John Herald "Roll On John" (SPITCD003)

"He's the country Stevie Wonder" (Bob Dylan)

JOHN HERALD is a veteran of the Greenwich Village folk scene having formed the Greenbriar Boys - one of the North-east's first bluegrass groups - in 1959. After several acclaimed albums for Vanguard Records, Herald changed musical direction in the seventies forming the Woodstock Mountain Review and working as a singer and session guitarist with Bonnie Raitt, Doc Watson, Bette Midler, Ian and Sylvia, among others. John's songs have been covered by such as Linda Ronstadt, Maria Muldaur, Peter, Paul & Mary and Joan Baez.

"Not only is Herald posssessed of a strikingly clean tenor voice, he also is an immensely charismatic performer. Tight as a drum playing-- this is high energy music."
-Washington Post

"You can be sure that John Herald's talents aren't trendy. They're solid and their individual tone is unmistakable."
-Woodstock Times

"Herald's powerful voice is one of the best in city or country. His leather lung tenor is a thing of wonder."
-New York Times

"Roll On John" is Herald's first official release in over16 years (!) and was recorded between shows on his very first ever trip to Scotland with local musicians from Radio Sweethearts, Battlefield Band and Belle & Sebastian. He revisits some Greenbriar Boys' favourites ("Roll On John", "I Heard The Bluebirds Sing"), explores some country standards ("Walking The Floor Over You", "Dark As A Dungeon"), showcases some excellent originals (the Jimmy Rogers-esque "Hitch Hyke Fever"; the swampy rocker "Martha And Me") and turns his excellent singing voice to some inspired gospel songs ("Saved and"Gone Home").

"But it and throw your Steve Earle album in the bin"
(Country Music People)

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