John McCusker (born 15 May 1973) is a Scottish folk musician, record producer, and composer. He had a long association as a member of Battlefield Band beginning in the 1990s, and was later a band member and producer for folk singer, Kate Rusby. He has served as producer and arranger for various artists. He has also released several solo albums.
Career
McCusker was born in Bellshill, Scotland on May 15, 1973. He had an Irish mother who encouraged him to learn to play the fiddle, beginning at age seven. He became a regular participant in local youth orchestras and ceilidh bands and formed the band Parcel O'Rogues (named from Robert Burns' Sic a Parcel o' Rogues in a Nation) with some schoolmates when he was 14. A couple of years later, he gave up a place at the Royal Scottish Academy in Glasgow to tour with Battlefield Band, whom he spent eleven years with.[1] His first solo album was released by Temple in 1995.[2]
After bassist Mike McNamara introduced John and Simon Fowler of Ocean Colour Scene to each other, Fowler subsequently presented him with the BBC Radio 2 folk musician of the year award in 2003. McCusker has appeared live with the Birmingham band numerous of times, and in 2012, he appeared on Fowler's Merrymouth album, joining the band on their UK tour.
In 2014, McCusker appeared on Wenlock Hill, the new album by Simon Fowler's solo project, now called 'Merrymouth'. The album featured a guest appearance from Chas Hodges from Chas and Dave[4]
