Forum

John Sheehan is a multi styled Composer/Finger Style Guitarist/Singer/Songwriter from Ringwood, NJ. . He is a steadfast proponent of the solo finger style guitar performance, whether it be a Festival performance, small stage, a house concert ,party, Restaurant or bar. Three of John's compositions have been used as backdrops for videos: "Old Mill Rag" ,a TV/Cinema ad for "Sky Digital in the UK ,"Buggy Ride", in a short film on safety called "The Eddie Adams Tragedy", released by the Weyerhauser Corporation and Rocket- Pictures of Seattle Washington and "Cliffs of Moher" for a promotional film for the Emily Williston Memorial Library of Easthampton, Massachusetts. "Land rush", a banjo instrumental is used to open and close Dave Bryce's ’Rural Delivery' show on 88 Country in Christchurch New Zealand every Sunday evening.

Sincere listeners of his music have compared him to such diverse artists as; Leo Kottke, Jorma Kaukonen, Mark Knophler, Michael Hedges, John Prine, Steve Earle, and Jimmy Buffett. John gives credit to J.S. Bach and John Fahey as well as many more. He has shared the stage with, guitar greats Tal Farlow, John Hammond, Peter Kaukonen, Jorma, ,John Renbourne, Adrian Legge and Tom Doyle as well as, singer/songwriters Steve Forbert, Chris Smithers, Jonathan Edwards ,Greg Brown and Slaid Cleaves.

Discography: “Instrumental Solo Guitar”,” Modern Man”, “Notes From Suburbia”, “Instrumental Solo Christmas Guitar”
His voice, Guitar ,banjo and mandolin appear on these other albums; Picking and Sliding the Blues by Larry Amato, Nice Hat by Bobby Syvarth, Parhelion, Scott Appel (One Man Clapping Records) and Nine of Swords, Scott Appel (School Kid's Records) Barrelhouse, "Eclectasy" ,Terrie Erskine's 'Niche" ,The Cannonballs ,"Metro Melodies", J.L. Hannah's,' Sumvoices", Ed Ackerly's ‘Iron Mountain Banjo’.

Compilations; WFMU's "Pearl Diving Near the Hudson", Crossroads CD Sampler 99, Oasis Acoustic 2000 and Bumpskey.com "Carry On". Winona Folk "Freshman year”

His Modern Man CD has been nominated three times for in-die CD of the year, most recently from Just Plain Folks.com. He has won awards from Noma Music and Kweevak .com

. Robert Hicks, All Music guide/Bergen Record said "On the Northeastern folk circuit, guitarist John Sheehan establishes himself as an independent thinker and a rugged individualist who champions finger-style techniques. "His vocal songs show simple humor, yet say something profound about humanity". His tongue-in-cheek songs such as "Modern Man", "Thursday Night Open Mic", "Beyond Your Means", and "My Habits Are Killing Me" tell something of his sense of values as well as humor. He mixes compassion, gratitude and wonder into his performances, also, with "Come Here Friend", "As I Stand" "Life Song", "Self Made Man" and "Last night in a dream".
John's guitar instrumentals are steeped in the traditions of European classical and American contemporary styles. Most requested are "Jump into the Fire”, "The Villain", "Hog Farm" and "Cliffs of Moher".

As First Place winner of the 1991 Candi-creek Banjo Works Guitar Competition, he was awarded a new D-16 Martin Guitar, autographed and presented by C.F. Martin, IV. Performing original tunes on the Banjo, he took First Place in the Banjo Contest at the Old Mill Village Music Competitions in August, 1997.Gigging two to four days a week, John also teaches the art and craft of finger-style guitar privately in his home. He is the figure head of the New Jersey Finger-style Alliance (NJFA), a growing group of professional and amateur musicians sharing their knowledge and appreciation for eclectic finger-style guitar Live radio performances include National public radios/ WAMC's The Round Table with Paul Elisha and Susan Arbetter, and WFMU's Irene Trudell show. Johns instrumentals have been heard by thousands on the nationally syndicated 'Echoes" radio program.