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Jonathan Gregg
Born (1955-01-26) January 26, 1955 (age 69)
New York City, New York
United States
GenresPop, Americana, Rock 'n' Roll
Occupation(s)Musician/songwriter
Instrument(s)Guitar, pedal steel, dobro. vocals
Years active1976–present
LabelsPortable[1]
Fake Doom[2]
JAGDISC[3]
SAM records[4]
Websitewww.jagtunes.com

Jonathan Gregg (born January 26, 1955) is an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist (pedal steel, guitar, dobro) based in New York City. Founder of the musical group Jonathan Gregg & the Lonesome Debonaires[5] and co-leader of alt-country band The Linemen.[6]

Early life[edit]

Jonathan Gregg was born and raised in New York City, where he lived until the age of 14, when his family moved upstate to Poughkeepsie, N.Y. He attended Deerfield Academy in Deerfield, Mass., and got a degree in French in 1977 from Brown University in Providence, RI. He moved back to New York in 1981 and has lived there ever since.[7]

Career[edit]

1979-1985[edit]

Gregg led two bands in college, the Lonesome Debonaires and Guns Galore, the latter of which included saxophonist Ken Field[8]. After graduating he joined New Wave rockers the Mundanes in 1979.[9] The Mundanes were led by bandleader/guitarist/songwriter John Andrews (who went on to work in animation, notably as executive producer of Beavis & Butt-Head[10]), and included keyboardist John Linnell, who went on to form They Might Be Giants with John Flansburgh. The Mundanes won the first WBRU Rock Hunt in 1980[11] and released an indie single that charted on WBCN.[12] They played throughout New England, opening for the likes of the Ramones, Talking Heads, Joe Jackson and the B-52’s[13], and appeared on Boston’s WGBH-TV.[14]

In 1981, the Mundanes moved to New York, at which point Linnell and drummer Kevin Tooley left the band[15] and Gregg began taking on a more prominent songwriting role. The band recorded a demo produced by Mick Ronson (David Bowie, Lou Reed, Mott the Hoople) in 1982.[16]

Gregg then played guitar with various groups, including The Egyptians, who were managed by CBGB owner Hilly Krystal and opened for Spinal Tap; Lonesome Val, winner of the Musician magazine best song contest in 1985;[17] and Life in a Blender, whose first album was produced by Chris Butler of The Waitresses.[18] Gregg also began a six-year course of study with jazz guitar legend Sal Salvador.[19]

1985-2000[edit]

In 1985 Gregg started up a new version of Jonathan Gregg & the Lonesome Debonaires that included John Linnell on accordion[20] before settling on a permanent lineup of Michael McMahon (guitar), Chris Smylie (bass) and Ken Meyer[21] (drums, later succeeded by Stan Mitchell and Nat Seeley).[22][23]

Jonathan Gregg & the Lonesome Debonaires released their first album, Blue on Blonde, in 1992, on the JAGDISC label. Described as clever and intellectual[24], the album was a critical success that some thought was destined to be picked up by a major label.[25][26] Rolling Stone compared Gregg to Dave Edmunds and Albert Lee and called him a triple threat with his guitar playing, singing and songwriting.[27] Stereo Review Magazine compared the band to Dire Straits, and Gregg to John Hiatt and Tom Verlaine of Television.[28] Allmusic compared Gregg to Richard Thompson of Fairport Convention and Elvis Costello. The band toured with They Might Be Giants and appeared on Vin Scelsa’s radio show, Idiot’s Delight.[29]

Two other well-received releases ensued, Unconditional in 1994[30][31][32] and The Hardest Goodbye in 1998,[33] but by the time Chris Smylie was offered the bass chair for the Broadway musical The Full Monty (with music by Gregg's Brown classmate David Yazbek)[34] the band had run its course, and they played their last show in March of 2000.[35]

2000-Present[edit]

In 2000 Gregg decided to focus full-time on pedal steel guitar. He made a pilgrimage to Nashville to study with the late Jeff Newman,[36] and since then he has done countless sessions and sideman gigs, most notably as a longtime member of The Doc Marshalls (now Runner of the Woods).[37] He filmed a series of pedal steel instructional videos for Howcast, and in 2011 he formed an instrumental group, The Combine, with veteran New York musicians Josh Kaufman (producer and guitarist on Bob Weir’s 2016 comeback album Blue Mountain), drummer Brian Kantor (Nina Persson, Fruit Bats[38]) and bassist Terence Murren (Bobby Previte). He also plays dobro with bluegrass ensemble The Crusty Gentlemen.[39].

