JOHNNY HILAND

                                 
WEB-SITE BIO : 

Johnny Hiland grew up in the small town of Baileyville, Maine. He was born legally blind with an eye disease known as nystagmus, which did not allow him to grow up like most children. He could not do the things that sighted children could do like playing baseball, kickball, and so on. Therefore, he started playing guitar at age 2, and loved it. He played for family and friends, won local talent contests, and went on to perform his first tv show at age 7. His career took off when Johnny won the "Talent America Contest," at age 10, in New York City. He had a band with sister, Jodi, and brother, Jerry, called, “The 3 J's." They performed all over New England as a part of the Downeast Country Music Association. They had fun, playing for people, and Johnny grew as an artist playing guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, and other instruments as well.

His father had taken him to see Ricky Skaggs perform in Bangor, Maine, and Johnny immediately went from pickin' bluegrass to wanting a telecaster. As a teen, Johnny spent countless hours learning and developing his own blend of chicken pickin,' rock, blues, and swing; while pickin' in a number of different bands around the state of Maine. After finishing high school, and 3 years of college, he moved to Nashville in 1996.

Since then, he performed countless shows in the honky tonks on lower Broadway, and started at, “The World Famous Turf.” After a few years, Johnny landed the gig with The Don Kelley Band at Robert's Western World, which led him to perform on TNN's "Prime Time Country," and then as an artist at the legendary Grand Ole Opry. Johnny has played on a number of records for artists like Toby Keith, Trick Pony, Randy Travis, Ricky Skaggs, Janie Fricke, Lynn Anderson, and Hank 3.

In 2004, Johnny signed his first record deal, as a guitar artist, with Steve Vai and his guitar based record company, Favored Nations. They released Johnny’s first debut, self titled, album later that same year. Since then, he has been touring the globe with his band, "The Johnny Hiland Band.“ He was blessed with a number of great endorsers, and ended up with his own guitar model with PRS Guitars.

In 2007, he released a 2nd guitar album, independently, called, "Loud and Proud". Throughout his career, Johnny has toured with his own band, yet has also performed on stage with super artists like Sammy Hagar, Ted Nugent, George Clinton and P-Funk, Les Paul, Steve Vai, Joe Bonamassa, G3, Ricky Skaggs, Hank 3, and many others. He loves to teach, and has his own line of guitar instructional material as well; 2 Hot Licks videos, and a number of books/cds with Mel Bay.

In 2008, he joined forces with his long time friend, Ron Lutrick, and they recorded a blues album together called, "The Blues Connection." Johnny and Ronnie had a blast doing dates together on the road, and knew they needed to stick together. In fact, they did just that. Johnny faced the incredible loss of many family members from 2005 to 2008 to include his father, Tom, and his mother, Grace. Those years were very tough on him, and it took great friends, like Ron, along with his loving wife, Kim, to get through it.

He went on, and in 2010, Johnny teamed up with Ernie Ball Music Man Guitars for more of the country spank that he needed for his tone. Excited with this new move, he went on tour with Grand Ole Opry star, Hal Ketchum. The JHB opened for Hal, and played his show as well. That all ended, and Johnny went on to get signed with Mike Varney and Shrapnel Records near the end of that year. Johnny landed in the studio with Mike in early 2011, and they released, “All Fired Up,” which is Johnny’s latest record, in July of that year. Since then, Johnny has been touring as much as he can to promote this great record.

From 2012 to mid 2015, Johnny has been working in Camp Hiland Studio, and performing dates with his own band as much as he can. For awhile there, he really felt the crunch of our economy. So, he teamed up with singer/song-writer/keyboardist friend, Tim McDonald.  They performed duo shows, and honky-tonk gigs from Ohio to Georgia while having a blast.  In the meantime, however, Johnny was searching for the perfect booking agent to work with. He really wanted to keep his own artistry alive. Therefore, he teamed up with Truefire to get more of his guitar instruction out to the world.  Together, they released his first Truefire course called, "Ten Gallon Guitar," in 2014.(You can actually purchase that right off of this website.)  He is excited with his connection with Truefire, and plans on releasing his second course with them in the fall of 2015.  Johnny, through his buddy Jason Macedo of the Sound Guitar Magazine, also has teamed up with Jam Track Central, based in the UK.  Together, they have released an instructional package called, "Johnny Hiland's 20 Favorite Country Licks."  That instructional package was released in June of 2015.  

Johnny has been very blessed to be able to have the time at home with his loving wife Kim, and his two little dogs, Buddy and Ella. He was actually excited with the momentum he was gaining by managing his own career, teaching, performing with his own band, doing sessions, and performing with Tim.  Yet, he was having a massively hard time being creative with his guitar, especially in having all of those other responsibilities on him at the same time. He knew that he needed to put his past behind him, and move on with new management and booking. He has learned to look forward to his future with his guitar in hand, and everlasting faith!

God answered his prayers when Johnny was asked to go to dinner with management/

entertainment company, Crush Worldwide.  Johnny found that these managers knew the music industry of today, where to take his career, how to handle things, and how to reach Johnny's goals for the future. Johnny signed on the dotted line with them in August of 2015, and now he is very thrilled with the upcoming opportunities ahead.  Johnny is actually now able to get out on the road in a bus, and handle his career in the fashion that he has been dreaming of his entire life.  He is so excited to get the new record done, and for all of his fans out there to be able to come see him perform worldwide! He also has a new signature cowboy hat coming out with Atwood Hats, and you will be sure to see Johnny tip his Atwood to y'all real soon!!

No matter what the future holds, Johnny will also always reach out to show the young people of today that live music is cool, and that guitar is awesome!!!! He has written a children's book called, "Tuff and Friends," to inspire handicapped children to follow their dreams. Johnny is looking for the right publishing/distribution deal for the book, and one day hopes he can sell it at shows for the children’s division of the National Federation for the Blind and Visually Impaired. 

Johnny's future is now looking bright. He feels, and shows every single day, that he has been very blessed, by God, for the gift of music/guitar, and to be able to continue to earn a living doing what he loves to do.  He loves his fans very much, and sincerely appreciates all of the support given by them, his endorsers, his band, friends, and family.  For tour dates, and all other information on Johnny, please stay tuned for future updates on his site, www.johnnyhiland.net.

                                

                  



                      



                      



                                   

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BLUES GUITAR WITH JOHNNY HILAND 

2:10 Blues Jam in A

7:00 Interview with Johnny Hiland

14.25 Hybrid-Picking Technique

16:35 Bend & Double Stop Exercises

19:50 Being Comfortable on the Guitar

20:28 Nail Care 

21:30 Rock Guitar Technique

23:30 Rock Harmonic Rolls

27:43 Slow Blues in E

32:05 Analysis-Plus Guitar Cables

35:15 Blues Rhythm Playing

40:15 Fast Playing vs. Playing for Feel

42:25 Scale Licks, 

45:00 Johnny Hiland Wah Pedal by Gig-FX