A Note To You From The Legendary John McEuen of The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

By: John McEuen

With NGDB and on my own I have made music “for you”; it is people such as yourself that I hope hear what I do. And, to have it ‘reach’ them is amazing. I tour a bit, but if you wanted to find out more – the back stories of things I have done – go to a show, or check out my web store please: HERE – I have three of my books there autographed!

The books are available on Amazon, but not signed. They are: The Life I’ve Picked: A Banjo Picker’s Nitty Gritty Journey, from school dork to geek, to nerd, to Forrest Gump with banjo, to now. After 50.2 years with Nitty Gritty Dirt Band I felt it was time to tell all about why I “got off the bus”, what happened while raising seven kids, in the music biz, making eight non-NGDB albums, and more. A chapter on both the Russia tour and on The Circle album, as well as ‘the rest of the story’. With 45 photos over the years. It features a complete chapter about the 1977 Russia trip, and one on Will the Circle be Unbroken!

The Making of a Landmark Album – Will the Circle Be Unbroken… 50 Years Later. My record producer/NGDB manager/brother Bill (William McEuen) took NGDB photos from 1966 to 1978. I described what was going on in them. One-hundred and four images from the Circle sessions, during that incredible week; 38 songs in 5 days). Jimmy Martin said it was his favorite recording! And the Forward is by Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan. Contributing writers: (Original NGDB players who were on the record include: Jeff Hanna, Jim Ibbotson, Jimmie Fadden, Les Thompson; Gary Scruggs; Lance Smith; Marty Stuart; Del Bryant; Steve Martin. Did you know the first recording of “Will the Circle be Unbroken” was done in England, in 1915 by William McEwan?

Mountain Whippoorwill, an artfully illustrated book of the poem I have done for 50 years. The web page tells how to get the music for it. Forward by comedian and fellow musician, Steve Martin. Also, my best record to date: The Newman– a Man of record. Ten varied stories, with my music behind them. And a remastered 3-LP vinyl, Will the Circle be Unbroken, with liner notes and a poster of sessions, all autographed by me.