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John McEuen

b. 1945

American musician

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About John McEuen

Born 1945. John McEuen is an American songwriter and musician.

John McEuen (born December 19, 1945) is an American folk musician and a founding member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.

Career Solo work John McEuen was born in Oakland, California. In 1964, at age 18, he became interested in music after seeing a performance by the Dillards, and learned to play the banjo. Eventually, he took an interest in fiddle and mandolin. In 1986, after twenty years with the Dirt Band, McEuen departed to pursue a solo career. From 1991–1997, he released four albums for Vanguard Records. He composed music for movies and television and he appeared as a guest on albums with several artists including five albums with Michael Martin Murphey. He then returned to the Dirt Band in 2001. McEuen departed the band once again in late 2017.

Steve Martin McEuen has known Steve Martin since high school, when he would give Martin occasional lessons on the banjo. In 1978, he was asked by Martin to provide the backing band for a comic, novelty song called King Tut. With Martin on vocals, the Dirt Band recorded the song under the alias "The Toot Uncommons".

Awards and honors The American Banjo Museum Hall of Fame Inductee Independent Music Award for Best Americana Album, "Made in Brooklyn"

Discography

John McEuen (Warner Bros. Records, 1985) String Wizards (Vanguard, 1991) String Wizards II (Vanguard, 1993) Acoustic Traveller (Vanguard, 1996) Vanguard Visionaries (Vanguard 73164-2, 2007) At The Warehouse - Cowboys In The Sky (FestivaLink FEST0092, 2007) Roots Music Made In Brooklyn (Chesky Records, 2016)

With Jimmy Ibbotson

Stories & Songs (Planetary Records PLAN9023) (Out O' The Blue Radio Revue) (2000) At The Warehouse - Cowboys In The Sky (FestivaLink FEST0092, 2007)

With Jimmy Ibbotson and Jennifer Warnes

Nitty Gritty Surround (Aix Records AIX80008, 2001) (on DVD)

With The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (Liberty, 1967) Ricochet (Liberty, 1967) Rare Junk (Liberty, 1968) Uncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy (Liberty, 1970) All the Good Times (United Artists, 1972) Will the Circle Be Unbroken (United Artists UAS9801, 1972) Stars & Stripes Forever (United Artists, 1974) Symphonion Dream (United Artists, 1975) The Dirt Band (United Artists, 1978) An American Dream (United Artists, 1979) Make A Little Magic (United Artists, 1980) Jealousy (Liberty, 1981) Let's Go (Liberty, 1983) Plain Dirt Fashion (Warner Bros., 1984) Partners, Brothers and Friends (Warner Bros., 1985) Hold On (Warner Bros., 1987) Workin' Band (Warner Bros., 1988) Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Volume Two (Universal, 1989) The Rest of the Dream (MCA, 1990) Not Fade Away (Liberty, 1992) Acoustic (Liberty, 1994) The Christmas Album (Rising Tide, 1997) Bang, Bang, Bang (DreamWorks, 1999) Will the Circle Be Unbroken, Volume III (Capitol, 2002) Welcome to Woody Creek (Dualtone, 2004) Speed of Life (Sugar Hill, 2009)

With The L.A. String Wizards

Round Trip: Live in L.A. (Rural Rhythm, 2005)

With The McEuen Sessions

For All The Good (Mesa 2260, 2012)

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Education
Garden Grove High School

People in John McEuen's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped John McEuen's

Frequently asked questions

Who is John McEuen?

American musician

When was John McEuen born?

John McEuen was born on 19 December 1945 in Oakland.

What is John McEuen's occupation?

John McEuen is a songwriter and musician.

What nationality is John McEuen?

John McEuen is American.

Sources & further reading

Β· Wikipedia: John McEuen

Β· Wikidata: Q15486220

Β· DBpedia: John McEuen

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John McEuen. https://biography.guide/john-mceuen/

MLA: "John McEuen." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-mceuen/.

Chicago: "John McEuen." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-mceuen/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 Β· Spot an error? Report a correction.

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