John Maclean

Letters Home John Maclean

Baltimore will always be my home. I was born and raised there, became an adult there. But for the last 20 years I've lived in New England, married, and helped raise our family. This, too, is home. Indeed, so is any place where I can find family, friends, or memories. There are also events outside of these places that strike home, and they count too. And so for me, each of my songs is a letter home. My mother loved to sing along with the car radio, even in the warm weather with the windows down and her mortified son sinking very low in his seat when we stopped at red lights. Her lesson? Sing when you feel like it. Twenty-five years later George Brown moved from Texas to Baltimore, and the first time I heard him sing "Pancho and Lefty" was the night I knew I would play. He taught me how, and also that music is for bringing people in, not excluding. Since then I have found my voice and written these songs, thanks to countless friends but especially The Bank Street Band, Kate Campbell, and Dick Pleasants. And finally, I had the good fortune to work with Seth Connelly, a marvelously gifted player, producer, and person. His humanity raises the musicians he works with, and their music, to another level. But that is true of everyone for whom these songs are written and sung. I am grateful the music brings all of them home to me.