In 2013, Gregg teamed up with Kevin Royal Johnson to form a new iteration of The Linemen. The two knew each other from sharing bills together with the old Linemen and the Lonesome Debonaires in the '90s.[40] Their first album, titled Close the Place Down, was released in 2016. It was recorded at Brooklyn Recording Studios by Andy Taub (Keith Richards, Calexico, Yo La Tengo[41]) and mixed by producer/engineer John Alagia (John Mayer, Dave Matthews, Liz Phair[42]).[43]

Discography[edit]

As Bandleader or Co-Leader[edit]

With Jonathan Gregg & the Lonesome Debonaires[edit]

  • Blue on Blonde (1992) - on JAGDISC[44]
  • Unconditional (1994) - on JAGDISC[3]
  • The Hardest Goodbye (1998)

With The Linemen[edit]

  • Close the Place Down (2016) - on SAM Records[45]

As band member/sideman/session player[edit]

With The Mundanes[edit]

  • Make It the Same 3-song EP (1980) - on Portable[46]

Life in a Blender[edit]

  • Welcome to the Jelly Days (1986) - on Fake Doom Records[47]

Kevin Johnson[edit]

  • Sunday Driver (2000)[48]

Chris Rael[edit]

  • The Devil You Know (2004)[49]

Edward Rogers[edit]

  • You Haven't Been Where I've Been (2004)[50]

The Doc Marshalls[edit]

  • Honest for Once (2008)
  • Look Out Compadre (2010)

Deena[edit]

  • Somewhere In Blue (2008)[51]
  • Rock River (2014)[52]

Arty Hill[edit]

  • Another Lost Highway (2011)[53]

Mark Cutler[edit]

  • Sweet Pain (2012)[54]

Runner of the Woods[edit]

  • Thirsty Valley (2014)[55]

George Usher[edit]

