John Einarson’s love of music began as a guitar player in local bands in Winnipeg.
He is now considered one of North America’s finest music historians.
Born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Einarson is an award-winning author of nineteen music biographies with many on The Globe and Mail bestseller list and several ranked among the top ten music biographies. In 2006 Einarson received the Association for Recorded Sound Collections Award for Excellence in the category of historical recorded sound research.
Einarson has published hundreds of magazine and newspaper articles worldwide including Mojo, Uncut, Goldmine, Discoveries, Record Collector, and Classic Rock magazines and is a regular contributor to the Winnipeg Free Press. Einarson wrote the Juno-nominated documentary Buffy Sainte-Marie: A Multimedia Life for Bravo TV and served as writer and consultant for the Neil Young Biography episode on A&E TV.
Einarson curated the exhibit Shakin’ All Over: The Manitoba Music Experience displayed at the Manitoba Museum in 2010. He teaches music history classes at the Manitoba Conservatory of Music & Arts and is a frequent commentator on music history for radio, TV and internet podcasts. In 2016, John was the recipient of the prestigious Manitoba Order of the Buffalo Hunt in recognition of his extensive work in preserving Manitoba’s music history.
Photo: John Einarson, age 17, playing with band, ‘Euphoria’, opening the Led Zeppelin ‘ManPop 70 Concert’ at the Winnipeg Stadium, August 1970.
John Einarson performing with Michelle Anseeuw at Times Change(d) Night Club.
The ‘Old Professor’ rocking out at Times Change(d) Nite Club.
John, far right, with 'Pig Iron' playing a 'Love-In' at Winnipeg's Assiniboine Park, June 1970.
John, far right, with band ‘Solar Rift Orchestra’, spring 1969.
John, third from right, with band ‘Fabulous George & The Zodiacs’, summer 1971.
John with Sir Bob Geldof.
John with Buffy Sainte Marie.
John with Burton Cummings, Neil Young and Randy Bachman.
John with Burton Cummings at the launch of his 'Plus Signs' album, 1990.
Richie Furay, co-author of ‘For What It’s Worth: The Story of Buffalo Springfield’.
John with Chris Hillman.
“John Einarson is one of this country’s premiere cultural writers.”
– Bob Mersereau, CBC