Jeff Black
Encyclopedia
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 Waylon Jennings
, Sam Bush
and BlackHawk
. BlackHawk's cover of Black's song, "That's Just About Right
," was a Top 10 Country single in 1994. Since then Black has released four of his own albums and tours widely. He also maintains his own free weekly podcast
, Black Tuesdays.
. 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 met, among others, 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."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
originally from Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
and now based in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
. 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 Waylon Jennings
Waylon Jennings
Waylon Arnold Jennings was an American country music singer, songwriter, and musician. Jennings began playing at eight. He began performing at twelve, on KVOW radio. Jennings formed a band The Texas Longhorns. Jennings worked as a D.J on KVOW, KDAV and KLLL...
, Sam Bush
Sam Bush
Sam Bush is an American bluegrass mandolin player considered an originator of the Newgrass style.- History :...
and BlackHawk
Blackhawk (band)
Blackhawk is an American country music group founded in 1992 by Henry Paul , Van Stephenson , and Dave Robbins...
. BlackHawk's cover of Black's song, "That's Just About Right
That's Just About Right
"That's Just About Right" is the title of a song written by Jeff Black and recorded by American country music band Blackhawk. It was released in April 1995 as the fifth and final single from their self-titled debut album...
," was a Top 10 Country single in 1994. Since then Black has released four of his own albums and tours widely. He also maintains his own free weekly podcast
Podcast
A podcast is a series of digital media files that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication...
, Black Tuesdays.
Biography
Jeff Black was born circa 1960 and grew up in Kansas City, MissouriKansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
. 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
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
where he met, among others, Iris DeMent
Iris DeMent
Iris DeMent is an American singer and songwriter. DeMent's musical style encompasses the genres country and folk music.-Early life:...
(Black lends some backing vocals on DeMent's 1992 debut album, Infamous Angel
Infamous Angel (Iris DeMent album)
Infamous Angel is the debut album of singer-songwriter Iris DeMent.In 1995, her song "Our Town" was played in the closing moments of the last episode for the CBS TV series Northern Exposure...
).
Black's own first album, Birmingham Road, was recorded with the members of the band Wilco
Wilco
Wilco is an American alternative rock band based in Chicago, Illinois. The band was formed in 1994 by the remaining members of alternative country group Uncle Tupelo following singer Jay Farrar's departure. Wilco's lineup has changed frequently, with only singer Jeff Tweedy and bassist John...
, minus lead singer, Jeff Tweedy
Jeff Tweedy
Jeffrey Scot "Jeff" Tweedy is an American songwriter, musician and leader of the band Wilco. Tweedy joined rockabilly band The Plebes with high school friend Jay Farrar in the early 1980s, but Tweedy's musical interests caused one of Farrar's brothers to quit...
. 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 RoadBirmingham RoadBirmingham Road is the debut album by American singer-songwriter Jeff Black, released in 1998.Members of the band Wilco back Black on this album...
(1998 AristaArista RecordsArista was an American record label. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operated under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records...
) - Honey and Salt (2003 Yep RocYep Roc RecordsYep Roc Records is an independent International record label based in Haw River, North Carolina and owned by Redeye Distribution . The label has put out albums by artists like The Go-Betweens, The Fleshtones, Gang of Four, The Reverend Horton Heat, and The Minus 5, as well as the work of important...
) - B-Sides and Confessions, Volume OneB-Sides and Confessions, Volume OneB-Sides and Confessions, Volume One is an album by American singer-songwriter Jeff Black, released in 2003.-Reception:Writing for Allmusic, critic Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr. wrote of the album; "These songs are brought to fullness by simple arrangements and a straightforward production.....
(2003) - Tin LilyTin LilyTin Lily is an album by American singer-songwriter Jeff Black, released in 2005.-Reception:Writing for Allmusic, critic Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr...
( 2005 DualtoneDualtone RecordsDualtone Music Group, Inc. is an independent entertainment companybased in Nashville, TN. The staunchly independent label has beennominated for thirteen GRAMMY awards, garnering three wins...
)
External links
- Jeff Black.com, official web site
- Jeff Black at MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
- Woodsongs Old-Time Radio Hour, Archives, see episode #250