Nathan Blake Lynn brings together the deep traditions of country, gospel, sluegrass and Americana music. A writer of historical fiction and local color, Lynn sheds new light on new and forgotten stories from the back waters of Western Kentucky. An Honorable Member of the Kentucky Colonels and a standing board member of the Kentucky Oral History Commission, Lynn strives to better the Commonwealth of his home state through the sounds that define it.

Born on May 7, 1980 in Paducah, Kentucky, to Louis and Sandra Lynn, Nathan grew up musselling and fishing on the Ohio, Tennessee, and Cumberland rivers with his father Louis. With both sides of his family having lived and farmed in the Jackson Purchase since the 1830’s, Lynn was surrounded by the importance of knowing where you came from and holding tight to home.

He was introduced to music at a young age. While his father was choir leader at Spring Bayou Baptist Church, his sister, Rachel, is an acclaimed gospel singer in the group Trinity. Nathan’s uncle, Randal Lynn, introduced him to Merle Travis and Bill Monroe and was a major influence on Nathan as a guitarist.

In 1996 Nathan, got a new guitar for his 16th birthday and started writing songs. He also began performing at Clay Campbell’s Kentucky Opry. Here he met Clayton, Cody and Casey Campbell, who would go onto perform with Lynn for years to come.

After graduating from Heath High School in 1998, Lynn enrolled at Paducah Community College. The same year, Lynn and childhood friend Grady Wring won first place in the McCracken County Fair Talent Competition. It was also during this time that Nathan and Jonathan Eubank formed the band the Fluanch, performing at the Moss Rose Café every Wednesday day night.

In the year 2000 Lynn transferred to Murray State University to study history and parks and leisure services. Here, he reunited with Clayton Campbell and the two along with Cody Campbell and Jason and Justin McKendree formed the Blood River Bluegrass Band in 2002.

Also around 2002, Nathan and Clayton would help form the rock band Whiskey Dickens, along with Michael West, Ben Sallie, Cody Campbell, Nathan Doyle, and Joseph Hobbs.

Upon graduating from Murray State, Lynn took a job with the United States Forest Service, as an 1850s historical interpreter at the Homeplace 1850 Living History Farm in Land Between the Lakes. It was during this time that Lynn and high school mate, Jonathan True Ferrell begin performing old time music together. It was also during this time that he started studying under Tennessee State Banjo Champion, Dan Knowles.

In 2003 Lynn met Flatpicking Guitar Champion Tyler Grant. The two would form a friendship and still perform shows together today.

In late 2004, Lynn, along with friends Alex Faught, Cody Campbell, Thomas Oliverio, and Josh Coffey formed the band Bawn in the Mash. The friends would eventually move back to Lynn’s hometown of Paducah, Kentucky and later be joined by Eddie Coffey and Brey McCoy. The band has played for audiences all across the Midwest, and released four original studio albums. For more information on Bawn in the Mash, visit www.bawninthemash.com .

From 2007 through 2009, Lynn lived in St. Louis, MO and Chicago, IL, studying music of the big cities. There he often performed alongside of Pokey Lafarge, the Rum Drum Ramblers, Chicago Farmer, Leadfoot, the Hen House Prowlers, and many other bands. While in Chicago he joined in the band the Lawerance Garfield Express, with longtime friend Pete Smith, Steve Haberichter, Dave Humphrey and Jacob Cullen.

In 2008, Lynn released his first solo album, "Two Catfish and a Bluegill," which highlighted 18 original songs by the Kentucky Colonel. The track , "Last Night In Grandma's Bed was featured on WSM 650AM, Bluegrass Underground.

In 2010, Lynn moved back to Heath, KY to be closer to his family.

His second solo album, "Who Said The World's Fair," was officialy released in April, 2010. Recorded at Battle Ridge Studios with longtime friend Phil Harris, "Who Said The World's Fair" contains 10 original songs performed by Lynn and a backing band of great friends. Featured musicians Tyler Grant, Mike Bub, Clayton Campbell, Mike Witcher, Tim O'Brien, Josh Coffey, Julie Lee, Travis Stinson, and Chris Moore, add an acoustic country symphony to Lynn's heartfelt songs.

In 2011, Nathan received an honorable mention in the Telluride Troubadour Contest.

2012 marked the release of "Ramble Lynn." Recorded at PH Balanced Studio in Nashville TN, this project highlights Nathan as a modern songwriter. Originally recorded as two separate projects, in the winter and summer of 2010, Ramble Lynn features the Sluegrass Boys as well as a session band consisting of Mike Bub, Donnie Herron, Stu Kimball, and Kenny Malone, with special appearances by Tim O'Brien, Stuart Duncan, Mike Witcher, Julie Lee, and Travis Stinson.

In 2013, Lynn wrote, produced, performed and recorded a collection of songs about the Jackson Purchase entitled, The Places I Used Too Know: New Songs From Old Western Kentucky. Recorded in his farm house, the album was released as a free download for donors to Murray, Kentucky NPR station, WKMS.

Over the years Nathan has worked as a net weaver, grocer, landscaper, musseller, teamster, gymnastics instructor, camp counselor, water operator, farm laborer, 1850s interpreter, baker, barista, prep cook, factory worker, home security installer, carpenter, car transporter and musician. He is currently employed as the director of the Local and Family History Department at the McCracken County Public Library.

Nathan continues a career as a solo artist, a supporting musician for the Solid Rocket Boosters, and member of Bawn In The Mash. Nathan can also be found performing with Jonathan True Ferrell, Tyler Grant, and Dan Knowles.

While he has performed all across the country, he regards his experiences performing on the Delta Queen, Spirit of Peoria, and the River Barge Explorer as some of the most educational.