“ John was inducted into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame on October 12, 2024” - OMHOF
Background of John Nilsen
A truly passionate pursuit
PIANIST, SINGER-SONGWRITER, RECORDING ARTIST
John Nilsen is one of the Pacific Northwest’s most successful performance and recording artists. Nilsen's label, Magic Wing, has a catalog of twenty one titles, all distributed internationally. Many have been licensed in countries outside the United States, including Germany, Great Britain, The Philippines, Canada, Taiwan and Singapore. John Nilsen’s record sales far exceed a million copies, a rare accomplishment in the music industry. 240 of his compositions and arrangements receive performance and mechanical royalties. In 2021 John was selected as a Yamaha Piano Artist.
“Waaaaay cool. Youuuu beeeee baaaad!”
— Bill Champlin of Chicago, and The Sons of Champlin
John Nilsen & Swimfish
For original folk rock, John performs with SWIMFISH, an original band, featuring John on guitar, piano, and vocals, joined by Dave Captein/bass; Mike Snyder/drums; Bob Logue/guitar, vocals; and Don Woodward/guitar, harmonica, mandolin, vocals.
Beyond his solo and Swimfish performances, The John Nilsen Trio performs a mix of folk, classical, jazz and rock, with John accompanied by Jeff Leonard/bass; and Jason Moore/percussion.
“Both Rindy and I are really moved by your writing and performance.”
— Marv Ross (Quarterflash)
Concert Pianist & Folk-Rock Leader
John is a native of the Pacific Northwest, and has resided in Oregon since his youth. Nilsen began studying piano from his mother at age six and taught himself to play guitar at age twelve. He attended Southern Oregon University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in English. John was honored with the Most Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1995 for his outstanding contributions in the field of the performing arts, selected as a Yamaha Piano Artist in 2022 and inducted into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame in 2024. He loves to get out on the rivers, into the forests and onto the mountains of the region. The people, landscapes, weather, and tenor of life in the Pacific Northwest are strong influences in Nilsen’s musical themes.
From his home in Oregon, he composes and records music to perform in concerts around the world. “Magic Wing”, Nilsen's label, has a catalog of twenty albums, distributed internationally.
Beyond creating, recording, and distributing his music, John has performed countless times in every U.S. State, as well as logging numerous tours in Europe, Asia and Australia. Over the years, he has appeared with such luminaries as Jose Feliciano, Jesse Colin Young, David Foster, Marc Cohn, Kenny G, Alex De Grassi, Montreaux, the Smothers Brothers, and others.