Jefferson Pepper

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Jefferson Pepper is a singer-songwriter from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA.[1].

Pepper's music is a mix of Americana, roots-rock, folk and alternative country (alt.country). He is known for his songs about working-class Americans, social issues and especially for his political protest songs. His songs and musical style have been compared to other artists such as Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, John Prine, Steve Earle and Billy Bragg.

Pepper's debut album, Christmas in Fallujah, was released in October, 2005 on American Fallout Records. The songs on Christmas in Fallujah include: "Christmas in Fallujah", "M-16", "Bethlehem PA", "Interstate Highway", "Stranded", "Back To 1999", "Christmas Tree", "Deceived', "Soldier's Joy" (traditional), "Why?", "Armageddon For Sale", "This Land is Your Land" (by Woody Guthrie), and a hidden track, "Plastic Illuminated Snowman"[2]. The album was widely played on American and European radio, reaching #23 on the Freeform American Roots Chart in November, 2005, #13 on the Euro Americana Chart in December, 2005 and #1 on the Roots Music Report Folk Radio Chart in January, 2006[citation needed].

Pepper spent the winters of 2006 and 2007 holed up in his cedar-sided home studio in the Conewago Mountains of southern Pennsylvania, sometimes going for weeks at a time without leaving the house. One question kept nagging his mind..."What has happened to my country?" He was inspired in part by Howard Zinn’s landmark book 'A People’s History of the United States' and by the Dover Intelligent Design Trial (Kitzmiller vs Dover School Board) which played out in his backyard of Dover, PA. In 2008, Pepper released 'American Evolution', an ambitious 50-song, 3-CD series which traces the evolution of culture, society and music, as well as the evolution of the individual in America. Spanning over 500 years of history, Pepper tells the story of America as seen through the eyes of working people. The project was recorded at his home studio, The House of Beer Cans, at Stress Free Studios in Harrisburg, PA (by Marshall Deasy) and at Studio X, Smash Recording and Bull Creek Productions in Nashville, TN (by Tim Lorsch).

Musicians and special guests on 'American Evolution' include Scott Fisher (Varmints in Heaven), Marshall Deasy (Quagmire Swimteam) and Bryan Owings (Shelby Lynne, Buddy Miller) on drums, Joe Allison on fiddle and mandolin, Mike Argento, Chris Planas, Jon Shain, Scott Neubert, Tom Manche and Kenny Geist on guitars, Tim May on mandolin, dobro and banjo, Ray Eicher on pedal steel, Tim Lorsch (Kris Kristofferson, Townes Van Zandt, Lucinda Williams, Sam Baker) on fiddle, baritone violin, cello and violin, Fats Kaplin (Pure Prarie League, Kane Welch Kaplin) on pedal steel and accordion, Deon Estus (Sting, Tina Turner), Thom Bissey, Dave Francis (Pam Tillis, Maura O'Connell) and Rod Goelz on bass, Gene Rabbai (Willie Nelson, Neil Young) on keyboards, Randy Stewart on banjo, Bill Nork on dobro and Bill Newton on harmonica. Jefferson Pepper played acoustic and electric guitars, bass, mandolin, harmonica, keyboards and percussion.

Pepper is married[3] to former York Daily Record reporter, author, and station WWII owner Lauri Lebo, who blogs about American Fallout records and independent music releases.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Jefferson Pepper
  2. ^ Jefferson Pepper; Christmas In Fallujah
  3. ^ Blogger:User Profile:Lauri Lebo

[edit] External links