About John Bohlinger
J Boh and a good friend
John Bohlinger is a Nashville musician working primarily in television. Best know as the band leader for NBC’s hit program “Nashville Star”, John also leads the band on the several other television programs on USA, GAC, CMT and PBS Networks. John originally moved to Nashville to pursue a song-writing career but soon found guitar playing a more stable means of feeding his family. John became the consummate Nashville sideman; he has accompanied over fifty major label artist throughout his tenure in Nashville including Bret Michaels of Poison, Sara Evans, Leann Rimes, Hank Williams, Jr, Kenny Rogers, The Beach Boys, Randy Owen of Alabama, Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues and many others. A versatile multi instrumentalist, John has recorded master sessions on electric and acoustic guitars, bass, pedal steel and mandolin.
Songwriter:
Hundreds of John’s musical compositions have made it to television, primarily as background music in Nashville Star as well as advertisements, major motion pictures and documentaries. John’s songs have also been recorded by major and independent label artists world wide.
Writer:
In 2001, John left the music business and worked toward a PhD in psychology. Unable to completely leave the arts, John began pitching a book idea entitled “A Guitar and A Pen” eventually enlisting his friend Robert Hicks as a partner. The book of short stories by Nashville songwriters was eventually published by Center Street in 2008.
John writes a monthly column entitled “Last Call” for Premier Guitar Magazine. “Last Call” is a somewhat comedic, instructional guide to earning a living as a musician. Although working and aspiring musician comprise the main demographic, music fans are drawn to his column as well.
John writes his Blog “Living with Losing your Child” in an attempt to help recover from the loss of his beloved son, August.
johnbohlinger
Hello John,
I just finished reading your post from 09/09/09. I wanted to let you know that I read it, crying and nodding as so much of it rang true for me. Some aspects were different of course but the universal themes hit strong. Your ‘chronic bereavement’ comment was brilliant. I hope you don’t mind if I steal it. I lost my beautiful four year old son Mackenzie (Mack) in a drowning accident in July 2006. I just wanted to write and tell you how moved I was. You have done August proud and I hope that somewhere, he is smiling as is Mack. My beautiful daughter Ruby is a shining light in my life and my husband and I are able to see the beauty that life can still hold through her eyes.
If it even remotely interests you, you can check out our website and see what we have chosen to do to create a legacy for our son and allow children to be helped in his name.
http://www.themackbelsonfoundation.org
Good luck and thank you,
Gail Mendelman
How great that you are channeling your energy into such a good cause. The Mack foundation will help kids who really need it. I was a dyslexic kid myself.. (hence the terrible spelling and whacked syntax at times). Had it not been for the help of my mother and a few key people in my life while growing up, I probably would be functionally illiterate today. Your foundation will make the world a better place.
Good for you.