Jack would love to pick and grin for ‘ya! He’s been on a never-ending tour since 1997. His show works well at performing art centers, theaters, fairs, festivals, churches, bars, breweries, wineries, and chicken coops. Scroll down for house concert info! Jack lives in Mullet River, Minnesota and tours worldwide. For booking info, email Jack’s booking agent (and wife) Kitty Norton at: jackandkittyxo@gmail.com or call/text: 818.233.0612. Already booked a show and need some promotional help? Scroll down (or click here) to connect with Jack’s publicist Emma. Our goal is to provide you with the easiest and most professional help possible!
Click for info on “Sounds So Sweet: A Celebration of Jug Band Music” – a special concert and screening event for performing arts centers, theaters, and film societies in the United States, UK, and Europe. Now booking for 2026 and 2027!
Biography
Jack Norton
vocals, guitar, steel guitar, banjo, ukulele, harmonica, stomp box, kazoo-a-phone
Jack Emmett Norton was born in Mullet River, Minnesota. Named after eccentric yodeling minstrel star Emmett Miller, Jack comes from a long line of musicians, radio personalities, comedians and vaudeville performers. As a youngster, Norton found comfort in his great grandfather’s phonograph record collection.
“I closed my eyes and left reality,” Norton explains. “I buried my head in the horn of that phonograph machine and would travel back to a simpler, happier time. The music of Rudy Vallee, Bing Crosby, Al Jolson – that was the soundtrack to my youth.”
As fate would have it, oddball crooner Tiny Tim came tip-toeing into Jack’s south Minneapolis neighborhood, and soon become young Jack’s babysitter.
“Tiny Tim lived across the street from me. He gave me my first ukulele and showed me how to pick out a tune on it.”
While still in elementary school, Norton met bluesman Leon Redbone who showed him the basics of ragtime jazz fingerpicking on the guitar. “Redbone was a great guitar teacher, I learned so much from him.”
Fully immersed in the music of the 1920s and 1930s, Norton provided extensive research as an assistant to author Nick Tosches who praised Jack’s work as a musicologist and hailed the pre-teen as “my hope for the future of America”.
Norton began to record his own versions of obscure jug band blues, Tin Pan Alley ragtime and hokum vaudeville songs. He also started to write poems and songs and become the youngest published author in Random House history when the industry giant included Norton’s poems in an anthology of emerging American poets. By the time Norton was in high school, he was touring nationwide in a band he lead and co-created with his high school sweetheart Kitty.
A true renaissance man, Jack studied Early Childhood Education and co-created a children’s TV series with wife Kitty. The Zinghoppers TV Show was presented by Nashville Public Television and aired on over 100 PBS Kids member stations nationwide and on the The Armed Forces Network’s Family Channel and Trinity Broadcast Network’s Smile of a Child (preschool education channel). The series is now presented on YouTube Kids with a cast of colorful puppet characters – some even voiced by Jack. In 2011, the series was nominated for six Emmy Awards and in 2012 Jack earned an Emmy Award for Outstanding Musical Score or Composition in a TV Series. Music from The Zinghoppers TV Show (written by Jack and Kitty) was recently heard in the Oscar-nominated film The Florida Project (2017), starring Willem Dafoe and directed by Sean Baker (Anora, Tangerine). The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.
In 2018, Jack directed Jug Band Hokum, a feature film acquired by Amazon Prime, starring Garrison Keillor, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Dom Flemons, and Charlie Parr. The twisted comedy-documentary profiles the iconic Minneapolis Battle of the Jug Bands.
Jack currently performs over 250+ shows per year in the United States, Europe and the United Kingdom. To learn more, please email Jack’s agent (and wife) Kitty Norton at: jackandkittyxo@gmail.com.
“Jack Norton is the greatest entertainer I have ever seen.”
Tiny Tim
“Among the indies deserving far greater recognition is Jack Norton… certainly someone to watch.”
