Since he released his debut CD in 1998, John has been honing his skills as a solo performer. He has performed throughout the Northeast, and hosted a weekly songwriter series in his Pennsylvania hometown.

Now a resident of Taos, NM, John builds guitars* and performs music inspired by the Southwest. His new CD, Callin'Me Home, featuring guest performances by Peter Rowan, Tish Hinojosa, Ina May Wool, and Robin Greenstein, is due for release in December.

John recently joined with singer/ guitarist Vivian Nesbitt, a classically trained actress, whose credits include Broadway, national television and film. Together their resonant vocal blend and complementary guitar styles create a rich interpretation of John's original tunes as well as songs by their favorite writers

*John Dillon is a renowned maker of fine acoustic guitars, having built inshuments for Trisha Yearwood, Michael Martin Murphey, the Mavericks, Steve Earle and Tish Hinojosa. For more information, click here to visit Dillon Guitars.

The Art of the Song is a one-hour radio show with music and interviews exploring creativity through the art and craft of songwriting. This unique program focuses primarily on writers within the genres of folk and American roots music. Learn why songwriters write, how they become inspired, and how you can tap into that creative source in every aspect of your life. The Art of the Song is hosted by performing songwriting duo John & Viv. The show comes to you from the Creative Center of the Land of Enchantment, Taos, New Mexico. To learn about John and Viv's radio show: Art of the Song.

When you hold one of John Dillon's albums, You hold in your hand a slice of Americana, forged in barrooms, boardrooms, freight yards of the West and the rolling hills of central Pennsylvania. This is the work of an American original-plainspoken, forthright and straight up.

Since his aunt gave him a Stella guitar when he was 13, music has been a driving force in John Dillon's life. He wore out Beatles albums playing along, and later learned Chicago-style Blues harp and lead guitar.

He still has his tickets to Woodstock. They'd stopped trying to collect them when John arrived at Yasgur's farm, and the sense of unity, the music, and the mud sealed his interest He set out to see the country and be a musician spending the next few years hitchhiking and riding freights across the United States. He swapped songs and stories for rides, meals and places to sleep.

Although penniless, it was a profound experience: "I had nothing to take care of but my guitar and the pack on my back. I had no choice but to trust a power greater than myself to take care of me. I was completely at the mercy of the wind. I learned the essence of karma-if I gave out positive energy, good things would happen to me, and they usually did."

John settled in Taos, New Mexico, in the 70s and learned the craft of guitar building. His music became influenced by Texas singer-songwriters Michael Murphey, Gary P Nunn, Jerry Jeff Walker, Townes Van Zant and Guy Clark, all of whom he met peddling his handmade guitars. He struck up a friendship with Murphey, who continues to use a Dillon. Living in Taos also sparked a deep concern about the plight of Native Americans, something that became an important theme in John's music.

Feeling the pressures of family life and a desire to explore his heritage, John moved back to Pennsylvania to work in the rose growing business started by his great-grandfather which had become an international concern. He assisted with the floral decorations for the

Bush and Clinton inaugurals and actively lobbied in Washington for pro-business issues, meeting with senators and congressmen. Still, he was the only marketing executive in the flower industry who'd show up for meetings wearing western boots and string ties. He continued to play music in whatever spare time he had, but felt torn in two.

The contradictions were beginning to show by the time he sought me out. How he learned about me I never understood. I was far from home and among strangers when he shook me out of a slump and rekindled by interest in playing pedal steel. In the dozen or so years since, we've shared various bands, and I witnessed his definitive mid-life crisis.

Lately he has been troubled by the effects of sawdust, glues and lacquer fumes, and while continuing to make guitars on a selective basis, he has turned his focus to the less toxic craft of songwriting. He certainly has the experience to draw from: "I've rubbed shoulders with presidents and lived with skid row bums. I know sushi bar etiquette and how to find a free soup kitchen meal. I've traveled on jets and I've begged for rides."

From penniless hippie to successful business executive to Somewhere in the Middle, John lives the American dream. He takes you along for the ride in his songs... "Easy" Mark Tomeo

(Note: Photo of John in Red Shirt by Kristy Tucker. Phoot of John and Vivian by Lenny Foster)

About John & Viv

From Sing Out! Vol. 47 #4 Winter 2004
Calling Me Home released in Feb. 2003 "In his pleasant every-man voice, John Dillon sings about spirit, love, and his home of New Mexico, all in a great variety of styles, from Celtic to Western Swing to folk. The production is refreshingly clean, with an acoustic guitar sound so present it should be date coded. I can hear "Double Yellow Line" on country radio if mainstream country would get its act together. "Caroline" is a tight western swing tune and "Taos Cowgirl" would be great at a cowboy music festival, complete with Spanish guitar and sweet Sons of the Pioneers - type vocals. "Greener Fields" opens with a soaring violin played by Gordon Burt, leading into a Celtic arrangement featuring Grey Larsen on flute and Paddy league on bodhran. There's also Robin Greenstein's expertly played banjo, and all the different parts work well, weaving in and out of the pretty melody. And did I mention that Tish Hinojosa lends her talents to this disc? Peter Rowan, too. That's icing on an already delicious cake. Dillon's a modem day John Denver who's comfortable in a variety of genres. Invite him to your hometown festival, he's bound to please everyone there." - JA

What audiences have to say
"John & Viv are a delight. They bring laughter and tears in heartfelt, beautiful music. Harmonicas, guitars, and wonderful voices come together in praise of life and all its ups and downs." -- Rev. Pintki Murray (Unity minister and fan)
"The songs touched my heart... just what the Cosmic doctor ordered... The evening lifted my spirit and gave me the 'ah, this is what I am doing here in Taos."
"You unapologetically reached in and twisted my heart... and I like that. Poetry that touches the heart, not just the mind..."
"Fabulous harmonies and great words!"

