote songs at
13, and started a punk band at 14. By 15, he was a
father himself. He married his son's mother and
moved out of the house.
Over the next several years, Chris grew up fast. He
eventually divorced his first wife, met and married
his current wife, Annie, and had three more
children. Fed up with their lifestyle in California,
the family moved to Bend six years ago after Chris
got a job over the phone as a kidney dialysis tech
at a medical clinic in town.
Throughout his life, Chris has had a “deep-rooted
need to know where he's from,” said his mother. So
last spring, when he asked her for contact
information for the man he thought was his dad, she
handed it over.
Chris said he reached out not to build a
relationship, but to learn about that side of his
family, its health history and genetic makeup, and
anything else he might need to know for his kids'
sake.
The two men decided to put to rest long-standing
uncertainty as to whether they were truly father and
son. A paternity test came back negative. And Chris
returned to his mother, looking for answers.
“I thought I was going to go to my grave not knowing
who my dad is,” Chris said earlier this week.
Encouraging from afar
From the moment he was born, Chris was the “calmest,
sweetest” kid, Barbara said.
“God gave me this perfect child,” she said. “We
called him ‘Casual Chris.' That was on his (birthday
cakes when he was 2 and 3 years old) ... because he
was so cool about everything.”
In the wake of the negative paternity test, however,
Chris was not so cool. He was agitated, unsure if he
would ever know his real father. And Barbara didn't
know what to tell him, until her sister reminded her
of a night in 1978, when she got a baby sitter and
set off into the night to be young and have fun
during what she now calls a “very traumatic time” of
her life.
That night, she watched Ricky Nelson perform, and
after the show, she got to hang out backstage with
Nelson's guitar player, John Beland, where the two
drank beers and played guitar. She doesn't remember
what happened after that.
Her fuzzy memory newly stoked, Barbara hit the
Internet to search for Beland, worried that he had
died in the plane crash that killed Nelson in 1985
and that Chris would never get the answers he
wanted. But she found him alive and well in Texas.
She sent him an e-mail, assuring him she didn't want
anything from him, but simply to let him know that
he might have a son in Oregon.
That's when Beland, who was preparing to go to
Australia to produce a record, watched video of
Chris and saw the face of his own father. He tracked
down Chris' Facebook profile, “friended” him on
Sept. 21, and began reading his updates, his
interaction with Annie, and comments from his
friends and family. Beland also visited Chris'
MySpace page and read his bio, picking up on several
phrases that sounded just like something he would
say.
Soon, he began commenting on Chris' Facebook page,
complimenting his music and offering guidance on
manufacturing CDs and staging a release show, but
never hinting that the advice might be from father
to son.
“He had already gone through so many years of
disappointments and wondering where he came from, if
it had gone the other way, it would've been a
tremendous letdown for him,” Beland said. “So I just
approached him as a friend.”
On Sept. 22, Beland wrote on Chris' Facebook
profile: “Really nice stuff ... good picking and
very heartfelt writing. Good luck with your music,
John Beland.” Chris replied: “Thanks for the
encouragement!”
A
connection is made
“Some random guy, he's in Australia, and he writes
me these comments about how he likes my music and he
bought my album, and I'm like, ‘Oh cool, thanks for
listening,' ” Chris said. “Before I even knew any of
this was going on, he knew. He and my mom were
talking. So when she called me and told me that John
Beland might be my dad, I was like, ‘The guy on
Facebook?'
“I went online and I looked up pictures of him, and
I was seeing myself in all these pictures,” Chris
said. “It was the weirdest thing ever. So I wrote
him and I said, ‘Dude, I know about you now, and I
just want you to know that I don't want anything
from you. If anything, I just want to have a
friendship with you and get to know you.' ”
He describes Beland's reply as “the sweetest”
e-mail: “He's like, ‘If you're my son, I'd be the
most blessed person in the world. And if you're not,
then you've gained a friend for life.' ”
The prospect of gaining Chris as a son made John
Beland ecstatic. He agreed to a paternity test,
which came back positive a week later, setting off a
celebration in an Australian recording studio and a
wave of relief for a young man in Bend, Oregon, not
to mention his mom in Colorado.
