Jon and Ben Burchfield make music that inspires the soul. This unique duo from
Nashville, Tennessee mesmerizes audiences of all ages.
"It all started with our musical parents while growing up in the Smoky Mountains
of east Tennessee. We lived in a small community called Happy Valley, not far
from Cades Cove. Many of the folks would bring their instruments to our home and
play well into the evening. That was the beginning of our musical influence."
That musical influence would expand, when their parents moved their young sons
to a little town called Bourbonnais just south of Chicago. Suddenly the
Burchfield boys were exposed to a completely new world of music. "Being well
grounded in gospel, spirituals and mountain music, we soon found ourselves
embracing classical, Latin, and jazz along with many other styles."
At eighteen, Jon took a job with a touring group called the Spurrlows. The
Spurrlows were the backup band for Roy Clark. From the book, "Between the
Strings", Jon writes, "The next few months proved to be a whirlwind of concerts
and traveling. On certain days, we would play softball with the Fifth Dimension,
BB King's band and others, making our time there an intoxicating blend of
celebrities and dazzling nightlife." Rigorous touring took its toll and for a
time, left Jon in poor health. However, his recovery proved to be a time of
healing and reflection. It was during that time he realized the wealth of
influence he gained from some of the world's greatest guitarists.
Returning home to Illinois, Jon found his younger brothers; Mark (bass guitar)
and Ben (drums, marimba) were already accomplished musicians. They decided to
relocate to their home state of Tennessee and get involved in the music
community of Nashville. Just as they arrived on the outskirts of Nashville, they
pulled their car over because it had been badly damaged by fire on the way down.
They couldn't believe their luck when an old gentleman pulled over, stepped out
of his car, and asked if they needed help. The Burchfield's said, "We're
musicians, Sir." He replied, "I know, I can tell by your car." A very kind man,
he talked with these brothers and encouraged them. It turned out the elderly
Good Samaritan was the most famous musician in Tennessee, Roy Acuff!
Just as the brothers were considering a full time touring schedule, they were
nominated for a Dove Award for best Instrumental CD. That set the stage for what
would become many years of concerts across the nation. That was miles ago and
years past. Today they continue to bring their message and music to thousands
of people across America and the world.
In the Smoky Mountain Memories liner
notes, Jon writes, "From time to time, we felt that gentle tug to revisit our
roots. Reaching deep into our souls, we again discovered the paths that brought
us here."
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