Jonathan Wilson is a singer-songwriter and record producer from Forest City, United States, born in 1974. He is based in Topanga, California, and his work spans folk, singer-songwriter and psychedelic folk-rock.

Early life

Wilson is born in Forest City, North Carolina and raised in nearby Spindale. His father is a bandleader, and his grandfather is a Baptist pastor whose services he often plays at. He cites his upbringing in North Carolina and the state’s musical heritage as an early influence.

Muscadine

Wilson forms Muscadine with Benji Hughes in 1995. The band releases its debut album, The Ballad of Hope Nicholls, on Sire Records in 1998.

Solo work

Wilson releases Gentle Spirit on Bella Union in 2011. It debuts at number 15 on the UK Indie Chart and appears at number 4 on Mojo’s list of the best albums of that year. The album includes contributions from Barry Goldberg, Chris Robinson, Gary Louris, Andy Cabic, Otto Hauser, Josh Grange, Gary Mallaber, Z Berg, Adam McDougall and Johnathan Rice, among others. He is named Uncut Magazine’s 2011 New Artist of the Year.

In 2012, Wilson releases the limited vinyl EP Pity Trials and Tomorrow’s Child on Bella Union for Record Store Day. One of its three tracks is a cover of George Harrison’s “Isn’t It A Pity” with guest vocals by Graham Nash.

His second album, Fanfare, comes out on Downtown Records and Bella Union in 2013. It reaches number 8 on the UK Indie Chart, number 50 on the UK Overall Chart, number 18 in Norway and number 49 in the Netherlands. Uncut Magazine and Rolling Stone Germany name it Album of the Month. Guests include David Crosby, Graham Nash, Jackson Browne, Mike Campbell, Benmont Tench, Father John Misty, Taylor Goldsmith and Patrick Sansone, and his band on the record includes Jason Borger, Omar Velasco, Richard Gowen and Dan Horne. Roy Harper writes the lyrics to “New Mexico”.

Wilson releases Rare Birds in 2018 and Dixie Blur in 2020. He also completes an unreleased solo album titled Frankie Ray in 2007.

Record production and collaboration

Wilson maintains Fivestar Studios in Echo Park, Los Angeles, which he relocates there from Laurel Canyon in 2009. He records and produces a wide range of artists there and elsewhere, including Dawes’ North Hills and Nothing Is Wrong, Father John Misty’s debut Fear Fun, Bonnie “Prince” Billy’s series of songs for Spiritual Pajamas Records, Glen Campbell’s Daytrotter session, Roy Harper’s Man and Myth, Mia Doi Todd’s Cosmic Ocean Ship, Jason Boesel’s Hustler’s Son and Goodnight Lenin’s debut In The Fullness Of Time. He also produces songs for his Roy Harper tribute project, What You Need Is What You Have, The Songs of Roy Harper, with performances by Will Oldham, Andy Cabic, Chris Robinson, Benji Hughes, Dawes, Jenny O., Johnathan Rice and Josh Tillman, among others.

Wilson produces and plays on Conor Oberst’s Upside Down Mountain, works with The Deep Dark Woods on Jubilee, and co-produces and plays on Roy Harper’s Man and Myth. He collaborates with Erykah Badu on several studio songs, one of which is officially released, and appears with her at Coachella in 2011. He also performs with Robbie Robertson and Dawes on television in support of Robertson’s How to Become Clairvoyant, joins Roy Harper at Royal Festival Hall for Harper’s 70th birthday celebration, tours with Wilco in the UK and Europe, and performs with Jackson Browne and Dawes in Spain.

He appears at the Musicians United for Safe Energy benefit concert at Shoreline Amphitheatre, where he performs “Gentle Spirit” with Jackson Browne and Graham Nash and joins the finale “Teach Your Children”. He is featured in the Jerry Garcia tribute Move Me Brightly at Bob Weir’s TRI Studios, and supports Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers on their European tour, including two sold-out nights at Royal Albert Hall. In 2017, he appears on Roger Waters’ Is This The Life You Really Want? and performs on the Us + Them tour.

Laurel Canyon and other projects

Wilson is associated with a revival of the Laurel Canyon scene and is featured in Harvey Kubernik’s 2009 book Canyon of Dreams. He hosts private jam sessions at his Laurel Canyon compound with musicians including Andy Cabic, Pat Sansone, John Stirratt, Gerald Johnson, Johnathan Rice, Gary Louris, Mark Olson, Chris Robinson, David Rawlings, Benmont Tench and Jakob Dylan, among others. The jam is founded by Wilson and Chris Robinson.

He is a member of The Emerald Triangle, a touring collaboration with Andy Cabic, Johnathan Rice, Neal Casal and Husky.