About

John Manchester 2009

 

I taught myself guitar at age 12 by listening to the first Peter, Paul and Mary album. A year later I was peforming in a tribute band, the Upstate Beatles, wearing a Beatle Wig. I received a BA in Music from Wesleyan University in 1972 where I benefited from exposure to its unique world music program.

I attended “grad school” by performing in numerous dives and biker bars, furthering my education in the groove and American musical styles from Bluegrass to Funk. I finally graduated on to giant arenas, playing guitar for Livingston Taylor as the opening act for the Linda Ronstadt and Fleetwood Mac tours in 1978, both at the height of their fame. I co-wrote a number of songs with Livingston which appeared on some of his records.

Since then I’ve supported my family composing background music for all kinds of stuff. In the last five years I taken to writing words; I have a memoir with an agent, and another thriller written.

Here – finally! I have an outlet for a lifetime’s music criticism, unschooled musicology and tales from within the dark belly of music biz.

For a sampling of music I have written and performed, please visit:

www.myspace.com/johnmanchestermusic

To license my music and that of other composers, please visit:

www.manchestermusiclibrary.com/

For my writings about stuff other than music (including most of what’s here):

music: http://open.salon.com/blog/luminousmuse

 

John Manchester 1972