John William Harrelson

John William Harrelson, 62, of Ontario, California, musician and loving son and brother, passed away June 26, 2013, in Upland, California. He was born September 28, 1950, in Gadsden, Alabama, to Doris Elizabeth Harrelson (Martin) and John Pershing Harrelson. He graduated from Chaffey High School, Ontario, California, in 1968, received his undergraduate degree from Pitzer College and his master's and doctorate degrees from Claremont Graduate University.

John was an accomplished musician, songwriter and teacher. He was a guitar stylist and is recognized as a major contributor to the guitar tradition. He played twenty instruments and played in a variety of bands, ranging from rock to blues to country to jazz to big bands, in his illustrious career spanning over 45 years. During the late 1960s his band, Hard Luck Boy, opened for acts such as Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin, Paul Butterfield Blues Band and John Mayall. A prolific songwriter, with a catalogue of over 4500 songs, he also recorded and released nine albums. He held a doctorate in ethno-musicology and taught music and music history at numerous colleges, most recently on the faculty of Santiago Canyon College in Orange County, California.

He was preceded in death by his father, John Pershing Harrelson of Ontario, California.. He is survived by his mother, Doris Harrelson of Ontario, his sister Susan Culbertson, his brother-in-law Rob Culbertson, his nieces Roxann and Madeline Culbertson, his nephew Max Culbertson, all of Rancho Cucamonga, California, many relatives in Alabama and his life-long friend John Neiuber of Claremont, California.

A viewing/visitation will be held at Collier-Butler Funeral Home, Gadsden, Alabama, on Tuesday, July 9 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Services will be on Wednesday, July 10 at 2:00 p.m. at Bethel United Methodist Church, Calhoun County, Alabama, with burial following immediately in the church cemetery.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.collier-butler.com