John Jorgenson

John Richard Jorgenson was born on July 6, 1956, in Madison, Wisconsin, into a family with a musical background. His mother worked as a piano teacher, and his father was an orchestra conductor and college music professor. Jorgenson began playing professionally at the age of 14, having already learned piano and clarinet from age eight. At age one, his family relocated to Redlands, California. He attended high school in Redlands, graduating in May 1974, and later majored in woodwind performance at the University of Redlands. During his early twenties, he performed full-time at Disneyland, contributing to three different groups: the Main Street Maniacs (Dixieland), the Thunder Mountain Boys (bluegrass), and the Rhythm Brothers (Django Reinhardt style swing), adapting his instrument and musical style for each.

In 1993, Jorgenson co-founded the guitar trio The Hellecasters with Will Ray and Jerry Donahue. Although initially planned as a temporary project, the trio released several albums in the 1990s, with their debut, “Return of the Hellecasters” (1993), receiving “Album of the Year” and “Country Album of the Year” awards from Guitar Player magazine. His career advanced significantly in 1994 when he joined Elton John’s band for an 18-month tour, remaining with the band for six years, performing live and in the studio. In 2002, he played bass guitar in the All-star Bluegrass Celebration in Nashville. A notable acting role included portraying jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt in the 2004 film “Head in the Clouds.” He received a Grammy Award in 2009 for Best Country Instrumental Performance for his collaboration on “Cluster Pluck” with Brad Paisley.

Jorgenson has achieved acclaim for his versatility, mastering instruments such as guitar, mandolin, mandocello, Dobro, pedal steel guitar, piano, upright bass, clarinet, bassoon, and saxophone. His contributions to the Desert Rose Band earned him the Academy of Country Music’s “Guitarist of the Year” award for three consecutive years. His extensive list of collaborations includes recording and touring with prominent artists like Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Emmylou Harris, Barbra Streisand, and Bonnie Raitt. He also serves as a patron for Guitar-X in London, where he conducts master classes, and for Le QuecumBar, a London venue dedicated to Gypsy swing.