Album Notes

John McCarty got his start singing in his hometown, Duluth, Minnesota. As a ninthgrader, he was the frontman for a college band. At 16, he bought a $30 guitar from a neighborhood friend, and began writing his own songs by the time he was 19. He released his first original recording, Turn it Around, when he was 21.

While studying at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, McCarty performed solo shows to packed auditoriums of over 600 enthusiastic fans. He followed Turn It Around with two more home made releases; I Know, and Welcome Back. Each release sold over 1000 copies as John toured the Midwest. Welcome Back landed on the desk of Burst Records president Daniel Holter, who realized right away that John had a rare combination of talents-an expressive, soulful voice; deft, groove-oriented guitar playing; and earnest songwriting. As a young & independent label, Burst Records chose John McCarty as one of their first signings. Taxi.com says "there's something undeniably fabulous about [these songs]. John's voice is really distinctive, and the playing and production are truly superb. Definitely the best thing I've heard here at Taxi all day, all week, all month!!!"

Some top-notch musicians join McCarty on Plans We Made :
Phil Madeira (Amy Grant, Owsley, Buddy Miller, Garth Brooks)
Mark Robertson (Matthew Ryan, Rich Mullins)
John Ferraro (David Baerwald, Barry Manilow, Boz Skaggs)
Jerry Hey & Larry Williams (Michael Jackson, Toto, Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin)

Plans We Made is a soulful and confident debut, with organic grooves that slip and slide between heartbreak and hope.