Colin John Band 'Acousticland Lady' album

"It’s really honest music and it speaks from the soul and I think that’s why it connects with people from every walk of life". An accomplished, versatile musician, John commands the stage with both his guitar prowess and passionate singing honed from years steeped in Memphis’ rich music community. His infectious, genre-defying style was described by the British music magazine Mojo as "ferociously entertaining funded - up R&B" and a reviewer in Akron’s Beacon Journal suggested John sounds like "Albert King channeling Steve Vai".

Born in Cleveland, Colin spent his youth in Memphis, picking up the guitar by accident. "I was playing trumpet in the school band and I punctured my ear drum in a football game. So the band director put me in the concert band playing double bass with a bow… and from there I progressed to electric bass in the jazz band at school and then switched to guitar." Colin was also busy soaking up classic Chicago blues and Memphis soul during this time.

After graduating from Ohio University, Colin turned pro. Answering an ad in The Village Voice, he landed the guitar spot with the NYC based Little Mike and The Tornadoes. While he had to share the spotlight with guest heavy weights, such as Howlin’ Wolf guitarist Hubert Sumlin and Ronnie Earl, Colin represented himself well in solo spots. This stint with Little Mike gave Colin the chance to mingle with a number of blues notables, including one-time Muddy Waters pianist Pinetop Perkins, who continually referred to the upcoming guitarist as "Collard Greens." Eventually, Colin and the Tornadoes rhythm section would head off to tour the South as the Root Doctors. Discouraged after a hurricane that stranded them in Florida, the threesome went their separate ways. Colin chose to hook up with friends in Memphis.

The timing couldn’t have been better.

Memphis became fertile ground for the budding musician. Playing lead in the house band on Saturday afternoons at B.B. Kings’ Beale Street club, Colin would often back visiting artists from Hank Ballard to James Cotton to Pinetop Perkins and Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown. While absorbing all these influences, Colin learned that it was best to have his own style and identity.

In 1993, Colin moved to London and spent the next ten years in the UK playing with some veteran musicians, Henry Spinetti and Dave Bronze of Eric Clapton’s band and Garry Brooker of Procol Harum.

Family matters drew him back to Ohio in 2002, so Northeast Ohio is again his base of operations.

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Colin John Band - Acousticland Lady