Biography
Jason Eklund began his musical path not in folk traditions but inside a hardcore punk-rock group during high school in southern Illinois, where he already handled vocals, songwriting, harmonica, piano, guitar, and banjo. After completing three semesters of drama coursework at Eastern Illinois University, he opted to experience firsthand the existence of a roaming folk performer rather than merely depict it. Drawing motivation from Woody Guthrie, he left Illinois to busk for tips in Harvard Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts. A banjo instruction manual supplied Pete Seeger’s address, leading Eklund to send a letter and later hitchhike to the singer’s upstate New York home. Seeger and his wife welcomed him, noting abundant chores at their rustic property and their longstanding practice of assisting emerging songwriters. Following a return to Illinois, Eklund again pursued gigs and street-corner appearances. The late Bruce Kaplan, founder of Flying Fish Records, caught one such performance at the 1992 Chicago Blues Festival and promptly signed him. Recorded in Boulder, Colorado, the self-titled debut Jason Eklund appeared in 1993 with support from Hot Rize’s Nick Forster and pianist Scott Kirby. Eklund’s chief influences remained Bob Dylan, Howlin’ Wolf, Elvis Presley, and especially Woody Guthrie. His 1995 follow-up, Lost Causeway, issued on Flying Fish Records—later acquired by the Rounder Records Group—featured an expanded cast of Texas musicians. Both albums merge blues, early rock & roll, country, and original compositions styled after traditional folk songs. Still a constant traveler, Eklund maintains an active touring schedule and, in 1997, released the Gadfly Records collaboration A Streamliner's Duet with fellow folk singer Roger Johnson on the Vermont-based label.
Albums
