An award winning singer/songwriter from North Carolina, John grew up in the deep woods of northern Minnesota and began writing songs in his adolescence. His father was a multi-instrumentalist and local musician whose band, The Northern Notes, played a mix ranging from Western Swing to Scandinavian folks songs. As a child, John would watch them rehearse in the family kitchen and was allow to sit in with them if he could, "find a part". His Mother was a literary writer of poetry and short stories and one of the few writers to be published nationally, first time out.
With this type of creative upbringing and being the fourth of five children, John was exposed to a wide range of music and written word. 'I was surrounded by expression of every kind...', he said. 'You learn to see the world and the people you meet through a song.’.
Musically, John roams a lot of ranges from Americana, Folk, Country and Gospel to gritty slide blues. In a recent interview John stated, 'All music is good music to me.’ In regards to writing original music, he said, ‘It just depends on the song. Musically, the song kind of picks what it needs and wants to be. You just have to go with it’.
Acclaimed singer/songwriter, Pierce Pettis, who wrote the Garth Brooks hit,'You Move Me' says this about John's songwriting, "John Carlson writes songs with warmth and intelligence....a rare combination these days." Songwriter and Nashville session musician Steve Hindalong, featured John’s song, 'Runaway Jimmie' in his highly celebrated songwriting seminar, Drop a Feather In The River.
John was awarded 1st Place in the American Songwriter Magazine and Gibson USA lyric competition and was featured in the January/February 'Legends' issue of American Songwriter Magazine.
Continually honing his craft, John is a veteran of many Mercyland Songwriting Workshops in Nashville and North Carolina hosted by Grammy winning songwriter Phil Madeira (Emmy Lou Harris, Alison Krauss, Toby Keith, Civil Wars)
John has also proven his merit as a Producer by delivering the lullaby album, ‘What A Busy Day’ for UNC/REX Healthcare. He also wrote the album's title track – learn more about this project at www.johnwilliamcarlson.com
Currently, John is writing and demoing new material with friends across the country for his upcoming album.
Please stay tuned...
johnwilliamcarlson’s tracks
published on
published on
published on
published on
published on
published on
published on
published on
published on
published on
