J.D. Hutchison

American multi-instrumentalist and singer/songwriter from Athens, Ohio. Died November 2, 2021 at the age of 81. His work manifests influences from Bach to bluegrass, country and country blues, jazz, pop, and folk music. J. D. and Zeke Hutchison performed together around Dayton as the Hutchison Brothers, along with Greg Dearth on fiddle, “Peach” Hampton on mandolin, and Timothy Sparkman on bass. John played guitar and appeared as a solo performer around the country before joining with his younger brother “Zeke” (who played banjo) to form a band which won the band contest at the Bean Blossom festival in the early 1970s. Both continued to play music, primarily in Southeast Ohio. J.D. gained some fame as a songwriter; his songs were admired and recorded by Tim O’Brien and Robert Earl Keen. He also had a band called Realbilly Jive, which included Zeke’s son, also called Zeke, who became very proficient on mandolin and eventually formed his own band, Zeke’s Fancy, which continues in 2016.