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John Nelson was born into a musical family; he is the fifth member within two generations to make his living playing and teaching music.
He began his formal training playing trumpet in a school orchestra when he was eight years old. At eleven he switched to guitar, a fifteen dollar pawn shop special his dad bought him, and sat in with his father's pick-up band that included members of Spade Cooley's and Frank Sinatra's bands.
While earning a degree in music from
Occidental
College during the day, he played evenings in various venues in the
L.A. area sharpening his musical and performing skills. This trend continued during post-graduate studies at Fuller Theological Seminary.
Mr. Nelson is head of the music department at
Grace
Community
School in
Sun Valley, and has lectured at Master's Seminary. He also taught at Master's College for ten years.
He was one of the original members of the GraceBridge Band and toured internationally and recorded with Mary Rice Hopkins for over five years as her guitar, mandolin, and banjo player.
Mr. Nelson has also performed live in concert with Christopher Parkening, the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, Leroy Mack, Todd Johnson, Jennifer York, Barry McGuire, and others.
He has appeared at the Hollywood Bowl, the
Los Angeles
Music
Center, the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, Opryland, McCabe's, the
Autry
Museum of the West, Disneyland, Knotts' Berry Farm and on some of the better street corners of Hollywood. John is regularly called for recording sessions, as well as TV and radio shows.
At the heart of his music and his teaching is his Christian faith and commitment to the Lord.
Mr. Nelson lives in
Glendale, California with his wife, Linda; the couple has three married daughters and seven grandchildren.
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