John Edward Beland (born July 24, 1949) is an American songwriter, session guitarist, recording artist, producer and author.

Beland's career as guitarist started in Los Angeles in the late 1960s, playing sessions and local live gigs with Kris Kristofferson, as well as future Eagles members, Glenn Frey and Bernie Leadon.

He took little interest in school, instead, he focused on practicing blues and jazz tracks that were popular at the time, including Mose Allison, Ramsey Lewis and Bo Diddley.

He recalled hearing The Byrds' single "Mr. Tambourine Man" for the first time and being instantly connected and inspired by the Bob Dylan written track.

Beland didn't attend his new school in Southern California and instead spent his days sneaking into movie studios and record companies to learn more about passions of filmmaking and music.

[1] He lived on the streets for a couple of weeks after leaving home, speaking to publishing companies and record labels on a daily basis and showing them his homemade demo tape.

He became well known by performers and regulars at the club, before host, Larry Murray decided to showcase Beland at the primetime slot in front of numerous record label executives.

[2] Around the same time as his The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour performances, he befriended two struggling singer-songwriters, Glenn Frey and JD Souther.

[2] Beland's luck changed over the next couple of months as he and Lois Dalton sang the theme song for the popular sitcom and ABC's hit show, The Brady Bunch.

With Ronstadt's band, Beland toured the United States, performing at the Capitol Records Convention; Fillmore West with The Byrds; the Big Sur celebration with The Beach Boys and also at Troubadour.

[3] Ronstadt's bass player was replaced in the early 1970s by Beland's friend and former One Man's Family band member, Thad Maxwell.

Beland did not complete the solo album under Apple Records, due to The Beatles' pending litigation against their manager Allen Klein.

He played on her albums, St. Vincent's Court and Sailing, as well as backing her on tour as an opening act for the pop star Neil Sedaka, who was enjoying a comeback at the time.

The Bellamys' follow-up single, "Crossfire", was a hit in Europe, featuring Beland's signature big electric guitar sound that actually inspired Bonnie Tyler's record, "It's A Heartache".

McDonald explained that Nelson was planning to get back to his rock and roll roots by putting together a great band that matched the caliber of his early TV days.

He knew all the classic guitar solos left to right, just like on the records, and his style was reminiscent of Nelson's original guitarist, James Burton.

Beland arranged most of the material and co-wrote one of the songs with Nelson the night before the session, called "That Ain't The Way Love's Supposed To Be".

The track started as a fast-driving teen anthem before Beland slowed it down to have a James Taylor feel, reminiscent of Nelson's old version of Bob Dylan's "She Belongs To Me".

"Dream Lover" sounded like a smash hit and was planned for release as a single to coincide with Nelson's hosting of the top TV show in the country, Saturday Night Live.

However, after discussions with his publisher Bo Golsen at Atlantic Records, Beland decided to join the band, providing he could produce and write for the group.

The demos were highly commercial, so Bo Golsen immediately took them to Curb Records' A&R head Dick Whitehouse, who offered the group a deal, under one condition: The label wanted one of their own to produce the band.

[5] Despite Beland's objections related to producing, The Burrito Brothers (who had now dropped "Flying") went on to score major country hits, a first in their ten-year prior history.

Beland also objected to using any part of The Burrito Brothers' name and suggested that he and Gib Guilbeau change it completely, but the record label refused.

They also performed at the International Country Music Festival in London's Wembley Stadium with Waylon Jennings, The Bellamy Brothers, George Jones, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Tammy Wynette.

He wrote the number two Gospel Record of the Year for former Grand Funk Railroad lead singer Mark Farner, called "Isn't It Amazing".

Beland took control and produced the band's three critically acclaimed studio albums, Eye of a Hurricane (1994), California Jukebox (1997), and Sons of the Golden West (1999).

During the recordings, Beland produced guest performances with Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, Ricky Skaggs, Buck Owens, The Oakridge Boys and Charlie Louvin.

Beland and The Flying Burrito Brothers toured Europe at the end of the 1990s, performing throughout Germany, Spain, and Switzerland, before finally calling it quits in 2000.

[8] In 1999, Beland and his family moved to Napa, California, where he concentrated on producing radio jingles and musical acts in Australia and Germany.

Beland rehearsed in Beverly Hills with Thornton but eventually passed on touring with him, opting to go instead to Australia to record, produce and perform.