Jack Pearson. Photo by Bob Seaman.

If you ask some of the most famous musicians in the world who their favorite guitarist is, many will tell you it’s Jack Pearson.

Murfreesboro’s hometown hero, Pearson is an artist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and virtuoso guitarist who is fluent in jazz, blues, rock, country, bluegrass and classical. He melds all of these styles together to create an incredibly unique and innovative guitar sound and style unlike anyone else in the world.

Besides being a member of The Allman Brothers Band, he has also performed with a long list of world class artists from multiple genres including Vince Gill, Jimmy Buffett, Bobby “Blue” Bland, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Keb’ Mo’, Faith Hill, Tommy Emmanuel, Amy Grant, Charlie Daniels and many more.

Pearson has also created a successful career as a performing artist and songwriter and has released numerous solo albums that can be purchased from digital retailers or from jackpearson.com. His brand new album, Are You Listening?, will be released this summer.

As if that’s not enough, Jack is also a highly sought-after guitar teacher who created the Jack Pearson Guitar Academy online, which has hundreds of videos to teach guitarists ranging from beginners to professional.

The Pulse was grateful for a recent opportunity to talk with Jack about life, music and Middle Tennessee.

Murfreesboro Pulse: What have you been up to lately? Tell us about your new music, upcoming shows, and teaching.
After being a sideman most of my life I’m having a great time playing my own music. I’ve been writing since I was a kid so it really means a lot to me that people are accepting my original songs.

I’ve been touring doing my solo acoustic shows, and also some with my band. I do studio work in Nashville and I’m getting ready to release some new recordings.

My CDs and live dates are on my website [jackpearson.com]; I also have an online teaching site [jackpearsonguitar.com], it allows me to teach everyone how I play my various styles and personal techniques.

Can you share the things you loved best about growing up in Murfreesboro?
Murfreesboro was a smaller town when I was growing up, it was laid back. It sure has boomed with population and traffic—wow, the traffic!

There were always a lot of good musicians in this area to play with. In fact we recently had a reunion of guys that played together in the ’70s and it was so much fun to reconnect with everyone. There were some who couldn’t make it and some we couldn’t locate . . . but we hope to do it again.

It was Warren Haynes who first invited you to play with The Allman Brothers Band. How did you become friends with Warren, and what were your thoughts when preparing for that epic gig?
Warren and I became good friends when he lived in Nashville in the mid-’80s. In 1993 Dickey Betts had to leave the ABB tour so Warren asked me to fill in ’til Dickey came back. I knew all of the guitar parts to their classics from when I was growing up playing along with their early records so it was easy to go onstage and play the show with no rehearsal. Gregg took a shine to me and asked me to play in his solo band when Dickey returned. I toured and recorded with Gregg until 1997—that’s when Gregg asked me to join The Allman Brothers Band as a full member. So I got to be in The Allman Brothers Band with my hero Dickey Betts. I never dreamed of meeting them, and then to end up being in the band was overwhelming. I miss Gregg. We became friends and hung out a lot while we were on tour.

Do you believe that music is a spiritual thing? What’s the most profound thing about music to you?
I believe God gave me the gift of music and I have a spiritual connection with it. I want to play and sing with as much feeling as I can. Sometimes it’s hard to get past the technical challenges of performing and just enjoy the music while I’m doing it.

There’s some difficult passages that I play that require me to have very deep concentration, but it’s still fun! Sometimes I have to dig down deep just to get the music out.

I’m glad to say that I’ve shared smiles and tears with music many times as a listener and as a performer.

And it always feels good to hear that the music I just played moved somebody.

What makes a band, a great band?
For me, it’s when musicians are really playing together, listening to each other and being creative at the same time and making the music sound fresh every time.

With classical and big band music the musicians are playing what’s written out, but the good players can make it sound like it’s their own and play with a deep feeling. It is amazing.

What do you think the future holds for music and the music business?
It looks like the music biz as we knew it is dead, and that’s fine with me because it’s making it easier to be an independent artist. So I’m very happy doing what I’m doing. My own websites, along with YouTube and Facebook, have helped to get my music out there so people can hear it.

What’s the best advice you have for musicians who want to get hired by famous or professionally touring acts?
My getting gigs has been word of mouth. The old saying “it’s all in who you know” really is true. Get out and play and jam with each other. Since I was a kid I would play with whoever would let me. Before the internet, it took a lot longer to build a reputation, but word gets around. My advice has always been to show up early, or at least be on time, and be prepared to do a good job. I also went to many auditions where I didn’t get the job but I didn’t give up. And I’ve been fired many times, usually for improvising too much, which is funny now because I’m kinda known for being a good improviser . . . always keep learning, there is so much to learn about music. Go back and listen to recordings of the guys that invented whatever style it is that you want to play well.

Do you have any advice for MTSU music and recording industry students?
Whatever it is you do, care about what you’re doing and give it all you got.

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Jack Pearson will perform at The Station Inn in Nashville on June 6; for more information on Pearson, visit jackpearson.com.

What fellow world-class musicians say about Jack Pearson:

“Jack Pearson is an amazing guitar player . . . he really is one of the best on the planet. He’s one of those guys who is equally at home whether he’s playing jazz, blues, country or rock. Whatever he plays, it’s always in his own style and interesting to hear . . . I urge everyone to check him out.”
— Derek Trucks

“Jack Pearson is tops—he really is. That guy can do it all. As a guitarist, songwriter and vocalist, he is amazing . . . Jack Pearson is one of the most accomplished cats I’ve ever played with.”
— Gregg Allman

“I’ve never met anyone as adept at Delta blues as they are bebop. A man who can rock with the Allman Brothers as good as he can swing with Jimmy Smith. A man who could have accompanied Blind Willie Johnson as well as he could Shirley Caesar. That’s a rare human right there. I have learned so much from Jack, and not just about music. He’s a good man, and I am really thankful that I got to hear him, jam with him, and know him as a friend.”
— Oteil Burbridge

“He’s got to be one of the finest pickers on the planet.” — Charlie Daniels