Jonathan Wilson

Jonathan Wilson was born in North Carolina, the son of a bandleader and the grandson of a Baptist preacher, but his musical heart always lay with the music of Laurel Canyon in the Hollywood Hills of California, associated with Buffalo Springfield and The Byrds. He felt a special affinity, in particular with Joni Mitchell and her third album 'Ladies of the Canyon' and eventually gravitated to Laurel Canyon himself as his career took off.

Mastering both guitar and keyboards he formed his first band, grunge rockers Muscadine with Benji Hughes in 1995 and they released their first album 'The Ballad of Hope Nicholls' three years later before moving and immersing himself in Beverly Hills jam sessions with Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes. He went on to release his first solo album 'Gentle Spirit' in 2011 which was laced with psychedelic influences and won plenty of acclaim, establishing him as a cult hero noted for his enlightened approach flavoured by folk, blues, country and rock. He attracted further attention with the EP 'Pity Trials and Tomorrow's Child' which included a cover of George Harrison's 'Isn't It a Pity' with guest vocals from Graham Nash. His second album 'Fanfare' in 2013 cemented his devoted following with contributions from some of his own heroes including Jackson Browne, Benmont Tench, Graham Nash, David Crosby and Father John Misty, strongly featuring a grand piano at its epicentre. He also established his own studio at Echo Park, working with and producing a wide variety of other artists based in Laurel Canyon.