“I'm so happy. I'm at peace. I feel like God
answered my prayers,” Barbara said. “Chris has not
just a father figure, but a friend, and someone he
can respect and talk to. In 100 different ways, I
feel this weight off my shoulders. It has been an
albatross my whole life, and it's hard to float when
you're got this weight pulling you down. I feel like
somebody just cut that off and I don't have to carry
it anymore.”
‘I finally feel whole'
“(When I got the results,) my jaw dropped,” John
Beland said. “It was obviously very emotional, but
also very exciting, (and) I felt a real need to make
up for all of those years that he spent not knowing,
and all the years that he spent (without) a real
father. I felt bad that we both missed those years,
but I picked up the phone and called him, and it was
a bit of a hard call to make because, you know,
where do you start?”
Chris soon found out that his father knew just how
to start. He and John talked for hours. “He's really
funny,” Chris said. “He has the gift of gab.”
Chris learned he has other siblings all over the
country, including a sister in New York he now talks
to regularly, and a younger brother with whom he has
“really connected,” he said. Plus there is a gang of
Belands who have embraced him fully, as evidenced by
their many friendly Facebook comments.
But the key component of this happy story is that a
son knows his father, and a father knows his son.
And both finally feel more complete than they did
before.
“It's life-changing,” Chris said. “I feel like I've
gotten my other leg. I feel like I've been crippled
my whole life, and I finally feel whole.”
That feeling couldn't have come at a better time, he
said.
“I can be on the rock bottom and still be smiling
because I'm just so happy,” Chris said. “This has
changed my perspective. No matter how hard life
gets, I've come to this turn in my life where things
are making sense.
“It's been a rough year,” he said, “but it's been
the best year at the same time.”
For John, the past couple of months have been an
unexpected highlight of a lifetime packed with
triumphs.
“Just when you think you've experienced about all
you could in the world, something like this comes
along and everything else pales,” he said. “I've
achieved a lot in the music business over the years,
and I'm thankful for that, but those were all
fleeting moments.
“People have a hard time understanding that all that
stuff — Dolly Parton and Ricky Nelson, doing TV,
traveling around the world in jets, staying at big
hotels, doing Carnegie Hall — all that stuff was all
wonderful, but they were really just fleeting
moments. But a situation like this is something that
will stay with me for the rest of my life. So just
when you think life couldn't offer much more than
what you've experienced, along comes this gigantic
thing that makes everything else just look so
unimportant.”
Meeting for the first time
Chris is in the process of legally changing his last
name from Chabot to Beland to formally recognize his
new relationship with John. And on Monday, father
and son will meet for the first time after John's
plane lands at Redmond Municipal Airport. When Chris
scheduled his CD-release show, John “couldn't stay
away,” he said.
Both men are excited and nervous about the meeting.
“I think it's going to be one of those times when
you have to kind of hop on the surfboard and push
your way into the waves,” John said. “However it
goes, it's going to be a very loving and wonderful
time.
“This is going to be one amazing Christmas for me,
and I hope it is for Chris, too,” he said.
Instead of letting the intense emotions of the
coming moment get to him, Chris is choosing to put
his wry sense of humor on display.
“I am going to see my Dad for the first time face to
face in 4 days,” read his Facebook status on
Thursday night. “I might stand at the airport with a
cardboard sign that says ‘DAD.' ”
Ben Salmon can be reached at 541-383-0377 or bsalmon@bendbulletin.com.
Chris
Beland of Bend holds an
album by his father, veteran
musician and producer John
Beland. Chris recently
discovered John is his
biological father, and the
two will meet for the first
time Monday.
Rob
Kerr / The Bulletin
John
Beland, left, performs with
Ricky Nelson in the late
1970s, right around the time
Beland met Barbara Chabot.
John Beland performs with the
Burrito Brothers in 1982 at the
Grand Ole Opry in Nashville,
Tenn. Beland will fly to Central
Oregon on Monday to meet his
son, Chris
John Beland
Rob
Kerr / The Bulletin
Chris Beland center leads
his band through a rehearsal
Tuesday for his CD-release
show Friday at The Kilns
Bookstore in Bend.
