John Kruth is a
singer/
songwriter/multi-instrumentalist best known for his highly energetic "Banshee
Mandolin” style of playing. He has also worked as a music journalist and has authored several book about popular music.
Kruth's first biography,[1]Bright Moments – The Life and Legacy of
Rahsaan Roland Kirk was first published in the U.S. and England in 2000 by Welcome Rain Books. Bright Moments was translated into Japanese and published by
Kawade Shobō Shinsha in 2005. His most recent
biography is Rhapsody in Black – The Life and Music of Roy Orbison from Hal Leonard Books, NYC. He is also the author of To Live’s To Fly – the Ballad of
Townes Van Zandt, was published by Da Capo Books in March 2007, winner of 2008 Deems Taylor ASCAP Award for Best Musical Biography.
In 2006, he traveled to India where he studied mandolin and performed with Carnatic mandolin virtuoso
U. Rajesh.
Kruth is currently a professor of music at the College of Mount St. Vincent. In the past, his writing has appeared in The New York Times, Rolling Stone, The Progressive, Frets, and Signal to Noise. He is currently a regular contributor to Rave (India), Sing Out!, Wax Poetics and Fretboard Journal. He spent much of his early career in Milwaukee, but now lives in New York City.
Discography
1987: Midnight Snack, Hopewell Records (with
Violent Femmes)
1989: Greasy Kid Stuff, Chameleon Records (with
Brian Ritchie)
1989: Final Vinyl, Chameleon Records (song Boomerang appeared on picture disc with
John Lee Hooker,
L7 and
Bill Ward)
2017 – A Friend of the Devil – The Glorification of the Outlaw in Song – From Robin Hood to Rap – Hal Leonard Books, NYC – 288 pages
2015 – This Bird Has Flown – The Enduring Beauty of Rubber Soul – 50 Years On- Hal Leonard Books, NYC
2013 – Rhapsody in Black – The Life and Music of Roy Orbison – Hal Leonard Books, NYC
2008 – Rahsaan Roland Kirk – Des Moments Lumineux French edition published by INFOLIO Musique Edition
2007 – To Live's To Fly -The Ballad of the Late, Great Townes Van Zandt – Da Capo Books, NYC. 236 pages. Winner of 2008 Deems Taylor ASCAP Award for Best Musical Biography
2005 – Bright Moments – The Life and Legacy of Rahsaan Roland Kirk – Japanese edition published by
Kawade Shobō Shinsha, Tokyo, Japan. 400 pages.
2000 – Bright Moments – The Life and Legacy of Rahsaan Roland Kirk – Welcome Rain Books, NYC. 400 pages.
Poetry and Short Prose
1992 – "Like Jazz" – Spanfeller Press (illustrated by
Joe Ciardiello)