John Beland to play in Sonoma this weekend

Ringo Starr prompted John Beland’s signing to Apple Records, making him the last artist to be signed before the demise of that label.|

Question: Which name does not belong on this list? Ricky Nelson, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Glenn Frey, Ringo Starr, Linda Ronstadt and “The Brady Bunch.”

Answer: None of the above. They are all people session musician John Beland has worked with over the 50 years he has been in the music business. Beland takes the stage at Murphy’s Irish Pub this Sunday, Jan. 20, at 6 p.m.

Beland travels to Sonoma from his home in Brenham, Texas. During the show he will play songs he has written and recorded, as well as songs he has written that have been recorded by others – and will tell stories about his colorful and exciting life as a studio and backing musician.

Beland toured with Ricky Nelson and produced his hit cover of the Bobby Darin song, “Dream Lover.” Prior to that, Beland toured with Dolly Parton. He appeared on “The Johnny Cash Show” while he was in Linda Ronstadt’s band. He hung out at the Los Angeles niteclub the Troubadour, where he played guitar for Kris Kristofferson. And Ringo? Beland says he wrote a song that Ringo recorded, but never released. Ringo also prompted Beland’s signing to Apple Records, making him the last artist to be signed before the demise of that label.

“I have been real lucky,” said Beland via phone from his home in Texas. “I was in the right place at the right time. A combination of talent and luck.” His gig at Murphy’s is a return of sorts, as he played there years ago with his friend John Kelley’s group “Kith and Kin,” a Napa-based Celtic group.

Beland was born in a small town called Hometown, Illinois. His family later moved to California. Not a big fan of school, he dropped out. He scored a stolen tape machine and recorded a dozen of his songs. He hitchhiked to L.A., where he met a veritable who’s who of singer songwriters. “I was hanging out with a bunch of relatively unknown players, just before they popped up.”

One of them was future Eagles singer, Glenn Frey. “He was one talented dude,” Beland said. Beland, Frey, and J.D. Souther worked as a trio for a time.

He told of being asked to back up a young Kristofferson while he made his first appearances on the West Coast. Kristofferson was not a particularly strong guitar player, and Beland was the picker chosen to help him out. Kristofferson debuted one of his songs, “Me and Bobby McGee,” on the Troubador’s small stage. A much beloved song now, it received a cold reception, recalls Beland.

When he takes the stage at Murphy’s he will be armed with his trusty Guild F50, a lifetime of songs, and a boatload of stories. Beland has written a book titled “Best Seat in the House.” The book is full of stories of his days on the road and in the studio.

Beland was a young guitar player when the Beatles burst upon the scene, and he talks of being “heavily influenced by them, like all of us.” He was, therefore, beside himself with excitement when Ringo Starr recommended that Apple Records sign him to a recording contract. He visited the studios and offices at Apple, which he describes as “pretty amazing for a young guy.” Unfortunately, the signing coincided with the dissolution of that label, and of the Beatles. He later released the eponymously titled album “John Edward Beland” on Scepter Records.

Beland then was invited to back up the popular Bellamy Brothers. He toured the U.S. and world with them. He later joined The Flying Burrito Brothers. He took control of the Burritos and produced three albums for that country rock group.

Beland lived and recorded in nearby Yountville in the early 2000s and still has family in the area. He said that his “returning to Murphy’s will be an emotional reunion.”

When he lived in Yountville, Beland hosted and recorded many well-known performers and celebrities, from Merle Haggard to Robert Mondavi.

If there is a chance to ask questions during his talk, he might field a few about his days working with Dolly Parton, touring with Arlo Guthrie, or maybe even talk about his singing of the “The Brady Bunch” theme song for its first season.

Guys like John Beland don’t come around too often. He has had a great seat in the house for a long time.

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