RICK NELSON
"THE LAST TIME AROUND" 7 CD box set is now
"OFFICIALLY" out, on Bear Family Records
(Germany)
This
magnificent collection features John on 2 albums
of Nelson recordings, from the lost Al Kooper
sessions to the long awaited, previously
unreleased "MEMPHIS SESSIONS."
John also has
two songs on the collection,
"IT SHALL REMAIN" and "THAT AIN'T THE WAY LOVE'S
SUPPOSED TO BE."
John also
contributes his Nelson recollections in the
extensive liner note booklet, as well.
Check it out! A
MUST for any fan of the late great Ricky Nelson.
Go to:
We
thought it would be nice to post this very nice
email from a fan of John's. He has bought every CD
available and this is what he said about Big Guitars
vol 2:
"Hi
there, John.
Your cd, vol. 2, arrived this morning, thanks, and have been spinning
since, and it's great.
The final track, made me think, how about a whole cd-tribute
to Eddie
Cochran, or Buddy Holly, Gene Vincent, Rick Nelson,
etc..
Thanks again, and best of luck with this great disc,
......Steen."
06/26/2010
VERY RARE JOHN BELAND / LARRY MURRAY SONG
UN-EARTHED ON NEW RICK NELSON CD .
(June 25, 2010)
Bear Family Records will be releasing a new box
set of previously unreleased
Rick Nelson tracks, including the much written
about ( but never released) MEMPHIS SESSIONS,
produced by Larry Rogers, and co-arranged by
Rick & John Beland.
The album was recorded in 1979 and yielded
Rick's last chart hit record, DREAM LOVER.
One Nelson /
Beland composition on the album is,
"THAT AIN' T THE WAY LOVE'S SUPPOSED TO BE",
but recent news is that another very rare track,
recorded during the sessions, but never heard
before, is a beautiful John Beland / Larry
Murray song called "IT SHALL REMAIN."
John says,
" I'm pleasantly shocked to hear of this song's
release. Larry Murray and I wrote it in the
early 70's in Hollywood. As far as I know, it's
only been recorded once by Larry, Brian Cadd and
I for 1977 album called THE HOLLYWOOD HORNETS.
It was our tribute to friends we had lost.
Ironic that Rick recorded this only a few years
prior to his own death."
The box set is
scheduled for release this year on Bear Family
Records, out of Germany.
04/17/2010
AVAILABLE
APRIL 26TH
John's long
awaited follow up to "BIG GUITARS VOLUME 1"
is here!!
"JOHN
BELAND'S BIG GUITARS VOLUME 2"
14 great
rock & roll guitar instrumentals. Each CD
personally autographed by John.
$15.00
(plus 3 dollars shipping for USA..$6.00
shipping for overseas orders.)
send to:
JOHN BELAND
BIG GUITARS
VOLUME 2
202 ROSS ST
BRENHAM,
TEXAS, 77833
USA
11/23/2009
Hi John,
Just want to thank you for the great evening at our
ranch. Everyone
was very pleasantly surprised and pleased with the
evening around the fire
listening to your music and stories.
Hope you enjoyed it too and look forward to seeing
you again soon in Round
Top. We will have to do the campfire gig again some
day.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Bob Dale
11/04/2009
10/18/2009
Housewarming Party in Sherman Oaks, Saturday Oct 17.
When John was a young runaway from home trying to
make a living on his music, just hanging out at the
Troubadour in West Hollywood, he met Lois Fletcher.
She believed in him and gave him his first record
deal. Not only that. She also took him in and gave
him the start he dreamed of. Their friendship has
lasted all these years.
Saturday Oct 17, she and her husband Chip Clements
gave a house warming party in their beautiful
Sherman Oaks home and John was invited to perform.
After drinks and dinner the show started with Lois'
son Kelly Dalton, who played acoustic guitar and
sang a couple of his songs. Kelly is a singer
songwriter, living in Austin Texas, and he is
working on a new CD, soon to be released. Keep your
eyes open good people. His songs are very melodious
with thoughtful texts. What a guitar player.
!!!
Then John took the stage after being introduced by
Lois. He went the whole five miles and shared his
musical life with the audience. From childhood, how
it all started, how he met Lois and how much she has
meant to him, up to his years with The Flying
Burrito Brothers and all the famous artists his path
has crossed. It's a major number.
