In a career that has already spanned nearly a half century, Jorma Kaukonen has been the leading practitioner and teacher of fingerstyle guitar, one of the most highly re- spected interpreters of American roots music, blues, and Americana, and at the forefront of popular rock-and-roll.
He was a founding member of two legendary bands, The Jefferson Airplane and the still-touring Hot Tuna, a Grammy nominee for his highly acclaimed “Blue Country Heart,” and the most in-demand instructor in the galaxy of stars who teach at the guitar camp that he and his wife operate in picturesque Southeastern Ohio. With Stars In My Crown, Jorma proves that he is continuing to explore and grow, and that he is at home in numerous musical genres.
His new CD is an appropriate follow-up to the Grammy-nominated "Blue Country Heart". While the 2002 CD paid tribute to rich, deep aspects of American roots music with Jorma performing the works of his favorite blues and country legends, Stars In My Crown is even more personal and is drawn from a far broader palette. It features an abun- dance of original songs, from “Late Breaking News,” “A Life Well Lived,” and “Living In The Moment,” to the deeply moving “Heart Temporary,” the result of a conversation between Jorma and Vanessa one morning at their Ohio farm home. It isn’t entirely origi nal compositions, though, with songs of many styles, from Johnny Cash’s chilling “The Man Comes Around” to a reggae song, “By The Rivers Of Babylon,” to the celebratory title cut, “Will There Be Any Stars In My Crown.” Amidst it all, Jorma finds time to be an active and enthusiastic motorcyclist, out- doorsman, and father. His is, truly, a life well lived..
