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Rob
McNurlin Bio
Rob McNurlin was
raised in Eastern
Kentucky, the hymns in church, the Johnny Cash Show on TV, a harmonica
from his
grandmother, his parents records and a guitar on his ninth Christmas
set him on
a very musical path.
He began studying
traditional music
learning hundreds of folk, hillbilly-blues and Gospel tunes. Inspired
by Cash,
Dylan, Woody Guthrie and Hank Williams
he started writing songs and
mixing these originals with the
traditional .
Rob has released five
cds including
"Cowboy Boot Heel", recorded at Johnny Cash's Cabin Studio, produced
by his son John Carter Cash and a duet with guest Ramblin' Jack
Elliott.
"Lonesome Valley Again" reached #26 on the FAR charts and #55 on the
Americana chart, remaining in the top 100 over two months.
The cd "River, Road or Rail" was a collaberation
with Nancy Apple and reached #1 on the FAR chart, top 40 on
the Americana Europe chart. His latest cd "Sacred
Numbers" is a collection of Gospel songs.
McNurlin has toured with Ramblin' Jack Elliott and
Hot Tuna, his songs have been covered by
Ronnie Elliott among others and used in two award winning
documentaries. He is
currently touring and working on a new cd.
Past appearances
Jorma Kaukonen 's Fur Peace
Ranch , Darwin OH; Woody Guthrie Folk
Festival, Okemah OK; The Bluebird Cafe’, Nashville TN; The Columbus
Music Hall, Columbus OH; Appalachian Celebration, Morehead KY; Coal
Creek Coffeehouse, Laramie WY; The Belle Chere Festival, Asheville NC;
Douglas Corner Cafe’, Nashville TN; Kentucky Folk Life Festival,
Frankfort KY; The Kentucky State Fair.
Radio
Mountain Stage (Public Radio International); Woodsongs Old Time
Radio Hour (syndicated); Music From The Mountains (West Virginia
Public Radio); host of The Beatnik Ranch Party (WSAC Louisa KY); Americana
Crossroads Live (WMKY Radio)
Television
Mixed Media
(Kentucky Educational TV); Sound FX (FX
Channel syndicated); On the Road (KET,
PBS); The Beatnik Ranch Party (syndicated)
Interview
Q: How and
when did you get interested in music?
A: I grew up listening to my parents records, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams,
early rock and roll. My Grandmother gave me a harmonica, I must have
been around five, also the Johnny Cash television show. I received a
guitar for my ninth Christmas and told my teacher I wanted to play like
Cash. Then a friend gave me a copy of "Gates of Eden" by Bob Dylan. That opened the flood
gate and let me know you could write songs of any kind about any
subject, no fences or boundaries.
Q: When did it become a profession?
A: Right after high school I began to focus, thinking it might be
possible to perform for a living. In 1987 I met Ramblin' Jack Elliott. Its
nothing he really said or done, but something in that meeting and later
visits let me know I was on the right track. A link in the chain, you
don't need huge hit records to be a major force. Do what you do and let
the world come to you, play on your own terms.
Q: Could you give us a brief overview of your recordings?
A: My first cd was "Last of the Beatnik Cowboys" in 1994. I put
together a band, the Beatnik Cowboys and toured to support it.
Not long after that, I toured some with Ramblin' Jack also. In 2000
"Cowboy Boot Heel" was released. That one came together great. We
recorded it at Johnny Cashs Cabin Studio with his son John Carter Cash
producing. Ramblin' Jack helped sing on "I Dreamed I saw Woody
Guthrie". The next one "Lonesome Valley Again" was released in 2003.It
received a lot of airplay and reached #26 on the FAR radio chart and
#55 on the Americana chart. We released "Buffalo Skinners" as an
afterthought. I always perform some traditional folk songs at concerts
so at a rehearsal we rolled tape and ran through the ones we liked. The
tape was around for awhile and sounded good. It was released in 2004.
Q: Are there any performing moments that really stand out?
A: Oh yea, I'm blessed, I have quite a few. Traveling with Ramblin'
Jack is always a thrill, but it was an honor to perform with him at the
Crystal Theater in Okemah OK at the Woody Guthrie Folk Festival. That
was 2003. Through Jack I met Jorma and Vanessa Kaukonen at the Fur
Peace Ranch. That lead to opening shows for Hot Tuna and getting to
pick some on and off stage with them. Another big boost was touring
England with Americana artist Luna
and Dave Prince. Dave and I have
played together for years, a great friend and one of the best
guitarists.The performing is wonderful, it's the reason I'm here. But
the true blessing is the people, the folks I get to perform with and
the wonderful people I meet along the way, Thanks for listening.
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