  • The Last Day of Winter (2015)[56]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Mick Ronson Sessions - 1980s and 1990s". Mick Ronson. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  2. ^ "Fake Doom Records". Discogs. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  3. ^ a b Joyce, Mike. "GREGG'S TALES WORTH HEARING". The Washington Post. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  4. ^ "Sam Records". Discogs. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  5. ^ Jonathan Gregg official website http://www.jagtunes.com. Retrieved 18 November 2016. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  6. ^ "The new Linemen make Heartache Red-Hot with "Cold Water"". Elmore Magazine. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  7. ^ Gregg, Jonathan. "Bio". Jonathan Gregg. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  8. ^ "Bio". Ken Field official website. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  9. ^ "The Mundanes ‎– Make It The Same". Discogs. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  10. ^ Andrews, John. "Daria the Untold Tale Part 1". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  11. ^ Smith, Andy (Apr 10, 2014). "Rock Hunt finals Friday at The Met in Pawtucket".
  12. ^ "Music Survey: WBCN FM Boston, MA "Most Played Albums" December 29, 1980".
  13. ^ Gregg, Jonathan. "Bio". Jonathan Gregg. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  14. ^ "WQTV-68 ...Boston live "The Mundanes"". YouTube. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  15. ^ Pitchel, Samantha. "EXCLUSIVE: JOHN FLANSBURGH". Dig Boston. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  16. ^ "Mick Ronson Sessions - 1980s and 1990s". Mick Ronson. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  17. ^ Huey, Steve. "Lonesome Val bio". Allmusic. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  18. ^ "THE LIFE OF LIFE IN A BLENDER". Life in a Blender official website. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  19. ^ Gregg, Jonathan. "Bio". Jonathan Gregg. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  20. ^ "JONATHAN GREGG AND THE LONESOME DEBONAIRES: Blue on Blonde". Stereo Review Magazine. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  21. ^ Gregg, Jonathan. "Bio". Jonathan Gregg. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  22. ^ Joyce, Mike. "JONATHAN GREGG AND THE LOST DEBONAIRES "THE HARDEST GOODBYE" JONATHAN GREGG". The Washington Post. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  23. ^ Gregg, Jonathan. "Bio". Jonathan Gregg. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  24. ^ SCHOEMER, KAREN. "Sounds Around Town". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  25. ^ BROWN, JOE (January 1, 1993). "THE TOPS IN MUSIC". The Washington Post. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  26. ^ CLARK, MARK (Saturday, July 4, 1992). "MUSIC NEWS AND REVIEWS EWS REV! Top albums". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved 18 November 2016. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  27. ^ Puterbaugh, Parke. "Blue on Blonde Review". Rolling Stone Magazine.
  28. ^ "JONATHAN GREGG AND THE LONESOME DEBONAIRES: Blue on Blonde". Stereo Review Magazine. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  29. ^ Gregg, Jonathan. "Bio". Jonathan Gregg. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  30. ^ "JONATHAN GREGG Unconditional". Stereo Review Magazine. 1994.
  31. ^ Hall, Russell. "Jonathan Gregg Unconditional". Creative Loafing.
  32. ^ Joyce, Mike. "GREGG'S TALES WORTH HEARING". The Washington Post. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  33. ^ Joyce, Mike. "JONATHAN GREGG AND THE LOST DEBONAIRES "THE HARDEST GOODBYE" JONATHAN GREGG". The Washington Post. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  34. ^ Hoffman, Wayne (Jun 30, 2001). "'Full Monty' Yazbek Rocks for W.A.R.?". Billboard Magazine. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  35. ^ Gregg, Jonathan. "Bio". Jonathan Gregg. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  36. ^ "Testing the Mettle of a Pedal Steeler". Time.com. Time. Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2000. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  37. ^ "Runner of the Woods Announces Debut Album 'Thirsty Valley' out July 10, 2015". Guitar World. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  38. ^ Budofsky, Adam. "Brian Kantor of the Fruit Bats on Absolute Loser". Modern Drummer. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  39. ^ Gregg, Jonathan. "How to Play the Pedal Steel Guitar with Jonathan Gregg". Howcast. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  40. ^ "SONG PREMIERE: THE LINEMEN DELIVER ALT COUNTRY SCHOOLING ON 'LINEMAN'". Glide Magazine. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  41. ^ "Andy Taub". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  42. ^ "John Alagia". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  43. ^ "The new Linemen make Heartache Red-Hot with "Cold Water"". Elmore Magazine. October 10th, 2016. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  44. ^ SCHOEMER, KAREN. "Sounds Around Town". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  45. ^ "Sam Records". Discogs. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  46. ^ "The Mundanes ‎– Make It The Same". Discogs. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  47. ^ "Fake Doom Records". Discogs. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  48. ^ "Jonathan Gregg". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  49. ^ Chris Rael official website http://www.chrisrael.com/blog/hello_world/. Retrieved 18 November 2016. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  50. ^ "Jonathan Gregg". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  51. ^ "Jonathan Gregg". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  52. ^ "Jonathan Gregg". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  53. ^ Allen, Rick. "Arty Hill - Another Lost Highway". Vintage Guitar Magazine. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  54. ^ Stone Brown, Peter. "Mark Cutler: Sweet Pain". American Songwriter. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  55. ^ "Runner of the Woods Announces Debut Album 'Thirsty Valley' out July 10, 2015". Guitar World. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  56. ^ SEMIOLI, TOM. "George Usher & Lisa Burns: Together at Last for The Last Day of Winter". No Depression. Retrieved 18 November 2016.

External links[edit]

Jonathan Gregg official website

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