Johnny Irion

Californian musical journeyman goes from folk to rock to Americana

Johnny Irion's family is rich in writing and music. His great uncle is John Steinbeck and his wife and collaborator is Arlo Guthrie's daughter. He talks with Scott Simon about his new album.

He’s known for his ongoing collaboration with wife Sarah Lee Guthrie, of the American folk music dynasty, but his solo projects show further-reaching roots played up the Gram Parsons-Neil Young timbres in Irion’s high tenor voice.