Jeff Black (singer-songwriter)

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."[1] 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.[2]

Jeff Black
Background information
Birth nameJeff Black
Born (1962-12-03) December 3, 1962
OriginKansas City, Missouri
Genresalternative, folk, singer-songwriter
Occupation(s)singer-songwriter, recording artist, producer
Instrument(s)vocals, guitar, piano, harmonica, banjo
Years active1980s–present
LabelsArista, Arista Austin, Dualtone, Lotos Nile
Websitejeffblack.com

Biography

Jeff Black was born on December 3, 1962 in Kansas City, Missouri and grew up in Liberty, Missouri.[3] Black received his first guitar as a present for his tenth birthday.[4] 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).[3]

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."[5]

Discography

Singles
  • "Birmingham Road" (1998), Birmingham Road
  • "That's Just About Right" (1998), Birmingham Road

References
  1. Ronnie Lankford, Jr. "Review: Tin Lily", Allmusic
  2. Melissa Block, "Singer as DJ: Jeff Black's Podcasts", All Things Considered, National Public Radio, August 9, 2005
  3. Arthur Wood, "From Missouri to Nashville" Archived July 17, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, FolkWax (link requires free subscription)
  4. Charlotte Dillon, "Jeff Black: Biography", Allmusic
  5. James Chrispell, "Review: Birmingham Road", Allmusic
  6. Arthur Wood, "Review: Honey and Salt Archived July 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, FolkWax, June 11, 2003 (8 out of 10)
  7. Arthur Wood, "Review: B Sides and Confessions" Archived July 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, FolkWax, March 26, 2003 (9 out of 10)
  8. Scott Sheldon, "Jeff Black: Tin Lily" (Review of Tin Lily), Peterborough Folk Music Society, 2006
  9. JeffBlack.com, "Jeff Black: Sleepy Town" (Sleepy Town Information), November 2007
  10. JeffBlack.com, "Jeff Black: Mining For Gold'" (Mining For Gold' Information) December 2008
  11. JeffBlack.com, "Jeff Black: Christmas Sunshine" (Christmas Sunshine Information), December 2009
  12. Jedd Beaudoin, "Jeff Black: Plow Through The Mystic" (Review of Plow Through The Mystic), PopMatters, December 14, 2011 (8 out of 10)
  13. No Depression, "Moving set of originals from a master singer-songwriter" (Review of B-Sides and Confessions, Volume Two), Hyperbole, February 1, 2013
  14. JeffBlack.com, "Jeff Black: Folklore" (Folklore Information), April 1, 2014
  15. JeffBlack.com, "Jeff Black: A Walk In The Sun" (A Walk In The Sun Information), February 2, 2020
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