JOHN BOHLINGER
JOHN BOHLINGER
[http://www.johnbohlinger.com]
[check out John's Youtube page: http://www.youtube.com/user/johnbohlinger]
John Bohlinger is best known as the band leader for NBC’s hit program Nashville Star. John originally moved to Nashville to pursue a song-writing career but soon found guitar playing a more stable means of feeding his family. John became the consummate Nashville sideman; he has accompanied over fifty major label artists throughout his tenure in Nashville including Miranda Lambert, Jewel, Bret Michaels of Poison, Sara Evans, Leann Rimes, Hank Williams Jr, Kenny Rogers, Justin Hayward (of The Moody Blues), Tanya Tucker, Lamont Dozier, The Beach Boys, Randy Owen of Alabama, and many others. A versatile multi instrumentalist, John has recorded master sessions on electric and acoustic guitars, bass, pedal steel and mandolin.
Hundreds of John’s musical compositions have made it to television, primarily as background music in Nashville Star but also in advertisements and documentaries. John’s songs have also been recorded by major and independent label artists.
In 2001, John left the music business and worked toward a PhD in psychology at Tennessee State University. Unable to completely leave the arts, John began pitching a book idea entitled A Guitar and a Pen eventually enlisting his friend Robert Hicks as a partner. The book of short stories by Nashville songwriters was eventually published by Center Street in 2008.
John writes a monthly column in “Premier Guitar” entitled “SideMan Survival”, a somewhat comedic, instructional guide to earning a living as a musician in the music business. Sideman Survival gives the readers a stage-right view of the stress, the fun, and the Spinal Tappish insanity of playing for a living. Although working and aspiring musicians comprise the main demographic, music fans are drawn to his column as well.
John will also be appearing in Gwyneth Paltrow’s new movie, “Country Strong”, releasing January 7th, 2011, as one of Kelly’s (Paltrow’s) bandmates.