JD McPherson

Singer/songwriter JD McPherson makes vintage-sounding rock with nods to '40s R&B, blues, and '50s rockabilly. A native of Oklahoma, McPherson grew up listening to a wide array of musical styles from traditional country and rockabilly to punk and hip-hop. Although music was always an interest, McPherson first worked on his family's cattle ranch and later earned a master's degree in open media from Tulsa University, eventually teaching and receiving attention for his video art installations. McPherson is a member of the Tulsa-based rockabilly ensemble the Starkweather Boys, whose classic style caught the ear of Chicago retro-rock impresario Jimmy Sutton. A job backing Sutton on a few shows followed for McPherson, as did the idea of his own solo project. In 2010, McPherson released his solo debut, the Sutton-produced Signs & Signifiers (featuring the single "North Side Gal"), on Hi-Style Records. In 2012, Signs & Signifiers was re-released to a wider audience on Rounder Records.