John McCusker, a multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer, was born on May 15, 1973, in Bellshill, Scotland. He grew up in the vicinity of Glasgow and began playing the fiddle and whistle as a youngster. Currently, he plays violin, tin whistle, cittern, and guitar.
When he was 17 years old, he joined the iconic Celtic music folk ensemble Battlefield Band. Over the course of 11 years with the band, he produced his first two solo albums: his eponymous debut in 1995 and ‘Yella Hoose’ in 2000.
John is well-known for his ability to cross musical genres and keep his music fresh and stimulating. He strikes a balance between honoring the past while always embarking on new sonic adventures. He has been a guest on live shows and studio recordings for a variety of artists including Paul Weller, Paolo Nutini, Teenage Fanclub, Graham Coxon and Eddi Reader. Furthermore, he has been a member of Mark Knopfler’s band since 2008, performing in arenas around the world, including a double bill with Bob Dylan at The Hollywood Bowl and a 20-night stint at the Royal Albert Hall.
John has expanded his portfolio as a producer, having produced debut albums for Kris Drever and Roddy Woomble of Idlewild. He has also worked as a producer for prominent folk singers such as Eddi Reader, Heidi Talbot, Eliza Carthy, and Linda Thompson.
His work in film and TV includes soundtracks for Heartlands (2002) and 16 Years of Alcohol (2003), as well as Billy Connolly’s World Tour of New Zealand (2004), Jennifer Saunders’ BBC sitcom Jam and Jerusalem (2008), and Starlings sitcom for Sky TV (2012).
In 2003, John was awarded the esteemed BBC Radio 2 Musician of the Year, and in 1999 and 2009, he received the Spirit of Scotland Award for music. In 2016, he was presented with the Good Tradition Award and performed with his band at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards at The Royal Albert Hall. The John McCusker Band, featuring a group of the most accomplished traditional musicians, including Andy Cutting, Adam Holmes, Innes White, and Toby Shaer, launched a comprehensive tour of the UK in March and April 2017.
In celebration of his 25th anniversary as a professional musician, John McCusker released ‘Hello, Goodbye’ on Under One Sky Records in 2016. He also embarked on an extensive tour of the UK and Europe.
‘Hello, Goodbye’ is a beautifully evocative collection of compositions and marked John’s first solo album in thirteen years, his first on his new record label Under One Sky Records. This was also his first recording in his newly constructed state-of-the-art studio, built over the previous two years in a 1779 bothy adjacent to his Scottish Borders home. The studio was designed by the renowned record producer and studio designer Calum Malcolm, and was a successful fusion of the traditional and the new, very much like John’s music itself.
‘Hello, Goodbye’ was written while John was on a world tour with Mark Knopfler. The main musical group for the album was an all-star lineup of musicians handpicked by John with whom he had the pleasure of working with over the past 25 years: James Mackintosh, drums and percussion (Shooglenifty, The Blue Nile, James); Ewen Vernal on bass (Deacon Blue, Capercaille); Ian Carr on guitar (Eddi Reader, Julie Fowlis, Swap); and Michael McGoldrick.
Discography:
John McCusker (1995)
Yella Hoose (2001)
Goodnight Ginger (2004)
Before the Ruin, with Roddy Woomble and Kris Drever (2008)
Under One Sky (2009)
Hello, Goodbye (2016)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.