| Jeff Black | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Jeff Black |
| Born | (1962-12-03) December 3, 1962 (age 62) |
| Origin | Kansas City, Missouri |
| Genres | alternative, folk, singer-songwriter |
| Occupation(s) | singer-songwriter, recording artist, producer |
| Instrument(s) | vocals, guitar, piano, harmonica, banjo |
| Years active | 1980s–present |
| Labels | Arista, Arista Austin, Dualtone, Lotos Nile |
| Website | jeffblack.com |
Jeff Black is an American singer-songwriter originally from Kansas City, Missouri, and now based in Nashville, Tennessee. His writings have been described in the Allmusic as "impressionistic songs that are smart without forgetting the emotional undercurrent." His songs have been covered by Alison Krauss, Waylon Jennings, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas and BlackHawk. BlackHawk's cover of Black's song, "That's Just About Right," was a Top 10 Country single in 1996. BlackHawk's cover of Black's song, "King of the World" was a Top 30 Country single in 1998. Black also co-wrote the title track Circles Around Me with Sam Bush for his 2009 Grammy nominated album Circles Around Me. Black has released 10 of his own self-produced albums and tours widely. He is also recognized as a digital music pioneer by NPR for his podcast, Black Tuesdays.
Biography
Jeff Black was born on December 3, 1962, in Kansas City, Missouri, and grew up in Liberty, Missouri. Black received his first guitar as a present for his tenth birthday. In his twenties Black began performing at Blayney's, a Kansas City blues club where he also worked as a bouncer. Soon Black began touring and eventually relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, where he re-connected with Kansas City friend, Iris DeMent (Black lends some backing vocals on DeMent's 1992 debut album, Infamous Angel).
Black's own first album, Birmingham Road, was recorded with the members of the band Wilco, minus lead singer, Jeff Tweedy. The songs have been described as "fine portraits of American life without the sappiness or self-consciousness often attributed to the singer/songwriter genre."
Discography
- Birmingham Road (1998 Arista)
- Honey and Salt (2003 Lotos Nile Music)
- B-Sides and Confessions, Volume One (2003 Lotos Nile Music)
- Tin Lily (2005 Lotos Nile Music)
- Sleepy Town (2007 Lotos Nile Music)
- Mining For Gold (2008 Lotos Nile Music)
- Christmas Sunshine (2009 Lotos Nile Music)
- Plow Through The Mystic (2011 Lotos Nile Music)
- B-Sides and Confessions, Volume Two (2013 Lotos Nile Music)
- Folklore (2014 Lotos Nile Music)
- A Walk in the Sun (2020 Lotos Nile Music)
Singles
- "Birmingham Road" (1998), Birmingham Road
- "That's Just About Right" (1998), Birmingham Road
References
- Ronnie Lankford, Jr. "Review: Tin Lily", Allmusic
- Melissa Block, "Singer as DJ: Jeff Black's Podcasts", All Things Considered, National Public Radio, August 9, 2005
- ^ Arthur Wood, "From Missouri to Nashville" Archived July 17, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, FolkWax (link requires free subscription)
- Charlotte Dillon, "Jeff Black: Biography", Allmusic
- ^ James Chrispell, "Review: Birmingham Road", Allmusic
- Arthur Wood, "Review: Honey and Salt Archived July 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, FolkWax, June 11, 2003 (8 out of 10)
- Arthur Wood, "Review: B Sides and Confessions" Archived July 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, FolkWax, March 26, 2003 (9 out of 10)
- Scott Sheldon, "Jeff Black: Tin Lily" (Review of Tin Lily), Peterborough Folk Music Society, 2006
- JeffBlack.com, "Jeff Black: Sleepy Town" (Sleepy Town Information), November 2007
- JeffBlack.com, "Jeff Black: Mining For Gold'" (Mining For Gold' Information) December 2008
- JeffBlack.com, "Jeff Black: Christmas Sunshine" (Christmas Sunshine Information), December 2009
- Jedd Beaudoin, "Jeff Black: Plow Through The Mystic" (Review of Plow Through The Mystic), PopMatters, December 14, 2011 (8 out of 10)
- No Depression, "Moving set of originals from a master singer-songwriter" (Review of B-Sides and Confessions, Volume Two), Hyperbole, February 1, 2013
- JeffBlack.com, "Jeff Black: Folklore" (Folklore Information), April 1, 2014
- JeffBlack.com, "Jeff Black: A Walk In The Sun" (A Walk In The Sun Information), February 2, 2020
External links
- Jeff Black.com, official web site
- Folk Alley Sessions , Archives
- Folk Alley First Listen , Archives
- Woodsongs Old-Time Radio Hour, Archives, see episode #250