Okemah, Oklahoma singer/songwriter John Fullbright was barely out of high school when he began playing the festival circuit. Raised on the songs of hometown hero Woody Guthrie and steeped in the rich Americana artistry of mavericks like Townes Van Zandt, Randy Newman, and Steve Earle, Fullbright started his music education on the piano at the age of five. He later added guitar to his arsenal, and in his late teens he began honing his craft at the legendary Blue Door in Oklahoma City, eventually releasing a live album with the venue's founder, Greg Johnson. He spent the ensuing years touring and building his fan base, many of whom contributed donations to fund his 2012 studio debut, From the Ground Up. ~ James Christopher Monger