Biography
Guitarist Johnny Hiland entered the world with nystagmus, a condition that produces involuntary eye movements and left him legally blind. His childhood unfolded inside a trailer in Woodland, Maine, where he first picked up the guitar while still quite young. By age eight he had joined his family’s group, the Three Js, and traveled across New England under the sponsorship of the Down East Country Music Association. Two years later he captured first place in the Talent America contest, which secured him a showcase in New York City.
While attending high school he broadened his listening habits beyond bluegrass to embrace the guitar-driven rock of Joe Satriani and Eddie Van Halen. After graduation he enrolled at the University of Southern Maine as a history major, only to leave school and commit himself to a life as a working musician.
In 1996 Hiland relocated to Nashville and quickly drew notice in local clubs, landing a steady engagement at the World-Famous Turf. When a tornado leveled that venue in 1998, he moved his residency to Robert’s Western Wear, where he performed with Don Kelly’s band. He also accompanied Gary Chapman on the stage of the Ryman Auditorium, longtime home of the Grand Ole Opry, and became the first unsigned artist in the city to obtain an endorsement contract from Fender musical instruments.
After Hiland’s manager left a fragment of a demo on Steve Vai’s voice mail, Vai returned the call with an offer to join his Favored Nations label. Two years of trial-and-error preparation followed before the release, in August 2004, of Hiland’s debut album of original country and rock guitar instrumentals, titled Johnny Hiland. During those same years he worked steadily as a Nashville session musician, appearing on recordings by Ricky Skaggs, Toby Keith, Randy Travis, Janie Fricke, and Lynn Anderson.
While attending high school he broadened his listening habits beyond bluegrass to embrace the guitar-driven rock of Joe Satriani and Eddie Van Halen. After graduation he enrolled at the University of Southern Maine as a history major, only to leave school and commit himself to a life as a working musician.
In 1996 Hiland relocated to Nashville and quickly drew notice in local clubs, landing a steady engagement at the World-Famous Turf. When a tornado leveled that venue in 1998, he moved his residency to Robert’s Western Wear, where he performed with Don Kelly’s band. He also accompanied Gary Chapman on the stage of the Ryman Auditorium, longtime home of the Grand Ole Opry, and became the first unsigned artist in the city to obtain an endorsement contract from Fender musical instruments.
After Hiland’s manager left a fragment of a demo on Steve Vai’s voice mail, Vai returned the call with an offer to join his Favored Nations label. Two years of trial-and-error preparation followed before the release, in August 2004, of Hiland’s debut album of original country and rock guitar instrumentals, titled Johnny Hiland. During those same years he worked steadily as a Nashville session musician, appearing on recordings by Ricky Skaggs, Toby Keith, Randy Travis, Janie Fricke, and Lynn Anderson.
Albums