He sang many songs and not the most common ones, but
songs with a special place in his heart and with
very thoughtful lyrics as well. It was a trip in
nostalgia, for John and probably several others at
the party.
Here you can
see more photos from this magic night.
09/25/2009
One of
the nicest thing that can happen to an artist is the
receive fan letters. They make the hard work so
worthwhile. I would like to share a few with you:
"Oh, John...thank you for such a
wonderful performance Sunday at
the Stone Cellar! I heard you
speaking to someone about
visiting your website so I
found it...its great, WOW, you
amaze me! I have such respect
for talented
musicians, truly a gift when its
shared. I love to watch you play
and really
LISTEN to what you
play...well...just transports me
to a more solitary place
than the surroundings of the
moment...the noise melts away.
Sorry for
sounding so corny but I just
cant say enough...
Look forward to more of that
magic from those fingertips!"
K
Hi John,
Almost exactly 60 days ago you
played at my surprise 50th birthday
party
and my friends and family are still
talking about your performance! I
want to thank you for bringing your
talent and memories to my life and
for helping make this celebration so
special. One of my favorite
memories from that night was when
almost everyone was gone...you did
something that you probably didn't
even give much thought to... My
first grandchild of my first son was
sleeping in my daughter's arms and
you spontaneously played, "Twinkle,
Twinkle Little Star" for him. What
a wonderful moment for me to
cherish. I just want you to
remember that
with all your talent and travels it
is still the simplest things that
are appreciated the most.
I look forward to hearing and seeing
you again very soon.
Sincerely,
JS
The Norwegian Duo PG Stolen and Frank R.
Fjellvang have been making music together for
more than 20 years. Both have a beautiful
singing voice, write their own songs and play
the guitar. Their new album, “Chasing The Wind”
with eleven songs by Frank and two from PG is
produced by John Beland, (Flying burrito
Brothers). With Beland on guitar, mandolin and
keyboards, the two with Bruce Rasmussen on
drums, Larry Klimas on saxophone, Jody Cameron
on the pedal steel guitar become a John Beland
team. The CD begins with the rhythmic melodious
Title song in American Ballad Style, and then
continues like that. The two Norwegians have
dedicated themselves to this style. You can hear
rousing rock like my favorite "Dig a deep hole"
in which Frank shows his finger picking skills
on the acoustic guitar.
PGs Country Love Song „Living on dreams“ standswith
the melancholy sound of the pedal steel, while
"Up north of Norway" is like pure country rock.
Another highlight is "Mama" by PG, a beautiful
rhythmic ballad, with the enchanting sound of
the accordion.
The album is a collection of songs well worth
listening to that sound as if they came directly
from the plains of the American Western.
For lovers of American Country music I can
strongly recommend this CD with its musically
superb recordings.
Read
'MelodicNet's' review of PG&Frank's CD "Chasing The
Wind".
07/01/2009
Scandinavische Americana
- PG & Frank
Scandinavische Americana wordt getekend door
dezelfde merkwaardigheden als bijvoorbeeld
Nederlandse Americana - het klinkt vaak
fantastisch, maar het steenkolenengels is
vaak ook wel erg aandoenlijk. Maar als je
daar geen moeite mee hebt zijn dit twee
voortreffelijke albums uit het noorden van
Europa.
Scandinavian American sounds are recognized
by the same oddities as for instance Dutch
American - it sounds fantastic, the coals
angels? are often also very angelic. You
will have no trouble with these two
excellent albums from the north of Europe.
PG & Frank
John Beland is gitarist in de laatste
reïncarnatie van de legendarische Flying Burrito
Brothers, en hij produceerde voor het Noorse duo
PG & Frank het album Chasing the Wind. Hij
speelt zelf alle gitaren op het album, en
bovendien mandoline en keyboards. Hij heeft zijn
stempel goed op het album gedrukt dus, en het
klinkt dan ook fantastisch. De twee artiesten
waar het hier om gaat heten voluit Frank R
Fjellvang en PG Stølen. De laatste, PG, schreef
twee van de dertien voortreffelijke liedjes,
Frank schreef de rest. Ze speelden al meer dan
twintig jaar samen in verschillende bands, en
dit is hun vierde duo-album. Ze maken Americana
die dicht tegen countryrock aanzit. Mooie
arrangementen, en een mooi groeiplaatje.
