JD McPherson

Jonathan David “JD” McPherson, born on April 14, 1977, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist who grew up in rural southeastern Oklahoma on his family’s cattle ranch. He began playing guitar at age 13 and later played in local punk rock bands during high school, where he also started writing his own songs. McPherson developed an interest in 1950s rock and roll, influenced by artists like Buddy Holly, which shaped his songwriting and sound for bands such as The Poison Okies and The Starkweather Boys. He pursued visual arts in college, earning a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Tulsa, and worked as an art and technology teacher for four years before fully committing to music.

McPherson’s music career gained momentum with the release of his debut album, “Signs and Signifiers,” in 2010 on Hi-STYLE Records. The album was re-released in 2012 through Rounder Records, where it debuted at number one on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart and number 161 on the Billboard 200. Rolling Stone acknowledged him as an “Artist to Watch,” giving the album a 3½-star review (November 2012). His subsequent albums, “Let the Good Times Roll” (2015), “Undivided Heart & Soul” (2017), and the Christmas album “Socks” (2018), further established his distinctive sound. In 2024, he released his fifth studio album, “Nite Owls.”

Beyond his solo work, McPherson has contributed to various projects and tours. He produced The Cactus Blossoms’ album “You’re Dreaming” (2015) and was featured (in animated form) on the DreamWorks animated TV series “The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show” in 2015, performing an original song titled “Crazy Horse.” In 2022, he joined Robert Plant and Alison Krauss on their Raise the Roof tour as both lead guitarist and opening act, an experience he credits with helping him through a challenging period. He has also scored the FX/Disney+ drama series “The Lowdown” (2025) and collaborated with Jessica Simpson on her 2025 album, “Nashville Canyon.”