Artist description John Alden coins lyrical phrases with the best of them. A poetic songsmith that can be unpredictable and unconventional, he also sounds as comfortable as your LazyBoy feels.

Music Style Americana

Musical Influences A folk artist at the core, John was influenced early on by label mates Joan Baez, Eric Anderson and Ian & Sylvia as well as the songwriters songwriter - Bob Dylan. On another level there is un undeniable link to Tom Paxton and the electric sound of Tom Pettty.

Similar Artists John is most often described as being a kindred spirit to the likes of Willie Nelson and Don McLean.

Artist History As primary songwriter and lead vocalist for roots-rock veterans Electric Range, John Alden has called upon childhood images of sunsets and cattle drives to stimulate his time-tested songwriting skills. Alden went to New York in 1967 and recorded a Folk album for Vanguard Records where his label mates included artists Joan Baez, Eric Anderson, and Ian & Sylvia who had a deep influence on him. In 1968 he moved to Los Angeles and soon met up with future collaborator Billy Darnell. Alden and guitarist Darnell soon joined forces with Peter Bradstreet to form the 1971 band Starbuck that was signed to Atlantic's Clean Records. The project, produced by Don Everly, was shelved before production was completed and was never released. John and Peter continued to write and play together in the regional group D-Y-S (Dayton-Yellow Springs Band), and others, for a number of years. Although continuing to write his songs, it was 1995 before the Starbuck reunion came to pass and led to two Electric Range projects and a rekindled desire to perform full time. Now that ER is not currently working together, John is deep into the song list that will comprise the material for his upcoming Smokehouse release titled RED BIRD that will be available in 2002.

Instruments Acoustic six and twelve string guitar, vocals

Albums Johnathon and Leigh (Vanguard) Electric Range, Destiny's Deal (Smokehouse)

Press Reviews "It's an Americana mix that's reminiscent, in places, of classic Gram Parsons or the early Eagles. Most of the songs are originals written or co-written by Alden, who regularly visits the usual stops along the country songwriters highway: love lost, love found, love lost again. His lyrics can be strikingly unconventional ("one tear/ captured by a tongue that longed to taste her"), and he often paints pensive, dark pictures onto Nashville-via-California-style melodies." - Tom Nelligan, DIRTY LINEN "The synergy amoung the styles and the poetry, especially of primary songwriter Alden, leads me to posit that this is American Music, plain and simple." Bones, SCREED "Led by veteran singer John Alden, whose pretty voice sounds not unlike Don McLean's, the band quite simply is the freshest, most accomplished straight country band I've seen in many a harvest moon." John Petric, THE OTHER PAPER

Additional Info Upcoming release "Red Bird" in 2002

Location Kettering, Ohio - USA

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