John Austin (songwriter)

John Austin is an American songwriter and singer. Austin was born in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, and grew up outside of Washington, D.C. At age 19 he set off for Chicago, where he began performing his songs in the city's subway stations, coffee houses and nightclubs.

In 1992 John Austin recorded his debut, The Embarrassing Young, which was the last record to be produced by the late Mark Heard.

A sort of wandering troubadour, Austin has recorded his studio albums in Chicago, Los Angeles, Kansas City, Nashville, Atlanta, and Manassas, Virginia.

As a writer, co-producer and collaborator, he has worked with artists including Shawn Mullins, Buddy Miller, Randall Bramblett, and musicians from the bands Train, Marshall Tucker Band, Steve Winwood Band, Ocean blue, Better Than Ezra, Sugarland, The Innocence Mission, John Mayer Band and Vigilantes of Love.

In 2004 Austin joined the record label Paste Records (also the home of Mark Heard's music).