John
Beland was guitarist in the last reincarnation
of the legendary Flying Burrito Brothers and he
produced the album Chasing The Wind for the
Norwegian duo PG & Frank. He does all the guitar
work on the album and moreover mandolin and
keyboards. He has put his mark well on the album
and it sounds fantastic. The two artists’ names
are Frank R Fjellvang and PG stolen. The last,
PG, wrote two of the thirteen excellent songs,
Franks wrote the rest. They have played more
than 20 years together in different bands and
this is their fourth duo-album. They make
America who dictates Country Rock justice.
Beautiful arrangements, and a beautiful album.
This Dutch text is freely translated, please
have patience if it isn't 100% correct.
06/23/2009
LOST "RICK
NELSON MEMPHIS SESSIONS" TO FINALLY BE
RELEASED!
Bear Family Records plans to soon
release a new box set of lost Rick Nelson
masters, including the legendary rockabilly
album, "THE MEMPHIS SESSIONS" from 1979.
John worked side by side with Rick
on this 1979 album, recorded at Lynn Lou
Studio in Memphis Tennessee. The album,
which was never released in it's original
state, featured Rick's last chart record
"Dream Lover", a Beland arrangement
recorded in style and spirit of Rick's early
Stone Canyon Band period.
For over three decades, various
compilations have featured tracks from this
album, some of them actually re-recorded
long after Rick's death. However, this new
box set release will feature the true
original recordings as they were laid down
30 years ago.
Songs include John Fogerty's "IT'S
ALMOST SATURDAY NIGHT", Steeler's Wheel's
"STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITH YOU", Bobby
Womack's "IT'S ALL OVER NOW" , Buddy Holly's
"TRUE LOVE WAYS" and more.
John played his Telecaster and
acoustic guitar on all the tracks, aided by
then future Stone Canyon Band guitarist,
Bobby Neil on 2nd acoustic guitar.
"This was one of Rick's favorite
albums, and it was a heartbreaker that he
didn't live long enough to see it released
in it's entirety," says John. " It was
honest and close to his heart and was also
the only recordings he made outside of
Hollywood."
STAY TUNES FOR MORE DETAILS AS THEY
COME IN!!!!
(photos...JB & Rick onstage
1979..and in the studio 1979 )
06/12/2009
Read
Arny Egeland's
presentation in "Scandinavian Radio".
06/12/2009
A big
Thank You to PG &Frank for sending us these
excellent photos. The first one is the original from
the newspaper "Faedrelandsvennen" in Kristiansand,
Norway. The other two are from the release concert
in Vennesla, Norway.
www.johnbeland.com
regretfully must announce
that we had to remove a number of tour and
recording photos from the past couple years due
to a recent change in management. Johns previous
manager for the past 2 years, has since she's
been removed, decided to not give us permission
to continue using her photo's any
longer.
As regrettable as this is, we look
forward to many more events and pics to come in
the very near future. So stay tuned...there is
much more ahead, and the best is yet to come!!
02/24/2009
The latest leg of John's Norway Tour and
Productions'
The
great duo, PG&Frank, "Chasing the wind" is now
available at
www.countrymusic.no
Check
out this CD with two of the most talented
singer/songwriters
I`ve ever worked with!!! What a pleasure to
produce these two guys!
They are
terrific fellows who bring an abundance of
unique talent to the table.
From the very beginning, we became friends and
fans of each other, and it
didn't take long before the boys asked me to
produce this CD for them.
I jumped on the opportunity!
Buy this
CD!
Sit back, dim the lights and fire up the heart.
Pour yourself a beer
or two. Close your eyes and travel with these
guys to places
like Royal Bengal Indian Take away Pizza and &
Grill. Meet some
unforgettable characters along the way, such as
Sam and Mama.
Ride on the Train to Voss. Chase the wind and
search your soul
with "Hymn."
It`s a journey I have shared with these two
extraordinary artists,
and now it is your turn.
