Nils Lofgren
Nils Hilmer Lofgren is an American rock musician, recording artist, songwriter, and multiinstrumentalist. Along with his work as a solo artist, he is a member of Bruce Springsteens E Street Band since 1984, a former member of Crazy Horse, and founderfrontman of the band Grin. Lofgren was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the E Street Band in 2014.
Lofgren was born in Chicago in 1951 to an Italian mother and a Swedish father. When Lofgren was a young child, the family moved to the Washington D.C. suburb of Garrett Park, Maryland. Lofgrens first instrument was classical accordion, beginning at age 5, which he studied seriously for ten years. After studying classical music and jazz, throughout his youth, Lofgren switched his emphasis to rock music, and focused on the piano and the guitar. By 1968, Lofgren formed the band Grin originally with bassist George Daly , and drummer Bob Berberich, former players in the DC band The Hangmen. The group played in venues throughout the Washington, D.C. area. Lofgren had been a competitive gymnast in high school, a skill that popped up later in his career. During this time, Lofgren met Neil Young and played for him. Young invited Lofgren to come to California and the Grin trio drove out west and lived for some months at a home Neil Young rented in Laurel Canyon.
Source: Wikipedia