Selected Venues (past, present and future)
The Living Room New York City
DT/UT New York City
The Ore House Santa Fe, NM
The Range Cafd Albuquerque, NM
The Sage Brush Inn Taos, NM
The Taos Inn Taos, NM
The Old Blinking Light Taos, NM
Front Porch Music Valparaiso, IN
St. Louis Brewery St. Louis, MO
Bull Frog Brewery Williamsport, PA
Eske's Brew Pub Taos, NM
Second Street Brewery Santa Fe, NM
Living Water Unity Church Westn-dnster, CO
St. James 3' Sunday at 3 Gloversville, NY
St. David's Concert Series Bean Blossom, IN
The Folks Downstairs Trumbull, CT
The Western Sky Cafe the infamous diner where John & Viv met & all this started!
Hear John & Viv at The Western Sky Cafe every Thursday when they are home in Taos!

CALLIN' ME HOME TMCD0071 John Dillon, singer-songwriter and guitar-maker extraordinaire, returns for his second CD of original songs, that reflect his Western roots, and his recent return to New Mexico. Some are sentimental or touch on loss, while others celebrate life, and many revolve around a sense of place. Dillon draws on an impressive range of supplemental players, from Peter Rowan to Tish Hinojosa, plus some outstanding regional instrumentalists, and weaves together influences from Western Swing to old-time country to Mexican to Celtic to hints of India – with tabla drums sharing a song with pennywhistle. Although Dillon’s songs are nicely realized, thanks to the tasteful production of Scott Bennett, one can also hear the potential of songs like "Just for Today" and "Double Yellow Line" to become adopted by popular country artists John Dillon: vocal, acoustic guitar Scott Bennett: acoustic guitars, harmony vocal, bass Tim Long: drums Rod Phillips: piano. harmony vocal Kathy Eaton: harmony vocal Michael Hearne: harmony vocal Carmen Acciaioli: pedal steel guitar Gordon Burt: fiddle Click Blue Linked Songs Below for audio demo Songs Double Yellow Line 3:49 Greener Fields 4:22 with Robin Greenstein Callin’ Me Home 3:35 with Tish Hinajosa Out on a Limb 4:23 Caroline 3:24 with Michael Hearne Songs Live On 5:03 with Ina May Wool Building in My Mind 3:58 Let Go 2:51 New Mexico Moon 4:22 with Tish Hinajosa A Time for Movin’ On 4:44 Just for Today 4:16 Fast Movin’ Train 5:29 with Peter Rowan Train Movin’ Fast 1:18 Produced by Scott Bennett Recorded at Dead Horse Studio, Taos, NM Engineered by John Gold and Omar Rane ProTools Editing by Omar Rane and John Dillon Mixed by James Tuttle, Boulder, CO Mastered by James Tuttle at Air Show Mastering, Boulder, CO Album Cover by Kristy Tucker. Additional recording at Colorado Sound, Denver, CO (Steve Avedis, Tom Germain, engineers) 97th Street Studio, New York, NY (Daniel Weiss, engineer) Jon Gordon Studio, New York, NY (Jon Gordon, engineer) Saturation Acres, Danville, PA (Bret Alexander, engineer) Midwest Audio, Bloomington, IN (Rich Morpurgo, engineer) Landshark Music, Nashville, TN (John Albani, engineer) Caravell Studio, Branson, MO (Greg Roller, engineer) The Hit Shack, Austin, TX (Jay Hudson and Todd Dillon, engineers) Art Direction, Graphic Design, and Original Cover Art by Kristy Tucker Acoustic Guitars and Basses by John Dillon, Harry Fleishman, and Guy Clark

Piece of Paradise TMCD0072 John Dillon – lead vocal, rhythm guitar Peter Rowan – vocal, mandolin Lacy J. Dalton – harmony vocal Terri Allard – vocals Jonathan Edwards – drums, washboard Dave Kessler – fretless electric bass, acoustic bass guitar (Dillon #67) Steve Adams – piano, B-3 organ Easy Mark Tomeo – lap steel, rhythm guitar (Dillon #53), dobro Randy Cramer – fiddle Mike Dillon – upright bass David Hampton – lead guitar (Dillon #34) Neal Casal – slide guitar (Dillon #34), mandolin Bo Jamison – harmony vocals Mark Doncheski – banjo Gary Green – harmonica Tory Dillon – harmony vocal Mary Knysh – Native American cedar flute Bruce Young – fiddle Mike Hearne – vocal Dillon Family Chorus – Jesse, Jack, Tory, and John Songs Somewhere in the Middle 4:28 – with Terri Allard Tumbleweed 4:41 with Peter Rowan I Feel Like I've Been Here Before 2:36 Don't You Love Me Anymore? 3:57 Interstate Twist of Fate 3:57 Anasazi 4:27 Travelin’ with Charlie 3:27 West Texas Highway 3:15 with Mike Hearne Do What You Love 3:15 Time to Fly 4:43 with Terri Allard Wild Geese 4:14 with Tory Dillon The 80 Interstate 3:54 A White Man’s Apology 5:59 Piece of Paradise 4:08 with Lacy J. Dalton Total Playing time 57:49 Produced, engineered and mixed by George Graham Executive Produces and arranged by John Dillon Recorded at The Menagerie, Saylorsburg, PA Mixed at Sound Investments, Scranton, PA Mastered by George Graham Additional engineering by Jeff Boyer, Lee Taggard, Craig Wolf, Tom Borthwick and Jeffrey Romano Art direction and photography by Victoria Franklin Dillon Computer graphics by Greg Nevius at Creative Enterprise Acoustic guitars and basses handmade by John Dillon Peter Rowan appears courtesy of Sugar Hill Records