"John
has now been A-listed by the Norwegian Radio
channel P39, which is a combination of Radio
Loland, Radio Sogne, Radio
Lindesnes, Radio Lyngdal and Radio Kvinesdal."
12/08/2008
Photos
from the Rockin' Christmas Show
in Vanse, Norway
10/18/2008
JOHN BELAND,
PRODUCING PROJECTS IN NORWAY 2009.
John Beland has now completed his
first Norwegian producing project.
Johns schedule is tight. He is
booked 'til the end of the year, but
is still available for new
productions in 2009.
His calendar is filling up, so
please contact us soon if you are
interested in having John producing
you in 2009.
John Beland has production scores of
CDs and albums over the years in a
number of countries, such as:
Australia, China, Canada, USA,
Norway, Germany and Spain. As well
as top ten records in Australia.
John completed basic tracks and vocals
for the upcoming
PG & FRANK CD project in Kristiansand, Norway. The
remainder
of the CD will be finished at
John's studio
"Tyler Trax 5" in Brenham, Texas and
mastered
at Frontier Studios in Copemish,
Michigan with
Scott Zystra at the knobs.
John heads back to Texas for sessions
and weekend gigs
at Ernie's Bistro
all through November.
Then it's back to
Norway for more dates through the
holiday season, before
returning to Ernie's
in Brenham, for a
New Year's Eve performance.
10/15/2008
JB & ALISON KRAUSS ON AUSTRALIAN RADIO
COMPILATION.
John's
version of the old Ricky Nelson
standard, "ANYONE ELSE BUT YOU",
featuring guest vocalist Alison Krauss,
will be featured on Australian ABC
radio's SATURDAY NIGHT COUNTRY 15th
ANNIVERSARY compilation.
John Nutting's number one country show
has featured John's music for a
number of years, as well as his top
production work for artists like Michael
King and Bec Willis.
Check out John's new project in Norway.
Producing
PG&Frank's CD.
09/24/2008
JOHN'S NEW
SINGLE
"EDDIE'S GOT A GUN".
Click
on pic for enlargement.
08/29/2008
On his
next trip to Norway, in September, John will start
his new producing project.
First out is the duo PG& Frank. With start
October they will work together in a new exciting
project.
It's been many years, but John recently reunited
with his his old Linda Ronstadt / Swampwater
bandmate, and dear friend, Thad Maxwell in
Brockport, New York, for a private affair at Thad's
home on the shores of lovely Lake Ontario. Nearly 60
guests were treated to a rare impromptu concert, by
John & Thad as they sang old Swampwater songs, and
delighted everyone with
road stories & adventures from the past.
John Beland will be back in Norway in October to
produce a CD for a new successful duo.
This is a project John is looking forward to and has
great faith in. This group plays what
we call Alternative Country Rock. It is the first
time they go together as a duo, but share
25 years experience in Norwegian music environment.
They also have several releases
behind hem
.
More details
to come.
07/29/2008
New
dates added to the tour.
12/6/2008
Country rocking Christmas show at
8th Avenue in Vanse. With Arly
Karlsen.
07/09/2008
NORWEGIAN
/ AMERICAN DAYS IN FARSUND, VANSE.
June 26-29
John performed at the American Festival. The gig
was followed
by Agder Sound, Vennesla and Midsummer
Blues Festival in Mandal.
( Vanse, Norway June 20, 2008) Here's John and his
son Tyler appearing onstage at 8Th Avenue Club in
Vanse, Norway. This was their first gig of a 2 month
tour throughout the country. It's also the very
first time the two have ever appeared onstage
together. It was a great night for all!!!
06/10/2008
MORE JB TRIVIA PURSUIT !
Another
Pop Culture bit of Trivia Pursuit.
In the
80's, one of the hottest "shock talk shows" on TV
was THE MORTON DOWNEY JR SHOW." The show
was a predecessor of The Jerry Springer & Maury, and
was one of the top shows of the mid 80's.
The late
Mort Downey, who was my manager in the 70's when I
was signed to the Beatles label Apple Records, was a
the host, and a real character. It was Mort who
hired me to write and produce the theme song, which
I did in Nashville Tennessee.
