Spring 2024

led to many more opportunities, including one that was a childhood dream of that kid from Hometown. “Ricky Nelson had booked some dates in Las Vegas for the first time in his career. His manager wanted him to make a big impres- sion there and he called me.” By this time, Beland had a reputation as a master of the Fender Telecaster guitar style and sound.“Ricky’s early hits—'Hello Mary Lou,' 'Travelin’ Man,' 'Lonesome Town'—featured the legendary James Burton on Telecaster. They called me because Burton was then working with Elvis.” That Vegas stand turned into a lifelong friend- ship and professional relationship.“We recorded his album 'The Memphis Sessions' that included a cover of Bobby Darin’s 'Dream Lover.' That became Ricky’s last hit song.” Nelson died in a tragic plane crash in 1985. “Working with him was everything I wanted to do when I was learning to play. He was the best. By far.” Country music became Beland’s forte, and that meant moving to Nashville, where he became an in-demand player.“I’m proud of my long career playing country music in Nashville.” One highlight is his playing on a demo record for then-unknown singer Garth Brooks. “The song was 'Friends in Low Places,' and it became the biggest song in country music history.” In 1980 he was tapped to join The Flying Burrito Brothers, a country rock outfit originally formed in 1968. By that time, the band was “an underground hippy rock band” (in Beland’s words). Under his produc- tion, songwriting and guitar playing, he resur- rected the band, inking a deal with Curb Records and racking up nine hit songs. Now Beland is back in California, but he still has his finger on the pulse of the music business. “I do a lot of recording at my home studio,” he says. He’s also producing independent acts, including, interestingly, country rock bands in Norway. “I’m still rockin’ and rollin’.” For more information, visit www.johnbeland.net . Many move to Pebble Beach to retire—not John Beland. He maintains an active recording, producing and performing schedule with musicians such as Arlo Guthrie. C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S P R I N G 2 0 2 4 145 Photos: Courtesy of John Beland