A singer of unusual clarity and originality, a self-taught multi-instrumentalist of rare ability, and an incisive songwriter, TIM O'BRIEN has, over the last 20 years, made a lasting mark on what some are calling “Americana” music through his innate musicianship and his wide-ranging tastes.
Born in Wheeling, West Virginia on March 16, 1954, singer songwriter and multi instrumentalist Tim O’Brien grew up singing in church and in school, and after seeing Doc Watson on TV, became a lifelong devotee of old time and bluegrass music. Tim first toured nationally with Colorado bluegrass band Hot Rize, which formed in 1978. Kathy Mattea scored a country hit with his song “Walk The Way The Wind Blows” in 1986, and soon more artists like Nickel Creek and Garth Brooks covered his songs. Since 1990, Tim has released 14 solo CD’s, as well as collaborations with his sister Mollie O’Brien, songwriter Darrell Scott, and noted old time musician Dirk Powell.
He’s performed or recorded with Steve Earl, Mark Knopfler, Bill Frisell, and Steve Martin, and produced records for Yonder Mountain Stringband, David Bromberg, and Canada’s Old Man Luedecke. Notable releases include the bluegrass Dylan covers of Red On Blonde, the Celtic-Appalachian fusion of The Crossing, and the Grammy winning folk of Fiddler’s Green. His newest CD, 2015’s Pompadour, includes a banjo driven version of James Brown’s Get Up Offa That Thing. O’Brien formed his own record label, Howdy Skies Records, in 1999, and launched the digital download label Short Order Sessions (SOS) with his partner Jan Fabricius last year. He has two sons, Jackson (33) and Joel (25), and has lived in Nashville since 1996. Hobbies include cooking, skiing, and playing traditional Irish music.
“A master of American folk music, Irish music, Scottish music – it doesn’t matter; a fine songwriter and one of my favorite singers.” —Mark Knopfler
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