Saying that Jonathan McEuen blew our minds would be a serious understatement. We don't have enough superlatives to describe his amazing raw talent, dynamic energy and contagious charm that made for one of the most exciting sets of music we can remember seeing in many years.
From Ventura, California via the Rocky Mountains, Jonathan McEuen has impressed those in front of any stage and in any recording studio he has gone to since his mid-teenage years. Now, at 24 with a background of experience and songs, delivered with his gifted musical abilities backing his great unique voice, he is ready to show the major venues' audiences a new artist to follow.
Growing up in a music business family, early on he 'got the bug' to be onstage, and by his own words wanted to "be a star and perform for lots of people". By 6th grade he had the lead role in a high school production of The King and I (Clear Creek High School in Colorado, where he grew up), and knocked everyone out. At the end of the last performance, crying because it was over, everyone knew the stage had hooked him.
His father (John McEuen of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band) recalls driving down I-15 with the boys (four brothers) in back of a motor home years ago with 11 year old Jonathan visible in the inside rear view mirror, guitar in hands, saying "Dad. . . how do I make a chord on this?" With his hand almost in an E position, he was instructed to "move your first finger down one string over the third one from the floor and raise it up and down a lot on and off the string". "Got it... now what do I do?" he asked. "Hit the other end a bunch over the hole with your other hand", whereupon he went right in to the rhythm lick for "Mystery Train". From then on he was hooked on guitar. The following years he studied Hendrix, Stevie Ray, John Denver, Clapton, Albert Lee and developed his own hot style to accompany his own music. Jonathan also plays keyboards, lap steel, percussion and drums, and bass.
His first CD, the highly acclaimed "Tribute to Jerry Garcia", will stand the test of time, but his upcoming work will show the world the true depth of his broad talents. Rock and Roll, fingerpicking ballads, acoustic or electric blues, great writing, and the great voice all combine to give Jonathan's broad combination of talents and love of performing a stage presence that has consistently won over audiences since he first went on stage at 6 years old at Denver's Red Rocks Amphitheater.
From Atlantic City to Vegas, The Bottom Line to Aspen, jamming at festival shows with Sam Bush or Vince Gill, to being acting co-star in TNN's The Music of the Wild West, he has taken every challenge, and knocked people out time after time. A couple dozen television shows, about 1000 concert shows and thousands of miles later, at 24 years old and with his own songs, he is now ready to hit the national market with a major agency.
Jonathan is currently working with noted producer Greg Penny, who believes this young artist to be his next major star destined discovery. (Greg's past productions include K.D. Lang, Rickie Lee Jones, and Elton John among others). Jonathan is ready. . . and so is every audience who hears him for the first. . . or tenth time. If you ever get a chance to see Jonathan McEuen in concert, don't miss it!!