Jeff Austin

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Jeff Austin

Background information
Born Arlington Heights, Illinois, United States
Genre(s) Progressive bluegrass
Jam band
Instrument(s) Mandolin
Years active 1998–present
Label(s) Frog Pad
SCI Fidelity
Vanguard
Associated acts Yonder Mountain String Band
Notable instrument(s)
J75 D'Addario Mandolin

Jeff Austin (born in Arlington Heights, Illinois[1]) is a mandolinist and singer best known for being a part of the Yonder Mountain String Band.

Although Austin was born in Arlington Heights, he grew up in Elk Grove, Illinois and attended Rolling Meadows High School.[1] Austin attended the University of Cincinnati, but soon made his way to Urbana, Illinois, where he met future banjoist Dave Johnston. Receiving a request from Johnston to perform in his band The Bluegrassholes, Austin picked up the mandolin for the first time. After some time, Austin moved to Nederland, Colorado;[2] Johnston, after seeking improvement in his playing ability, also moved to Nederland. While attended a club called the Verge, Austin met Adam Aijala and Ben Kaufmann, with whom he and Johnston would form the Yonder Mountain String Band.[2]

[edit] Side Projects

In February 2006, Austin recorded Rex (Live at the Fillmore), a live album under the band name Grateful Grass featuring featuring fellow musicians Keller Williams and Keith Moseley (String Cheese Incident). Available only for digital download, the album features non-traditional bluegrass versions of songs by the Grateful Dead with 100% of the proceeds going to the Rex Foundation.[3]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b The Band; Jeff Austin Biography. Yonder Mountain Enterprises (2001). Retrieved on 2006-12-07.
  2. ^ a b Ruhlmann, William. Yonder Mountain String Band Biography. Allmusic. All Media Guide, LLC. Retrieved on 2006-12-07.
  3. ^ Keller Williams album for REX charity, news.jamradio.org, May 7, 2008, Retrieved May 7, 2008.

[edit] External links