I played
all the instruments on it, following Downey's
suggestion to make it " a combination of ABC's
Nightline" and "MTV" (LOL).
Like I
said, he was a real "character."
Here's
the theme the way it looked and sounded in the 80's.
Click here!
One of
the first "paid" jobs I got when I first hit
Hollywood, as an 18 year old kid, landing the
singing gig for a new TV show on ABC called,
THE BRADY BUNCH.
The music track was already completed by a band
called, The Peppermint Trolley Company.
However, the final vocals were sung by myself, Paul
Parish and Lois
Fletcher, under the Trolley Company's name.
So there
you have a little Trivia Pursuit!! For a listen
to the "original" theme, featuring a very young your's truly, click here!
John
recently became a granddad again.
His daughter Sarah had a little daughter, Journey,
June 6.
Here's
a pic of the beautiful Mother and baby.
06/06/2008
GREAT STATION
PLAYING JB MUSIC !
Well, let's talk about REAL great radio. WHUM
985 out of Indiana is one
of those rare little radio gems that shine like
a diamond in the gloomy
dark world of commercial mainstream pop /
country & talk radio. It's
my favorite station and I take it with me
wherever I travel. They play
all the great music that you can't hear
anywhere, like the golden days
of FM radio in the 60's and 70's.
So add a little country rock to you IPod playlists, and
download
John's latest cd, "JOHN BELAND-THE
FLYINGBURRITO BROTHERS YEARS" today!!
05/20/2008
JOHN
BELAND - THE FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS YEARS
NOW ON CDBABY & ITUNES
Starting in late May, JOHN
BELAND - THE FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS YEARS
will be available for digital downloading
sales on both
www.cdbaby.com
and
www.itunes.com
Stop by, check it out and add JB to your IPod
library!
JB and
his BRENT MASON "HOT WIRED"
DISTORTION BY WAMP.LE
A new addition to John's touring and
recording sound is the latest from Wampler
Pedals, the Brent Mason "Hot
Wired" distortion. John's
friends, Brent & Julie Mason turned JB onto
this great new pedal that incorporates two
great distortion units in one.
Say's
John, "
I must have gone through 100 distortion
effects and was never satisfied with any of
them, till Brent recommended this little
baby. As soon as I plugged it in, there was
punchy "that sound" I had been trying to
find for years. I highly recommend the Brent
Mason "Hot Wired" by Wampler. It's the
answer to a pickers prayer! Thanks Brent &
Julie!!!"
See Brent demonstrate the Hot Wired by
clicking here:
Hiltorp Festival Poster.
Here's a little taste of upcoming
pleasures in a musical Norway.
Inviting, isn't it?
(click the poster for a closer look)
05/04/2008
OUT NOW!! NEW DVD!!
SRS Video in association with the H.H.H
Countryteam presents a film by Svein Rune
Skilnand. John Beland live in the Hall of
Lindesnes
John
recorded a DVD while performing in Norway
February 2008. The result, this great brand new
recording from The Hall Of Lindesnes. A gem and
a must for all country music lovers.
The DVD is produced by SRS Video in cooperation
with HHH Country Team with Svein Rune
Skilnand.
Price - 200 Norwegian Kr or US $40.
Shipping not included.
For more information about this product, please
contact :
JB INTERVIEWED FOR UPCOMING BOOK ON THE JOHNNY
CASH SHOW.
John was interviewed by author Mark Steilper for an upcoming book called
" THE JOHNNY CASH SHOW-TURMOIL, TRIUMPH AND
THE RISE OF THE LEGEND".
The book will center on the history of
Johnny Cash's ABC Television show,
originally aired
the early 70's. The show featured an
astounding roster of musical guests, some
who
rarely appeared on network television at the
time. Some of the guests included Bob
Dylan,
Eric Clapton, Neil Young, The Monkees, Tony
Joe White, James Taylor, to name a few.
Another one of the great guests was a hot
new singer on the scene named, Linda
Ronstadt.
John and Swampwater backed Linda on this
groundbreaking show, appearing on a rare
episode taped the legendary Ryman
Auditorium's Grand Ole Opry, to an over flow
audience
of students from Vany University.