Billboard Magazine
“My hope for the future of America.”
Nick Tosches
“A fresh and refreshing blend of absolutely original folk, country blues and ragtimey jazz. Jack Norton is one of the most entertaining acoustic musicians in the Midwest.”
Minneapolis Star Tribune
“Jack Norton is uniquely American… a near brilliant songwriter.”
The Washington Post
“It’s a pleasure working with Jack. He knows what music is, and how it should be played!”
Dave Van Ronk
“Two-thirds vaudeville huckster, one-third weary traveler, Jack Norton is the owner of a warble that is as once charming enough to lure a gaggle of easy marks behind a carnival curtain, and seemingly earnest enough to wrench a tear (and maybe a few bucks) from a stranger on the bus.”
City Pages
“Very good, unique style.”
Leon Redbone
“Vaudeville isn’t dead, it’s just being redefined by Jack Norton. His music is lo-fi, sometimes jazzy, sometimes ragtime Americana honky-tonk blues – which manages to be simultaneously fresh and evocative of those classic saloon sounds. Meanwhile, his performances themselves would probably fall under the category of nonstop, over-the-top entertainment.”
The Local Planet
“Norton’s music is a brand of pure blue-collar poetry – snapshots of working-class life in the heart of America set to whiskey-drinker’s music. His new album continues the evolution from novelty musician to soulful folkie. Norton himself shows glimmerings of a younger, more coherent Bob Dylan.”
RipSaw
“Really bold, undeniably original stuff.”
Missoula Independent
“Along the way you are treated to a twisted journey through musical history with ragtime, jazz, parlor music and hokum blues, all mixed with comedy and slapstick prop work. Norton’s shows are always high energy and unpredictable, so expect the unexpected. Jack has an undeniable talent for injecting traditional jazz with enough soul that it’s hard to believe he’s in his early twenties.”
Pulse of the Twin Cities
“Norton has come to relish his outsider status. His albums offer an eccentric mix of traditional folk, blues, ragtime and early bluegrass and his theatrical influenced live shows have made Jack Norton an oddly brilliant standout in roots music.”
Minneapolis Star Tribune
“If you see only one show this year, it should be this one. Part music show. Part vaudeville act. Part circus sideshow. Complete with fancy finger-picking, singalongs and bad jokes. It has to be seen to be believed. You’d be sure to impress a date by attending this fun, intimate and bizarre old-timey show. I get the strong impression that Jack Norton, having been steeped in the vaudeville tradition since childhood, is presenting an authentic and well-researched show. Yet his shows are far from academic – clearly everything comes straight from the heart. His musicianship is excellent. His shows are fun, uplifting and the perfect way to unwind. Allow yourself to be transported to a different time and place for a couple of hours and forget about the worries of today’s more complicated world.”
How Was The Show
“See him now: someday you’ll be able to say you knew Jack Norton before he was famous.”
Siren Magazine
“Imagine a raw and youthful Tom Waits, delving with untempered earnestness into musical Americana nuggets of country blues, pre-ragtime jazz and early jump blues. This is another perfect record from Jack Norton.”
Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
Film Screening and Live Concert by the Filmmakers!
We are now accepting bookings for 2026 and 2027 with performing arts centers, theaters, and film societies in the United States, UK, and Europe for a special concert and screening event!
Born from the grit and resilient spirit of African-American communities, jug band blues music weaves the enduring rhythms of African heritage and the struggles of slavery into a joyful heartbeat of a nation’s musical heritage.
In their new documentary film Sounds So Sweet, Emmy Award-winning filmmakers Kitty and Jack Norton craft a vivid celebration of jug band music’s rich history and enduring cultural impact.
Through insightful interviews with Americana luminaries like Dom Flemons, Garrison Keillor, and Charlie Parr, paired with electrifying performances from the Steel City Jug Slammers, Deep Fried Pickle Project Jug Band, Baby Gramps, Three Good Samaritans Jug Band, Bones Jugs-n-Harmony, and more, this documentary celebrates America’s most distinctive musical tradition.
