Hi Folks We are Launching the show early this week…So here you go…Our Guest Is John Heinrich …
Also “UP To The Minute With “ED BEAVER” at the top of the hour… 
Ed Beaver is an amazing talent, singer songwriter and luthier here in Nashville Tennessee…
John was born on October 26, 1951, in Poughkeepsie New York. He moved to Lexington Kentucky in 1957 with his Parents. In 1964, John got his first Guitar and soon after was playing in bands with friends around his neighborhood. In 1970, John went to the University of Kentucky to major in stand-up Bass but soon realized that he was thinking in terms of Melody, “I knew that if I was going to work I needed to find a melody instrument.” John Had already begun playing the Lap Steel in addition to bass guitar so the move to pedal steel seemed logical. John practiced day and night, brought his guitar home every night from a job, and listened to as much steel as possible. “Some of his early influences were Don Helms, Buddy Charlton and of course the master at being commercial Mr. Pete Drake.”
John played throughout the United States and Canada with many Groups including his own “Second Hand Rose,” which played at the DJ Convention in 1974 at the “Peavey Room, King of the road hotel,” and also the group had a spot on the “Grand Ole Opry 50th Anniversary” radio show. Earlier in 74 John played for an audition to be one of the first Steel players at Opryland, John passed the audition but decided to work with his own group on his own music projects. In March 1979 John left for Brussels, Belgium to play & tour with various groups that he had made contact with. In 1980 John moved to Germany, and in 1981 moved to West Berlin where he played with the group “Western Union.” WU Released 3 albums and 7 singles and were two time winners of the prestigious Marlboro Competition for West Germany, John toured through out Europe with the group. In 1983, John was the featured Steel Guitarist for Germany’s first “Steel Guitar Seminar.” While in Europe John started to play the Flute and Saxophone.
In 1985 John returned back to the USA and immediately went to Nashville. Here John worked at the World Famous Stockyard/Bullpen Lounge from April of 86 till November of 95. While there many artists would come by to sit in with the band, those included Jerry Lee Lewis, The Beach Boys, Reba McEntire, The Everly Brothers, Lorrie Morgan, The Kentucky Headhunters, Rick Astley, Steppenwolf’s John Kay, Travis Tritt, Shania Twain, and many others. In 1991 John took a three month leave of absence from the Bullpen lounge to work with “Hank Williams Jr..”
In 1999, John recorded saxophone at the famous “Fame Studio’s,” in Muscle Shoals, Alabama with “Wayne Jackson,” the Trumpet/leader of the “Memphis Horns,” on a session for the famous country group “ALABAMA,” with producer “Rick Hall”. This studio is where all the “Stax Records” songs such as, “Knock On Wood,” “Dock Of The Bay” and “Soul Man” were recorded and produced.
Today, John is a studio musician in Nashville, his talents on the Steel Guitar, Saxophone, Dobro and Flute, have made him in demand. John is the staff Steel Guitarist for the renown “Gene Breeden Studios,” on Music Row. John is also goes out on the road with Ronnie Milsap.
John says “I have many friends around the world today thanks to the Steel Guitar and music,” Heiko Aehle is a friend of John’s that lives in Germany. John says, “I was trying to contact the North Tennessee Steel Guitar Assoc. on my computer and when I typed in the address and clicked on ‘go,” Heiko’s Home page came up and after e-mailing with him, found out that he lives in the same area of Germany that my family the HEINRICH’s came out of in the Eighteen Hundreds”! “Heiko and I probably would have known each other long ago or played in the same bands if my family had never immigrated.”
John recently was presented a custom EXCEL Steel Guitar built by Mitsuo Fujii, President and Owner of the “Fuzzy Steel Guitar Products Company,” in Tokyo Japan. John considers it a great honor to be presented this beautiful guitar and Full Endorsement! from the makers of such a high quality instrument.
Hank Williams, Jr., “Lone Wolf Tour-Tenor-Alto-Soprano Sax. Taped segment for the “NFL Monday Night Football” national TV spot
Stockyard/Bullpen Lounge, Nashville, Tennessee-featured house vocalist/instrumentalist. Performed with artists: Jerry Lee Lewis, Beach Boys, Reba McEntire, Martin Mull, Everly Brothers, Lorrie Morgan, Frankie Avalon, Hank Jr., John Mellencamp, Rick Astley, Stepponwolf’s John Kay, Travis Tritt, Kentucky Headhunters, Rap Group-The Fat Boys, Sylvia, Toby Keith, and many other artists.
