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Before John settled into writing novels as his vocation, he was a professional musician--a singer/songwriter–fronting his own band under the name Joe Silverhound.

He performed under a pseudonym because he was contemporaneously engaged as lead trial counsel in some of the biggest lawsuits in the country and was concerned that clients or jurors might not take kindly to his alternate lifestyle.

The stress of performing in two high-pressure arenas was ultimately resolved in 1988 when he merged his skills into the art of writing and published his first critically acclaimed bestseller.

NOW AND THEN

Long before he became a bestselling author, John was inspired by the music of Bob Dylan, Joanie Mitchell, Cat Stevens, The Beatles and others. He bought his first guitar in the early 70's at a pawn shop for $15 and soon began playing at folk houses, restaurants, and even Paris bistros for meals and drinks—Fire and Rain was always good for a double shot.

He put his first band together in 1973 and began writing his own songs and performing them in Bay Area clubs, then in L.A., gigging at major venues such as The Troubadour and The Palomino Club.

As a trial lawyer, poet, and future novelist, it's no surprise that his songs have always been lyrically powerful. Survivor won an American Songwriters Award and other tunes on this CD run the gamut rom heart-wrenching love songs (It Really Kills Me) to satirical cultural renderings (Tiffany Jungle and Forget Me Not.) For songs that combine heart-break with trains, drugs, and adultery, try John's Country Hound CD.

COUNTRY HOUND

Growing up in rural Modesto, CA, a resort
destination for Steinbeck's Dustbowl Okies,
young John snuck into bars and ballrooms to listen to his favorite country music artists. As he grew older, his country music tastes changed faster than a dog chasing a meat wagon—from "Nashville Country" (e.g. Lefty Frizzell and George Jones) to "Austin Country" (e.g. Willy Nelsen and Waylin Jennings), to "L.A. Country" (The Eagles and Jackson Brown).

The songs in this CD present a broad range of musical short stories, some humorous and upbeat (Blue Moody Lady, Careful, Quick, and Kind) others more melancholy—songs about a family trapped in a triangle of despair (Old Friends) a physically and emotionally shattered W.W. I soldier (Corporal Steve), about being alone (Stoned and Alone, Handwriting On the Wall), adultery and murder (I Should Have Taken My Time), and the inevitable black train (The Devil Takes His Time).

These songs represent three decades of musical evolution and all have been performed live to enthusiastic audiences. The tunes selected for the Country Hound CD represent the best of nearly 100 songs composed by John--and his alter-ego, Joe Silverhound.