John McCusker

McCusker was born in Bellshill, Scotland, on 15 May 1973.^[3] He began learning the fiddle at age seven and subsequently participated in local youth orchestras and cèilidh bands. At fourteen, he formed a band with schoolmates called Parcel O'Rogues, named after Robert Burns' poem Sic a Parcel o' Rogues in a Nation. At sixteen, McCusker declined an offer from the Royal Scottish Academy in Glasgow in order to tour with the Battlefield Band, with whom he remained for eleven years.^[4] His first solo album, John McCusker, was released by Temple Records in 1995.^[5]

McCusker has performed on albums by artists including Ocean Colour Scene, Paul Weller, Teenage Fanclub, Eddi Reader, Tim O'Brien, and Linda Thompson.^[6][7][8][9] He has also performed with artists such as Bonnie Raitt, Patti Smith, Steve Earle, Rosanne Cash, Paolo Nutini, and Jools Holland.^[8][9][10]

McCusker worked as a producer for folk singer Kate Rusby, whom he married in August 2001. The couple divorced in 2006.^[11]

In 2003, after being introduced to Simon Fowler of Ocean Colour Scene by bassist Mike McNamara, McCusker received the BBC Radio 2 Folk Musician of the Year award.^[12]

In 2007, the Celtic Connections festival and the Cambridge Folk Festival commissioned McCusker to compose Under One Sky. This work featured Scottish and English musicians from various genres, including Gaelic singer Julie Fowlis and former Blur guitarist Graham Coxon. McCusker toured the UK in November and December 2008 in support of Under One Sky.^[13]

In 2012, McCusker performed with the Birmingham-based band Merrymouth and appeared on Simon Fowler's album of the same name, subsequently joining their UK tour.^[14]

In 2014, McCusker contributed to Wenlock Hill, the album by Simon Fowler's solo project Merrymouth. The album also featured Chas Hodges from Chas & Dave.^[15]