John Early was born in Jefferson, Texas on June 14, 1952.  He grew up in Avinger, Cass County, Texas.  However, with grandparents living in Linden, he spent his youth involved in the Linden Roundup Rodeo and going to hear Richard’s band the Four Speeds at the American Legion Hall.  That band influenced John and his Avinger friend Rolan Foster to become involved in music.

John was in several local bands, among them: The Chandeliers, Duck, Mole & Catfish, and Purple Cigar.  In 1970, he entered Tyler Junior College in Tyler, Texas.  John and Rolan formed a horn band named Ensky and played to the college crowd.  John then teamed up with Jimmy Godwin, a gifted musician from Mineola, Texas, and along with Kelly Lynn and Randy Carlile, they formed Pecos.  For several years Pecos was one the region's top progressive country bands.  But in 1978, after years of playing clubs, John moved back to Avinger and a "steady job" with the U.S. Postal Service.

Then in 1979, John and old friend Rolan, along with Don Eaves, Ronny Singley and Bob Stegall, formed the bluegrass band Hickory Hill.  Celebrating their 30th anniversary in September, 2009, Hickory Hill has proven to be one of Texas' most popular and enduring acoustic groups.  Through the years, the band has won considerable recognition, winning third place in the "Best New Band" contest at the Bluegrass Festival of the United States in Louisville, KY in 1981, and being nominated by SPBGMA as "Entertaining Bluegrass Band of the Year" in 1985 and "Bluegrass Band of the Year, Contemporary" in 1986.  In 1993, Hickory Hill was named "Band Of The Year" by the Arts and Entertainment Committee of East Texas, and in 1996 was selected for a showcase performance at the International Bluegrass Music Association's annual World of Bluegrass in Owensboro, Kentucky.  Hickory Hill has been the host band of the Overton Bluegrass Music Festival since the festival's inception in 1989.  They also host the bi-annual (February & August) Bluegrass Series event at Music City Texas Theater.  John made musical contributions to Linden's annual Linden Follies show and after Richard returned to Linden in 1998, John became a founding member of Moon & the Starz.  He also continues his commitment as a Director for Linden - Music City Texas, Inc. which operates the theater.

John's Personal Links:     Facebook     Hickory Hill Website     Hickory Hill MySpace