The book will deal with the turmoil that
went on behind the scenes, and the
importance of
what the show meant to popular music at the
time.
By the way, you can catch a glimpse of John
& Swampwater backing Linda on the historic
show by clicking here:
YouTube
- Linda Ronstadt - She's a very lovely woman
Mark's book is due out soon. Grab it!!!!
04/19/2008
JOHN BELAND - THE FLYING BURRITO
BROTHERS.
John's new
CD JOHN BELAND-THE FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS YEARS
is now available right here at
www.johnbeland.com
!!
This
great collection of John's best work with the
legendary country rock band,
The Flying Burrito
Brothers,
features guest artist such as, Alison Krauss,
Buck
Owens, Sonny Landreth, Ricky Skaggs, as well as
past FBB
alumni,
Sneaky Pete Kleinow, Gib Guilbeau, Chris
Ethridge, Al Perkins, Larry Patton,
Brian Cadd and
the cream
of the crop of session aces. If you're a fan
of country
rock, you won't want to pass this up, and
receive a
personally signed copy as well.
John Beland-The
Flying Burrito Brothers is an absolute must for all
JB / FBB fans.
Get it now!
All
copies ordered on this website will be personally
autographed by John.
Breakin Records ( Canada) has released the new
debut CD on
radio personality, and
Toronto based singer, Hugo Stranley.
John produced and arranged the CD titled
"IT'S
ABOUT TIME."
Sessions took place at John's Texas studio, and up
in
Port Hope, Canada.
Here's wishing Hugo all the best on the new CD!!!
Hugo Stranley
04/19/2008
JB & NORWAY HARMONICA KING, CHARLIE BLACKWATER.
Norwegian harmonica legend, Charlie Blackwater sits
in with John during
one
of JB's Norway shows. Charlie has many credits
to his name, as well
as his
own solo CDs. John & Charlie sounded
incredible together!!!!
Says
JB " I've worked with harmonica legends Charlie
McCoy, Howard
Levy
and
Terry McMillen, and Charlie Blackwater is
right up there with
the best.
What a great time I had playing live with
him! "
04/19/2008
JB ONSTAGE IN NORWAY WITH HARDCORE
TROUBADOURS.
NOW ON YOUTUBE !
A few clips of JB sitting in with the great
Norway band Hardcore Troubadours
a few months ago is now up on YouTube. ( click
below) The guys were all
Burrito fans and did some fantastic versions of
"You Ain't Goin Nowhere"
and "Windfall." It was a great night of country
rock in Norway with
JB &
The Troubs!!!
JB has been known, worldwide, for being one of
the pioneering Telecaster
B-Bender players, along with Clarence
White, Bernie Leadon & Bob Warfford.
Here's a glimpse into the actual
manufacturing of John's current Fender
"Bendercaster" B-Bender. It's an interesting look
into the making
of this unique device.
John
discusses his work with the late Ricky Nelson to
Peter Lindblas, in the new addition of Goldmine Magazine. It's a
great profile on Rick
and you won't want to miss it!
If you're a
Telecaster nut, like John, you'll want to get a copy of The
BLACKGUARD book, by Nacho Banos.
This is the most informative book ever on the Fender Telecaster,
and features profiles of such famous Tele
users as Red Volkert, Waylon Jennings, James Burton, Albert Lee,
Keith Richards and, of course, John Beland.
This beautiful hard cover book is a must for all Fender Tele
users.
Here's the link for more info :
The Blackguard Book.
Blackguard
author Nachos Banos
& jb
at the dallas guitar show.
JB
signing copies of the
blackguard book.
04/17/2008
JB TO PRODUCE GLASGOW SINGER/SONGWRITER, CHRIS ADAMS
John
will be back behind the board this year, producing
Scottish songwriting legend, Chris Adams, founder of the
band, String Driven Thing. The
sessions
will most likely take place in Port Hope,
Canada, although details are still being worked out as
of this writing. Says John: " Chris is a great
artist with a style that's very reminiscent of the old
LA Troubadour days, when Jackson Browne, JD Souther,
Tim Hardin and others brought a maturity and originality
to the L.A singer / songwriter scene. I'm really
looking forward to working with this incredible talent."
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