Jeff Black is an American singer-songwriter originally from

Kansas City, Missouri Kansas City (abbreviated KC or KCMO) is the largest city in Missouri by population and area. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 508,090 in 2020, making it the 36th most-populous city in the United States. It is the central ...

and now based in

Nashville, Tennessee Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the List of muni ...

. His writings have been described in the ''

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

'' as "impressionistic songs that are smart without forgetting the emotional undercurrent."Ronnie Lankford, Jr. "Review: ''Tin Lily''" ''

'' His songs have been covered by

Alison Krauss Alison Maria Krauss (born July 23, 1971) is an American bluegrass-country singer and musician. She entered the music industry at an early age, competing in local contests by the age of 8 and recording for the first time at 14. She signed with ...

Waylon Jennings Waylon Jennings (June 15, 1937 – February 13, 2002) was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. He pioneered the Outlaw Movement in country music. Jennings started playing guitar at the age of eight and performed at age f ...

Sam Bush Charles Samuel Bush (born April 13, 1952) is an American mandolinist who is considered an originator of progressive bluegrass music. In 2020, he was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame as a member of New Grass Revival. ...

Jerry Douglas Gerald Calvin "Jerry" Douglas (born May 28, 1956) is an American Dobro and lap steel guitar player and record producer. Career In addition to his fourteen solo recordings, Douglas has played on more than 1,600 albums. As a sideman, he h ...

and

BlackHawk Black Hawk and Blackhawk may refer to: Animals * Black Hawk (horse), a Morgan horse that lived from 1833 to 1856 * Common black hawk, ''Buteogallus anthracinus'' * Cuban black hawk, ''Buteogallus gundlachii'' * Great black hawk, ''Buteogallus uru ...

. BlackHawk's cover of Black's song, "

That's Just About Right "That's Just About Right" is a song written by Jeff Black and recorded by American country music band Blackhawk. It was released in April 1995 as the fifth and final single from their self-titled debut album. It peaked at number 7 on the United ...

," was a Top 10 Country single in 1996. BlackHawk's cover of Black's song, "King of the World" was a Top 30 Country single in 1998. Black also co-wrote the title track

Circles Around Me ''Circles Around Me'' is an album by American bluegrass mandolin player Sam Bush, released through Sugar Hill Records in October 2009. Reception The album earned Bush a Grammy Award nomination for Best Bluegrass Album. In his Allmusic review ...

with

for his 2009

Grammy The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pre ...

nominated album

. Black has released 10 of his own self-produced albums and tours widely. He is also recognized as a digital music pioneer by

NPR National Public Radio (NPR, stylized in all lowercase) is an American privately and state funded nonprofit media organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It differs from other ...

for his

podcast A podcast is a program made available in digital format for download over the Internet. For example, an episodic series of digital audio or video files that a user can download to a personal device to listen to at a time of their choosing ...

, ''Black Tuesdays''.Melissa Block
"Singer as DJ: Jeff Black's Podcasts"
''

All Things Considered ''All Things Considered'' (''ATC'') is the flagship news program on the American network National Public Radio (NPR). It was the first news program on NPR, premiering on May 3, 1971. It is broadcast live on NPR affiliated stations in the United ...

'',

National Public Radio National Public Radio (NPR, stylized in all lowercase) is an American privately and state funded nonprofit media organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It differs from other n ...

, August 9, 2005

Biography

Jeff Black was born on December 3, 1962 in

and grew up in Liberty, Missouri.Arthur Wood
"From Missouri to Nashville"
, ''FolkWax'' (link requires free subscription) Black received his first guitar as a present for his tenth birthday.Charlotte Dillon, "Jeff Black: Biography" ''

'' In his twenties Black began performing at Blayney's, a Kansas City blues club where he also worked as a bouncer. Soon Black began touring and eventually relocated to

where he re-connected with Kansas City friend,

Iris DeMent Iris Luella DeMent (born January 5, 1961) is an American two-time Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and musician . DeMent's musical style includes elements of folk, country and gospel. Early life DeMent was born in Paragould, Arkansas, the 14 ...

(Black lends some backing vocals on DeMent's 1992 debut album, '' Infamous Angel''). Black's own first album, ''Birmingham Road'', was recorded with the members of the band

Wilco Wilco is an American alternative rock band based in Chicago, Illinois. The band was formed in 1994 by the remaining members of alternative country group Uncle Tupelo following singer Jay Farrar's departure. Wilco's lineup changed frequently d ...

, minus lead singer, Jeff Tweedy. The songs have been described as "fine portraits of American life without the sappiness or self-consciousness often attributed to the singer/songwriter genre."James Chrispell, "Review: ''Birmingham Road''" ''

Discography

*''

Birmingham Road ''Birmingham Road'' is the debut album by American singer-songwriter Jeff Black, released in 1998. Members of the band Wilco back Black on this album. Iris DeMent is also a guest singer. Reception Writing for Allmusic, critic James Chrispell n ...

'' (1998 Arista) *''Honey and Salt'' (2003 Lotos Nile Music)Arthur Wood
"Review: ''Honey and Salt''
, ''FolkWax'', June 11, 2003 (8 out of 10) *''

B-Sides and Confessions, Volume One ''B-Sides and Confessions, Volume One'' is an album by American singer-songwriter Jeff Black, released in 2003. Reception Writing for Allmusic, critic Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr. wrote of the album; "These songs are brought to fullness by simple ar ...

'' (2003 Lotos Nile Music)Arthur Wood
"Review: B Sides and Confessions"
, ''FolkWax'', March 26, 2003 (9 out of 10) *''

Tin Lily ''Tin Lily'' is an album by American singer-songwriter Jeff Black, released in 2005. Reception Writing for Allmusic, critic Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr. wrote of the album; "The subtle arrangements of piano, guitar, and organ create a layered under ...

'' (2005 Lotos Nile Music)Scott Sheldon
"Jeff Black: Tin Lily" (Review of ''Tin Lily'')
''Peterborough Folk Music Society'', 2006 *''Sleepy Town'' (2007 Lotos Nile Music) *''Mining For Gold'' (2008 Lotos Nile Music) *''Christmas Sunshine'' (2009 Lotos Nile Music) *''Plow Through The Mystic'' (2011 Lotos Nile Music) *''B-Sides and Confessions, Volume Two'' (2013 Lotos Nile Music) *''Folklore'' (2014 Lotos Nile Music) *''A Walk in the Sun'' (2020 Lotos Nile Music)JeffBlack.com

February 2, 2020

Singles

*"Birmingham Road" (1998) ''Birmingham Road'' *"That's Just About Right" (1998) ''Birmingham Road''

References

External links

official web site
''Folk Alley Sessions'' , Archives

''Folk Alley First Listen'' , Archives

''Woodsongs Old-Time Radio Hour'', Archives
see episode #250 {{DEFAULTSORT:Black, Jeff 1962 births American country singer-songwriters American folk singers Living people Musicians from Kansas City, Missouri Singer-songwriters from Missouri Country musicians from Missouri