Hartford, John

▪ 2002

      American musician and singer-songwriter (b. Dec. 30, 1937, New York, N.Y.—d. June 4, 2001, Madison, Tenn.), was a virtuoso banjoist, fiddler, and guitarist whose best-known song, “Gentle on My Mind” (1967), earned two Grammy Awards; the song was later recorded by Glen Campbell, Elvis Presley, Dean Martin, and others. A passionate performer, Hartford became a popular attraction on the bluegrass circuit after his debut album, John Hartford Looks at Life, appeared in 1966. He went on to record some 40 albums, including The Love Album (1968), Aereo-Plain (1971), Morning Bugle (1972), and Good Old Boys (1999). Two of his songs, “Man of Constant Sorrow” and “Indian War Whoop,” were included on the sound track for the 2000 film O Brother, Where Art Thou? His final album, Hamilton Ironworks (2001), was released posthumously.

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