American roots master Chuck Mead at Johnny D’s
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Chuck Mead entertains at Johnny D’s this coming Saturday night.

By Jim Clark

Chuck Mead’s journey from his hometown of Lawrence, Kansas – where he lead several popular cult bands in the 80s – through his tenure in the wildly popular 90s Alternative Country quintet BR549, to his present thriving solo career, reads like a rough and rowdy tale of old, replete with tales of joy, triumph, and occasional woe.

Along the way he has made many friends and fans of his music. One noteworthy stop on the road for those in and around Somerville will be his performance at Johnny D’s this coming Saturday night.

Mead’s current national tour, promoting his latest album Free State Serenade, has brought him across the land, sharing the musical brilliance that shines from this polished and thoughtful country rocker.

Fans of BR549 are well acquainted with Mead’s dynamic style of songwriting and performing. The band earned three Grammy nominations and the Country Music Association Award for Best Overseas Touring Act.

Chuck formed The Hillbilly All-Stars featuring members of The Mavericks, co-produced popular tribute albums to Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings, guest-lectured at Vanderbilt University, and became a staff writer at one of Nashville’s top song publishers. In 2009, he released his acclaimed solo debut album, Journeyman’s Wager, and toured clubs, concert halls and international Rock, Country and Rockabilly festivals with his band The Grassy Knoll Boys.

As Music Director for the Broadway smash Million Dollar Quartet, Chuck began crafting the music arrangements during the show’s original Daytona and Seattle workshop productions, supervised the musical performances for its 2008 Chicago opening, created new music material for the show’s Tony Award-winning Broadway run, produced the original cast album, and oversaw the music for its smash 2011 premiere at London’s Noël Coward Theatre. In 2013, MDQ broke the Chicago record for longest running musical.

Chuck’s acclaimed 2012 release, Back At The Quonset Hut, was recorded at Nashville’s legendary Quonset Hut Studio where Patsy Cline, George Jones, Merle Haggard Roger Miller, Loretta Lynn, Johnny Cash and more cut some of country’s greatest tracks. Produced by original BR549 producer Mike Janas and with the participation of students from Belmont University’s College of Entertainment and Music Business, the album of classic covers features surviving members of Music Row’s original ‘A Team’ studio musicians as well as guest appearances by Old Crow Medicine Show, Elizabeth Cook, Jamie Johnson and Bobby Bare.

2014 ushers in Free State Serenade, the new Chuck Mead & His Grassy Knoll Boys release on Nashville-based Plowboy Records. Produced by long-time ally and friend Joe Pisapia (kd Lang, Ben Folds Five) and featuring BR549’s Don Herron, Old Crow Medicine Show’s Critter Fuqua, Alan Murphy, Will Rambeaux, and Mark Andrew Miller, Free State Serenade is Chuck Mead’s strongest effort yet.

“It’s been incredibly liberating to do all these things I’ve never done before. I’ve already gone from the bars of Lower Broadway in Nashville to the Broadway stage, and the upcoming album is one of the most unique and rewarding projects I’ve ever been a part of. I’m looking forward to where it all brings me next.”

Mead speaks highly of Somerville and, specifically, Johnny D’s, which he remembers well from previous performances there with BR549. He invites everyone to come down to the show and be ready to dance.

Chuck Mead & His Grassy Knoll Boys, Saturday, July 12 at 7 p.m. at Johnny D’s, 17 Holland St, Somerville.