Western Union Band,West Berlin Steel Guitar/Saxophonist, two time winner of prestigious Marlboro Competition in West Germany, toured with Waylon Jennings and the Belamy Brothers for the Marlboro Tours. Released 7 singles and 3 albums for Hansa Records. Entered Top Ten singles with the song ” Ich Mocht’ So Gerne Mal Nach’ Nashville,” (Translation= I would Like to Go to Nashville). Toured in West Germany, Poland, Holland, Belgium, Tangiers-Africa, Switzerland Austria, Prague, Czech Republic. Backed up “Gunter Gabriel,” “Peter Petrel,” “Peter Alexander.” Worked in various studios in West Berlin ie. Hansa by the Wall,(used by David Bowie), West Germany and Brussels, Belgium.
Featured Instructor- at the 1st German Steel Guitar Seminar, Germerode, West Germany August, 1983.
Summer Festival- in Bonn W. Germany- played with “Unser Gnaden,” for Chancellor Helmut Schmidt.
Toots Theilsman- played Steel Guitar with the Malibu and backed up “TooTs” on stage in Dusselldorf, West Germany.
Plastic Bertrand- French Pop Star- played Steel Guitar.
Second Hand Rose- country rock band- Band Leader, vocalist/musician. Performed at the Grand Ole Opry’s 50th anniversary at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium. Performed at the “King of the road”Hotel, in the “Peavy Room” for the Nashville DJ Convention. Toured throughout the U.S.,Canada and “Gitmo” Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
BUFFALO BOMBERS- Played the Bass Guitar in first real working band, middle to late 60’s Lexington Kentucky
Television and Movie appearence’s:
Tnn New Country, Easter Seals Telethon (3 years), Channel 4 Nashville.
TNN Lorrie Morgan’s “Something In Red”, Album Debut filmed at the original Grand Ole Opry Ryman Auditorium.
“Following Her Heart” a movie starring “Ann Margaret, George Segal, and Sandra Reeves
Music Industry Quotes
Harold Shedd: President of Polygram/Mercury Nashville, Producer of the groups Alabama and The Kentucky Headhunters. “Great music!! Modern theme with an individualistic style and delivery, I really liked it. John has his own distinct style on Saxophone as well as Steel Guitar and Dobro, nobody plays these instruments like he does” ??
Steve Popavitch: Signed artist Meatloaf to record label, Cleveland International, NY…also signed Michael Jackson to his first solo contract. “A Very musically able person utilizing melody, energy and rhythm to project his instrumental prowess.” ??
TG Sheppard: “It’s not often that we in this business have the chance to work with the total musician. Every chance I can I welcome the opportunity to work along side one of industry’s greats. It’s always a pleasure to share the studio and concert stage with such an incredible talent.”
Barry Beckett: “Mr. Heinrich is one of the few Sax players that has a unique and readily noticeable style, his natural sense of melody is astonishing”
Buddy Killen: “John adds class as well as his musical talents to any group or situation that he finds himself in”
Charlie Rich: “A truly exceptional multi instrumentalist, I want him in my band”
Denny Diante: Producer/ “What a talent! He is one of my key Nashville musicians. A joy to work with, he flat delivers”??Wayne Jackson: Memphis Horns: “Since I’ve met John I’ve been impressed by his musicianship and great diversity, If I can sing it he can play it and he is also a nice guy, which is important”
??Jim Varney: of Ernest fame, Know what I mean Vern? “I’ve known John for a long time and have seen him grow for a basement musician to a musician in the major leagues, I’m honored to know him” ??
DJ Fontana: Drummer for Elvis, “Captured the South Louisiana Blues sound on my CD project, something that Elvis would have loved, in fact I would have advised Elvis to hire John for his show”
Visit John Heinrich on Facebook Reverbnation CDBaby Youtube Soundcloud Giggem
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All materials presented on the GMAB radio program are royalty free as agreed to by the owners thereof, and the programming is presented for educational and informational purposes as no artist, writer of publisher are paid for their appearance.
”Give Me A Break” Radio Hour Podcast is supported by donations from listeners like you! … Please Click the PayPal Donate button to help keep great programming free for all to enjoy.
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Open Door Productions’
Cyber Studio For Songwriters … to help you and all others who love songwriting.