ARTIST BIO

Arthur Lee Land combines the eclectic influences of Folk Rock, World Beat and Bluegrass to create a new genre he calls: Afrograss Folk Rock. Based out of Fairfield, Iowa, a mecca for spirituality, health, sustainability, technology and creativity, Arthur is renown for his stunning one-man performances. Through his exquisite expression of joy and musical mastery in the Art of Live-Looping, he showcases his songs and diverse musical vision to fully engaged audiences. Creating unique “on-the-fly” song-form Live-Looping masterpieces, Arthur will make you forget you are watching just one man. As he weaves across the stage, his multi-instrumental compositions are rich and intricate enough for an 8 piece band. “Lee Land is one of those guys with so much natural talent his jaw-dropping virtuosity seems effortless" --John Farmer of Frontier Airline's Wild BlueYonder Magazine.

Arthur latest studio recording Cracked Open is due out this winter on Perfect Groove Records. Cracked Open combines the ambient digital soundscapes and drum grooves of electronica with organic acoustic sounds to create Arthur's latest fusion: Afrograss Folktonica! The CD features 10 new original compostions penned by Arthur and his songwriting partner and wife Carol Lee. Her use of archetypal psychology, naturalism, spirituality, and evocative story lines is matched well with Arthur's musical authenticity and the fresh production quality that co-producer/engineer Aaron Shier is bringing to the table with his mad skillz. Aaron has done several remixes for Billboard Top 20 artists (Akon, Flo Rida, Jason Derulo and Nelly) and is creating waves as an artist in the electronica world with his duo Les BoyZ Electro http://www.myspace.com/lesboyzelectro "This is the album I've been wanting to make for years. I’ve been able to loop in the studio and play all the instruments and collaborating with Aaron on arrangements and production has taken this project to a whole new universe sonically.” Arthur explains energetically. All this from a home studio in Fairfield Iowa.....who knew?

“It feels like my musical journey can be best described as many lifetimes rolled into one!” Starting off making music at 5 years old, he pounded on pillows with chopsticks, graduating to a real drum set in 3rd grade. Influenced by his grandmother; renown Unity minister Dr. Sue Sikking, he picked up the guitar & began writing songs as a highly charged and creative teenager. During the lifetime he was sidemaning as a guitarist in country bands and jambands, he was also nurturing an ongoing original project called Arthur Lee & The Next Step. This project produced a depth of experience and songs which led to his first major CD called Lessons Of The Heart. Recorded at Prince's world renown Paisley Park Recording Studios, Arthur's recording career was officially lauched. "Where you been hidin' this boy!." - Mavis Staples exclaimed when she dropped into the studio during one of the recording sessions. Then while wading in a river in Big Sur California, a spontaneous songwriting collaboration with wife Carol Lee was soon followed by a tour in West Africa which signified another incarnation and inspired the birth of Arthur "Lee Land" and the sound of Afrograss Folk Rock.

An obsession with cutting edge technology and years of one-man shows have allowed Arthur to perfect The Art of Live-Looping and emerge as a global expert in this 21st century live performance art-form, dropping jaws at clubs and concerts across the country. A move to Boulder CO and the recording of his Dragonfly CD, produced by Grammy Award Nominated songwriter and producer Wendy Waldman (Save The Best For Last, Fishin’ In The Dark, New Grass Revival) paralleled his ongoing high profile presence at the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival & Song School in Lyons Colorado since 2002. Every year Arthur’s teaching and SRO performances are a huge success! “This guy exudes musical magic!” --Steve Szymanski, V.P. of Planet Bluegrass (Promoters of Rocky Mountain Folks & Telluride Bluegrass Festivals)

On a tip from producer Wendy Waldman and a powerful spiritual dream of Carol Lee's, the midwest was going to become a powerful destination for the most recent lifetime in Arthur Lee Land's inspired career. Arthur Lee Land and his wife relocated in 2007 to set down deep roots in Fairfield Iowa. Living in Fairfield has become a fertile ground for new songs, spiritual/artistic growth and experimenting with new technology. Cracked Open...on many levels....yep, that what's going on here in the most unassuming of places.