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Jerry
Krahn, Guitar
Jerry Krahn, acoustic guitar instrumentalist, brings a rich personal
and musical background to the stage. His varied musical guitar
styling, lyrical melodies and thoughtful improvising intrigue and
entertain listeners around the country and the world.
Born in 1953, the Wisconsin native enjoyed the ethnic and robust
sounds of polka music. This deeply rooted style tugged at
his heart more than the milk and cheese from the dairy barn. At
ten years of age the musical road quickly led to becoming a fixture
on that scene, eventually working with greats Verne Meisner and
Frankie Yankovich.
As his listening skills and musical styles broadened, Jerry found
inspiration and knowledge in Milwaukee jazz legend guitarist Don
Momblow, and later contemporary jazz artist Jack Grassel. The
road to becoming a journeyman musician included studies at the Wisconsin
Conservatory of Music and concentrated lessons in a variety of styles. These
pursuits led to stints in 70s show bands, USO tours, and country
and pop bands, one of which was Capitol/ABC Nashville recording artist
Duane Dee. The early 80s found Jerry doing musical promotions
for Emmber Brands Deli Meat, Milwaukee. The “Lean and
Tender” duo musically sold the “sizzle” at meetings,
shows and grand openings across the east and Midwest. Later
Jerry was a founding member, electric-synth guitarist and front man
to the very popular and successful Four Wheel Drive band, performing
Top 40 Country and Classic Rock at every major fair, festival and
club in Southeastern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois. At
that time Jerry released his self-produced album Take Your Pick, garnering
very fine reviews.
A move to Nashville in 1990 led Jerry to the Opryland Theme Park where
he honed his Dixieland and Trad skills on the plectrum banjo and archtop
guitar. His association with the many fine jazz players in Music
City transpired into a hookup with the Titan Hot Seven jazz |
band. That “hot jazz” band performs at jazz
festivals throughout the country and around the world. Jerry’s
skill and knowledge of early jazz guitar masters, art of rhythm
playing and solos in the archtop jazz guitar style is featured. It’s
the same skills that keep him in demand in Nashville as a studio
session player, soloist, with his own quartet and western swing
bands The Time Jumpers and Western Swingers.
Jerry and Pam reside in Hermitage, Tennessee, approximately twenty
miles east of “Music Row” in downtown Nashville. Jerry’s
son Robert is assistant band director at West Orange High School
in Orlando. Daughter Whitney attends graduate school at NYU;
French studies. Mother LaVerne Krahn still lives on the same Wisconsin farm and his sisters
Joyce and Gloria live just a stones throw away from the homestead.
Other interests include buying and selling vintage musical, hi-fi
and stereo gear, along with an occasional antique collectible. For
a number of years Jerry utilized his eye for detail and hand skills
in the graphic arts trade as a printing pre-press four-color stripper
and quality control specialist, while still pursuing his musical
career. Jerry now enjoys that pursuit on a successful full-time
basis.
All along this path, Jerry’s love for multiple musical styles
and guitarists keeps growing and infusing itself into the soul of
what you hear from his guitars. Jerry produced two solo acoustic
archtop recordings Garden in the Rain and No Wires Attached,
along with two group recordings, Midwest Dreams and the
recent Tell Me I’m Crazy have captured that passion
with timeless melodies and heartfelt arrangements of Jazz/pop standards,
folk and original compositions. We encourage you to explore
that aural and visual grace of these vintage guitars in the hands
of Jerry Krahn.
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Other Bios: Jeff Barnhart | Danny
Coots | Bob Draga
JIm Fryer | Ike
Harris | Flip
Oakes
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