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John Crain – Vocals, Guitar (acoustic, electric, slide, weissenborn)
Influences – Peter Green, Gatemouth Brown, Lightnin Hopkins, Taj Mahal, Jeff Beck, Carlos Santana, Ry Cooder, David Lindley, Mark Knofler, Neil Young, Delbert McClinton, Bob Marley, Chinna Smith, Dennis Bovell, Jimmy Cliff, Lowell George
Born Jackson Mississippi, Raised in Buffalo, Rochester NY. First Band El-Paso, Texas 1972
First gigs were with his mentor, Big Sonny Farlow (Sir Douglas Quintet, Lowriders w/Jimmy Carl Black) Sonny was the Big Dog in El Paso, Texas where John lived for a time. In addition to Texas Blues, he also became fascinated with Jamaican Blues. He moved to Eugene mid 70’s, and started Oregons’s first Reggae Radio Program Air Jamaica (KLCC). Played in several bands before forming Native Pulse in 1980 (first Oregon Reggae band with Belizian master drummer Bibs Goff and Alan Alexander (Dub Squad). The Pulse, and variations thereof, held the closing spot at the Oregon Country Faire three years running.
He moved to Portland 1989 and went back to the blues. John entered the Portland Blues scene playing lead guitar with local Blues vocalist J.C. Rico in a band which included some of Portland’s finest blues players, Claire Luce on Keys, Dave Kohl on bass, Paul Jones on drums, he also gigged with the late great Paulette Davis, before hooking up with the Kita Montgomery Band for a 4 year Stint. Next he formed Mumbo Gumbo with the fabulous soul singer Ural Thomas where the focus was 2nd line, Zydeco and New Orleans Blues. John also hired on to do a cross country tour with Etoufee who had lost their lead guitarist, John Foal to Dr. John. Other bands of note, Jaywalkers, Arousing Spirit, Public Eye, Pound for Pound.
Gigs of Note:
Oregon Country Faire (Native Pulse, Arousing Spirit, Jaywalkers)
Isla Mujeres Music Festival (Splash)
Portland Rose festival (Kita Montgomery Band)
Gulfshores Alabama, Shrimp festival (Etoufee)
