From The Ground Up (Lp) (Vinyl)

John Fullbright was raised and still resides in Okemah, Oklahoma, a hometown he shares with Woody Guthrie. The Blue Door, the legendary venue, took him in and exposed him to some of the greatest songwriters in the country as they would pass through town in concert. The founder of The Blue Door, Greg Johnson, was so taken by Fullbright's talent, that he began managing him in order to open the necessary doors for his career to take root. Fullbright and Johnson released a live album in 2009 that set sales records at Woodyfest, the annual folk festival honoring Woody Guthrie. Fullbright played many of the instruments on the album - all of piano and harmonica, almost all of the organ parts and much of the guitar work and also co-produced the album with Wes Sharon (who also played bass on the album), the owner of 115 Studios in Norman, Oklahoma. From The Ground Up has now received a Grammy nomination for Best Americana album and pits John against The Avett Brothers, The Lumineers, Bonnie Raitt and Mumford & Sons. This is proof that, quite simply, this 23-year-old is one of the most exciting singer-songwriters to emerge this decade. His astonishing debut album features 12 original songs bursting with a musical and lyrical prowess that belie his youth.