Jackie Greene

Jackie Greene, born Chris Nelson on November 27, 1980, in Salinas, California, developed an early interest in music. Growing up in Cameron Park, he started with piano before picking up the guitar at 14. He quickly progressed, performing with local bar bands and composing his own songs. After high school, Greene moved to Sacramento, playing in local venues such as Marilyn’s, Fox & Goose, and The Blue Lamp. He self-recorded and sold his early CDs, leading to the release of his first full-length album, “Rusty Nails.”

In 2002, Greene released “Gone Wanderin'” with DIG, earning the California Music Award for Best Blues/Roots Album in 2003 and charting nationally for over a year. His 2004 album, “Sweet Somewhere Bound,” gained radio play for songs like “Honey I Been Thinking About You.” In 2005, he signed with Verve Forecast, which reissued “Sweet Somewhere Bound” and released “American Myth” in March 2006. That same year, his song “I Will Never Let You Go” was featured in the Academy Award-winning film “Brokeback Mountain.” Greene joined Phil Lesh and Friends in 2007, an ensemble performing Grateful Dead material, expanding his audience.

Greene continued his solo career, releasing “Giving Up the Ghost” in 2008 and performing on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien.” His songs were also used in television series like “Life” and “Private Practice.” He toured extensively, sharing stages with artists like Gov’t Mule, Los Lobos, and B.B. King, and performing at major festivals including Bonnaroo and Outside Lands. In 2013, he joined The Black Crowes as lead guitarist for their “Lay Down With Number 13” world tour. More recently, Greene has released albums such as “The Modern Lives – Vol 1” (2017) and “100% Greene – Live at the Throckmorton Theatre” (2019), and toured with Gov’t Mule on their “Dark Side of the Mule” tour in 2023.