Album Notes

'Counting The Stars' is the fifth solo album by guitarist Johann Helton, and his first since his debut 'Where Mountains End And Clouds Begin' to feature his unaccompanied guitar. Of the 2 cd's, Disc One contains original compositions, and Disc Two original arrangements of classic songs by The Beatles. Whether a cover song or an original piece, Helton always plays with confidence, grace and beauty.

Johann Helton is a composer and guitarist who resides in Boise, Idaho. In a distinct and varied career spanning more than three decades he has established himself as a musician respected by audiences and peers alike. The Idaho Statesman has described him as “…one of the area’s long-loved guitarists”. He performs widely as a solo artist and travels around the country performing with the 1960’s folk group The Highwaymen (as the only non-original member). Recent performance highlights include a headlining appearance at Lincoln Center for their Roots of American Music Festival, a featured slot at the World Folk Music Association annual celebration in Washington, D.C. and a joint concert appearance with folk legend Judy Collins in Palm Springs, California. A partial list of credits displays his breadth of accomplishments: 5 solo albums, appearances with the Smothers Brothers, Richie Havens, Luciano Pavarotti, The Kingston Trio, The Limeliters, the Boise Philharmonic, Opera Idaho, Jim Nabors, Nancy Griffith, Roger McGuinn and the Darkwood Consort. He is an alumnus of the University of Idaho, the Hochschule fuer Musik und darstellende Kunst (Salzburg, Austria), the Accademia Chigiana (Siena, Italy) and Boston College. He currently teaches guitar at Boise State University.