Jeff Hanna
Birth nameJeffrey R. Hanna
Born (1947-07-11) July 11, 1947 (age 76)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
GenresCountry, folk, rock
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar, drums
Years active1966 – present
Member ofNitty Gritty Dirt Band
Spouse(s)
​
(m. 1993)​

Jeffrey R. Hanna (born July 11, 1947) is an American singer-songwriter and performance musician, best known for his association with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. His professional music career has spanned six decades.

Early life

Hanna was born in Detroit, Michigan.[1] In 1962, he moved with his family to Long Beach, California. As a high school student there, he and some friends started a jug band that ultimately evolved into the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.[2]

Musical career

He was one of the founders and is the longest-serving member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, where he has been a singer, songwriter, lead guitarist, drummer and washboard player. Through the years, he has been a major force in keeping the band together and maintaining its blend of folk, country and rock music.[1][2]

Hanna has over 380 recording credits, primarily as a composer, but also as a vocalist, guitarist (acoustic, electric, steel, slide, twelve-string, and baritone), arranger, and producer.[3]

In addition to the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, his credits include work with artists such as Linda Ronstadt, Suzy Bogguss, The Texas Tenors, Patty Loveless, Rascal Flatts, Matraca Berg, Hannah Montana, Emmylou Harris, The Chieftains, Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash, Earl Scruggs, Michael Martin Murphey, Dickey Betts, and Steve Martin.[3]

In 2006, his composition "Bless the Broken Road", co-written with Marcus Hummon and Bobby Boyd in 1994, won a Grammy Award for Best Country Song.[4] It has been recorded by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Marcus Hummon, and, in the Grammy year, Rascal Flatts.[5]

Personal life

Hanna's children are visual artist Christopher Hanna, and Jaime Hanna of the Hanna-McEuen country music duo.[6]

He has been married to Matraca Berg since December 5, 1993. The couple met while touring with Clint Black in the late 1980s. They live in Nashville, Tennessee.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b "Jeff Hanna Discography". discogs.com. Discogs. Retrieved 2016-04-12.
  2. ^ a b Stambler, Irwin; Landon, Grelun, eds. (2000-07-14). "Dirt Band, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band". Country Music: The Encyclopedia. Macmillan. pp. 135–137. ISBN 9780312264871. Retrieved 2016-04-12.
  3. ^ a b "Jeff Hanna - Credits". allmusic.com. AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-04-12.
  4. ^ "Jeff Hanna - Awards". allmusic.com. AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-04-12.
  5. ^ a b "Jeff Hanna + Matraca Berg — Country's Greatest Love Stories". theboot.com. Retrieved 2016-04-12.
  6. ^ "Hanna-McEuen Biography". artistdirect.com. ARTISTdirect. Retrieved 2016-04-12.
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