Wow! Johnny Hiland

It’s amazing the amount of relatively “undiscovered” talent there is in the world and I’m about to give you a pretty good example of what I’m talking about.

If you’ve never heard of him before, may I introduce you to Johnny Hiland. He grew up in Maine but since 1996 he’s been based in Nashville where he’s been working as a session musician and making (slowly) a name for himself.

He was born legally blind with an eye disease known as nystagmus and most people, even guitar players, have never heard of him but wow can this guy play!

http://www.johnnyhiland.net/biography.html

Just take a listen…

Even though Johnny is best know for his country playing and in particular chicken pickin’ style he can blues like crazy too.

Listen to him cut loose live, this track is “Honky Tonk Night Time Man”

This one will give you a good idea of why he’s considered one of the best chicken pickers in the world.

Lastly in the studio, skip to 2.48 in the video…

What do you think? Let me know with a comment below!

15 Comments
  1. Let me know when he tours to Southern California!

    • Johnny has some lesson videos available on Netflix; highly recommend them.

  2. Your right Paul this fella can really play

  3. Though I am not a country guy,I hear everything this guy is playing and it’s all there.You just know he could play just about anything and everything.Man and guitar as one,bearing his very heart and soul .
    Inspirational,keep ye guns on the firing range,get ye guitars out and shoot those blues.
    lonewolf.

  4. True what you say about undiscovered talant. This guys name should be up there with Jose Feleciano, Chet Atkins, Tommy Emanuel, Mark Knophler Etc. Etc

  5. That man is not just talented on the guitar he is gifted.

  6. Simply…. great!!!!

  7. Paul

    Wow! is RIGHT
    who new anyone with big fat fingers could run up and down the neck!
    He is fantastic…. love to see him live….

    Thanks for sharing!!

  8. Awesome!

  9. I agree with the reader comments. Thanks for introducing this amazing artist…Hiland just blew my socks off!!!

  10. Excellent, lightning fingers or what!

  11. This guy is terrific and can rip it on acoustic and electric.

  12. Amazing as well as inspirational! Someone
    to aspire to be for sure!

  13. OMG!!!!! Brought tears to my eyes to see JH play flawlessly, from the heart and did it with a voice to match. I love you Paul but can I have two Idols to look up to?

  14. This guy is good!!!

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