John Sebastian
| John Sebastian | |
|---|---|
Sebastian performing in concert in East Lansing, Michigan, August 1970
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | John Benson Sebastian |
| Also known as | G. Pugliese |
| Born |
March 17, 1944 Greenwich Village, New York City, New York, U,S. |
| Genres | Rock, pop, folk, blues |
| Occupation(s) | musician, songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, harmonica, piano, autoharp |
| Years active | 1964–present |
| Labels | Kama Sutra, Reprise |
| Associated acts |
The Lovin' Spoonful Even Dozen Jug Band The Mugwumps NRBQ Crosby, Stills & Nash The Doors |
| Website | johnbsebastian |
John Benson Sebastian (born March 17, 1944) is an American-born singer-songwriter, guitarist, harmonicist, and autoharpist, who is best known as a founder of The Lovin' Spoonful, a band inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000; for his impromptu appearance at the in 1969; and for his #1 hit in 1976, "Welcome Back".
Sebastian was born in New York City and grew up in Italy and Greenwich Village. His father, John Sebastian, was a noted classical harmonica player and his mother, Jane, was a radio script writer. His godmother was Vivian Vance ("Ethel Mertz" of I Love Lucy), who was a close friend of his mother. His godfather and first babysitter was children's book illustrator Garth Williams, a friend of his father.
Sebastian grew up surrounded by music and musicians, including Burl Ives and Woody Guthrie, and hearing such players as Lead Belly and Mississippi John Hurt in his own neighborhood. He graduated from Blair Academy, a private boarding school in Blairstown, New Jersey, in 1962. He next attended New York University for just over a year, but dropped out as he became more interested in musical pursuits.
In the early 1960s, Sebastian developed an interest in blues music and in playing harmonica in a blues style, rather than the classical style used by his father. Through his father's connections, he met and was influenced by blues musicians Sonny Terry and Lightnin' Hopkins (for whom Sebastian served as "unofficial tour guide and valet" when Hopkins was in New York City). Sebastian became part of the folk and blues scene that was developing in Greenwich Village and later gave rise to folk rock.
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