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John Sheehan is a multi styled
Composer/Finger Style Guitarist/Singer/Songwriter from
Ringwood, NJ.
He is a steadfast proponent of the solo
finger style guitar performance, whether it be a Festival
performance, small stage, a house concert ,party, restaurant or
bar.
Three of John's compositions have been used as
backdrops for videos: "Old Mill Rag" ,a TV/Cinema ad for "Sky
Digital in the UK ,"Buggy Ride", in a short film on safety
called "The Eddie Adams Tragedy", released by the Weyerhauser
Corporation and Rocket- Pictures of Seattle Washington and
"Cliffs of Moher" for a promotional film for the Emily Williston
Memorial Library of Easthampton, Massachusetts. "Land rush", a
banjo instrumental is used to open and close Dave Bryce's ’Rural
Delivery' show on 88 Country in Christchurch New Zealand every
Sunday evening.
Sincere listeners of his music have compared him to such
diverse artists as; Leo Kottke, Jorma Kaukonen, Mark Knopfler,
Michael Hedges, John Prine, Steve Earle, and Jimmy Buffett. John
gives credit to J.S. Bach and John Fahey as well as many more.
He has shared the stage with, guitar greats Tal Farlow, John
Hammond, Peter Kaukonen, Jorma, ,John Renbourne, Adrian Legge
and Tom Doyle as well as, singer/songwriters Steve Forbert,
Chris Smithers, Jonathan Edwards ,Greg Brown and Slaid Cleaves.
Discography: “Instrumental Solo Guitar”,” Modern Man”, “Notes
From Suburbia”, “Instrumental Solo Christmas Guitar”
His
voice, Guitar ,banjo and mandolin appear on these other albums;
Picking and Sliding the Blues by
Larry Amato, Nice Hat by Bobby Syvarth, Parhelion, Scott Appel
(One Man Clapping Records) and Nine of Swords, Scott Appel
(School Kid's Records) Barrelhouse, "Eclectasy" ,Terrie
Erskine's 'Niche" ,The Cannonballs ,"Metro Melodies", J.L.
Hannah's,' Sumvoices", Ed Ackerly's ‘Iron Mountain Banjo’.
Compilations; WFMU's "Pearl
Diving Near the Hudson", Crossroads CD Sampler 99, Oasis
Acoustic 2000 and Bumpskey.com "Carry On". Winona Folk "Freshman
year”
His Modern Man CD has been nominated three times for in-die
CD of the year, most recently from Just Plain Folks.com. He has
won awards from Noma Music and Kweevak .com
. Robert Hicks, All Music guide/Bergen Record said "On the
Northeastern folk circuit, guitarist John Sheehan establishes
himself as an independent thinker and a rugged individualist who
champions finger-style techniques. "His vocal songs show simple
humor, yet say something profound about humanity". His
tongue-in-cheek songs such as "Modern Man", "Thursday Night Open
Mic", "Beyond Your Means", and "My Habits Are Killing Me" tell
something of his sense of values as well as humor. He mixes
compassion, gratitude and wonder into his performances, also,
with "Come Here Friend", "As I Stand" "Life Song", "Self Made
Man" and "Last night in a dream".
John's guitar instrumentals are steeped in the traditions of
European classical and American contemporary styles. Most
requested are "Jump into the Fire”, "The Villain", "Hog Farm"
and "Cliffs of Moher".
As First Place winner of the 1991 Candi-creek Banjo Works Guitar
Competition, he was awarded a new D-16 Martin Guitar,
autographed and presented by
C.F. Martin, IV. Performing
original tunes on the Banjo, he took First Place in the Banjo
Contest at the Old Mill Village Music Competitions in August,
1997.Gigging two to four days a week, John also teaches the art
and craft of finger-style guitar privately in his home. He is
the figure head of the New Jersey Finger-style Alliance (NJFA),
a growing group of professional and amateur musicians sharing
their knowledge and appreciation for eclectic finger-style
guitar Live radio performances include National public
radios/ WAMC's The Round Table with Paul Elisha and Susan
Arbetter, and WFMU's Irene Trudell show. Johns instrumentals
have been heard by thousands on the nationally syndicated
'Echoes" radio program.
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