John Balch

~HOT~ BISCUIT JAM is an original tune from the 2004 CD of the same name. The track features: John Balch on clawhammer banjo, Jack Pearson on mandolin and guitar (Allman Brother s Band, The Jack Pearson Band, more), Shad Cobb on fiddle (The Mike Snider String Band, The Osborne Brothers, more), and Elizabeth Pearson on Bass (Chet Atkins, The Nationals, The Jack Pearson Band and more).
BUCKHORN was written for the 2002 CD entitled CARRY ON JOHN . That track features John Balch on clawhammer banjo, with Jim Wood (five time Tennesee State Fiddle Champion) on: guitar, mandolin, bouzouki, and fiddles.
CAPSHAW was first released on a CD that accompanies the book by Chip Dodd: The Voice of the Heart (Providence House Publishing 2001). In addition to the banjo, John Balch played guitar and mandolin on that track. A studio version of this tune is on the CD: Carry On John with Jim Wood.
CLUCK OLD HEN (unreleased) is a popular traditional melody.
In addition to the cd’s sampled above, John Balch also played alongside: Butch Baldassari, Keith Little and Casey Driessen as part of “Pa’s fiddle band” on the CD: Happy Land Musical Tributes to Laura Ingalls Wilder (Pa’s Fiddle recordings 2005). He also played clawhammer and bluegrass style banjo on a vinyl LP with the Pure Mountain Water Band (First Jug /1979). John currently has other recording projects in the works…so please “stay tuned.”
John Balch served for more than 25 years as chairman of judging for Uncle Dave Macon Days Old Time Banjo National Championship. He is now working as chairman of the board of directors for the Uncle Dave Macon Days organizing committee.