Pick up a moonshine jug, borrow grandma’s washboard, snatch your crazy uncle’s kazoo, and join in the foot-stomping fun of this heartfelt tribute to jug band music’s timeless charm!
About the Concert and Screening Event
The evening starts with an exclusive screening of Sounds So Sweet (55 minutes). After a brief intermission, Emmy Award winning directors Kitty and Jack Norton take the stage for a fun concert set of jug band music, hokum blues, and ragtime jazz from the 1920s and 1930s. Director Kitty Norton loves sharing her Jamaican heritage with audiences (Kitty’s uncle is reggae legend Bunny Wailer, from Bob Marley’s band The Wailers). During the show, she even demonstrates an early form of Caribbean jug band music called “mento”. The talented husband and wife duo bring over a dozen folk instruments for this concert event, including: guitar, steel guitar, banjo, ukulele, washboard, kazoo-a-phone, trumpet, harmonica, rhumba box, bones, spoons, and of course… a jug!
Email jackandkittyxo@gmail.com or call/text 818-233-0612 to schedule your event today.
Watch the Teaser Trailer
Watch a Performance by Kitty and Jack Norton
In celebration of Jack’s latest album, he is now scheduling dates at house concerts in Europe, Canada and the United States. This is an exciting way for audiences to see Jack in a very intimate, private, acoustic setting… all in the comfort of your home!
Jack typically plays theaters, performing arts centers, fairs and festivals, and for the first time in his decades long career he is playing shows in a house concert setting. If you’re not familiar with the tradition, a house concert is a musical event that is presented in someone’s home or apartment, or a nearby small private space such as a barn, apartment rec room, lawn or back yard. This setting provides audiences with a warm, inviting and intimate experience. It’s like your own private episode of Behind The Music, with Jack sharing the stories (and jokes) that inspired his songs.
If you’re interested in hosting a house concert event, email Jack’s agent (and wife) Kitty Norton at: jackandkittyxo@gmail.com or call/text: 818.233.0612
For more info on the history of house concerts, click here. Below are some frequently asked questions…
How does this work?
You email us, we see if Jack will be in your area sometime in the next year (spoiler alert: he probably will be). We discuss the logistics and confirm a date and time for the show. We will work with you to help provide everything you need to tell your friends about the event.
What do I need to provide?
In short: a performance space and an audience! That’s it. Jack will bring absolutely everything else necessary to accommodate a crowd of up to 100 people.
How long is the show?
A typical evening would start around 6:00 PM. You would invite your friends for cocktails or a potluck. Jack will mingle with your guests, tell some bad jokes and make everyone feel welcome. At 7:00 PM his first set will start. Around 8:00 PM there’s a short break for about 15 minutes. At 8:15 PM Jack starts his second set of music and plays until around 9:15 PM. Guests can linger as long as you’d like after the show. Sometimes bonfires and jam sessions have been known to happen late into the night! Whatever your vibe is, Jack will accommodate.
How much does this cost?
To secure performances, Jack requires a security deposit of $375. The balance is $1125, which would be due after his show. Most house concert hosts asks that their guests provide a suggested donation of $30 to the event. This means you only need fifty friends to cover Jack’s entire performance fee! Of course, if you feel strange asking your friends to make a suggested donation, you can certainly just pay Jack’s performance fee directly. We ask that European concert hosts provide Jack with a room to spend the evening.
Jack’s commitment to you as a presenter is that he will deliver the highest quality show with the most professional and caring service possible. His team will work very hard to promote your event as much as we can. Jack loves to make himself available to any local newspapers, radio, TV, podcasts, bloggers, telegraphs or pigeon posts (those last two are jokes). The point is: it’s always fun spreading the word about your big event, and we are here to help! Contact Jack’s publicist Emma at: jackandkittyxo@gmail.com or call/text: 818-233-0612.
