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 four 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.  "Buffalo Skinners" is a collection of traditional songs performed with his band the Beatnik Cowboys. His latest release "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.

 "More than many practitioners, he grasps the fundamental truth of real folk music; that it only looks simple. McNurlin knows better. The old is new in his capable hands, and dead voices rise to pass their tales on to the living. It's all here; wisdom, folly, love, hope, the beckoning road."
                                                             -Jerome Clark, amazon.com

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

  Sound FX (FX Channel syndicated); On the Road (KET, PBS); The Beatnik Ranch Party (syndicated); Mixed Media (KET, PBS)

http://www.robmcnurlin.com