Artist Name
Jack Norton
Musical Style
Vaudeville Blues, Old-Time Country, and Vintage Americana
Show Description (One Sentence)
Travel back in time with Emmy Award winning songwriter Jack Norton, for a concert of vaudeville blues, old-time country, and vintage Americana folk music.
Show Description (One Paragraph)
Travel back in time with Emmy Award winning songwriter Jack Norton for a concert of vaudeville blues, old-time country, and vintage Americana folk music. Oddball ukulele legend Tiny Tim hailed Norton as “the greatest entertainer I have ever seen!” The Minneapolis Star Tribune called Jack “one of the most entertaining acoustic musicians in the Midwest.” His performances are an authentic throwback to a simpler time and bygone era.
Publicity Photos
Right-click and save the images to download these promotional photos to your computer. These images are protected by copyright but may be used by a newspaper, magazine or online in connection with an article or social media post promoting our event at your venue. Please credit to: “Photographer: Emma Smith for Jack and Kitty Media Group”. If you have a question on how to use these images, email us: jackandkittyxo@gmail.com
Publicity Photo: Christmas and Holiday Shows
Right-click and save the image to download this promotional photo to your computer. This image is protected by copyright but may be used by a newspaper, magazine or online in connection with an article or social media post promoting our event at your venue. Please credit to: “Photographer: Emma Smith for Jack and Kitty Media Group”. If you have a question on how to use these images, email us: jackandkittyxo@gmail.com
Promotional Poster
Here is a poster for you to right-click and save to download to your computer. For PNG, use this link. For PDF, use this link. We recommend using the white box at the bottom of the design to add the date, time, and venue name. If you have a question on how to use this poster, email us: jackandkittyxo@gmail.com
Promotional Poster: Christmas and Holiday Shows
Here is a poster for you to right-click and save to download to your computer. For PNG, use this link. For PDF, use this link. We recommend using the white box at the bottom of the design to add the date, time, and venue name. If you have a question on how to use this poster, email us: jackandkittyxo@gmail.com
Logo
Right-click and save the logo image to download to your computer. This image is protected by copyright but may be used by a newspaper, magazine or online in connection with an article promoting our event at your venue. If you have a question on how to use these images, email us: jackandkittyxo@gmail.com
Links and Social Media
- JackNortonMusic.com
- YouTube
- Bandcamp
- Spotify
- TikTok
- X (Twitter)
- Facebook (hacked at 22K followers, this is a new page)
- BandsInTown
Biography
Jack Norton says he was born somewhere in rural Georgia during the summer of 1879 to a family of itinerant workers. He spent his childhood in the Deep South, drifting from town to town, eventually learning how to play the guitar from legendary blues musician Blind Lemon Jefferson.
When he was 12, he ran away from home to join the circus and later worked as a banjo player, vocal contortionist, and comedian in a traveling medicine show.
He eventually resurfaced in New Orleans, playing acoustic guitar in Jelly Roll Morton’s band. It was here that Norton tried his hand at songwriting, crafting songs which were stolen by Buddy Bolden.
Never one to settle down, Norton moved to New York City and quickly found himself in the heart of Tin Pan Alley, penning hit songs for Al Jolson, Rudy Vallee, and a young Bing Crosby.
Norton recorded his first records for Okeh in Asheville, North Carolina, in the summer of 1925. It was here that he influenced Jimmie Rodgers and Emmett Miller. He has been recording and touring ever since. Throughout the 1930s, Norton drifted from town to town, riding the rails and singing for his supper. During the folk boom of the early 1960s, Norton would influence artists such as Dave Van Ronk and Bob Dylan.
Now, in 2025, Jack Norton is celebrating his 100th year as a recording artist. He continues to perform live, touring the world, playing his unique blend of vintage blues, ragtime jazz, and hokum folk.