Who Is Roger McGuinn? Age, Biography and Wiki
Roger McGuinn was born on July 13, 1942, making him 82 years old in 2025. A pioneering figure in the world of music, McGuinn is best known as the frontman of The Byrds, a band that played a crucial role in shaping the sound of the American rock scene in the 1960s. As a singer, songwriter, and guitarist, McGuinn developed a unique sound, famously blending folk music with rock and roll. Over the decades, he has continued to influence countless musicians while maintaining a dedicated fan base.
| Occupation | Country Singer |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | July 13, 1942 |
| Age | 82 Years |
| Birth Place | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Cancer |
| Country | U.S |
Popularity
Roger McGuinn's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
As of 2025, Roger McGuinn stands at approximately 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm) tall. His weight is around 165 pounds (75 kg), and though the specifics of his body measurements are not publicly disclosed, he is known to have an athletic build, reflecting his active lifestyle.
While "tracking" the Byrds' first single, "Mr. Tambourine Man", at Columbia studios, McGuinn discovered an important component of his style. "The 'Ric' [ 12-string Rickenbacker guitar ] by itself is kind of thuddy," he noted. "It doesn't ring. But if you add a compressor, you get that long sustain. To be honest, I found this by accident.
The engineer, Ray Gerhardt, would run compressors on everything to protect his precious equipment from loud rock and roll. He compressed the heck out of my 12-string, and it sounded so great we decided to use two tube compressors (likely Teletronix LA-2As) in series, and then go directly into the board. That's how I got my 'jingle-jangle' tone.
It's really squashed down, but it jumps out from the radio. With compression, I found I could hold a note for three or four seconds, and sound more like a wind instrument. Later, this led me to emulate John Coltrane's saxophone on "Eight Miles High".
Without compression, I couldn't have sustained the riff's first note." "I practiced eight hours a day on that 'Ric,'" he continues, "I really worked it. In those days, acoustic 12s had wide necks and thick strings that were spaced pretty far apart, so they were hard to play.
But the Rick's slim neck and low action let me explore jazz and blues scales up and down the fretboard, and incorporate more hammer-ons and pull-offs into my solos. I also translated some of my banjo picking techniques to the 12-string.
By combining a flat pick with metal finger picks on my middle and ring fingers, I discovered I could instantly switch from fast single-note runs to banjo rolls and get the best of both worlds."
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Roger McGuinn has been married to his wife, Camilla McGuinn, for several decades. The couple shares a bond built on mutual respect and love for music. While Roger's professional life often takes center stage, he also values his family time. There are no public records of McGuinn dating anyone other than Camilla, showcasing a commitment to their relationship over the years.
1909) and Dorothy Irene (b. 1911), daughter of engineer Louis Heyn. His parents worked in journalism and public relations, and during his childhood, they had written a bestseller titled Parents Can't Win. He attended the Latin School of Chicago.
He became interested in music after hearing Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel" (a song that he frequently covers as a part of his autobiographical live shows), and asked his parents to buy a guitar for him.
Around the same time, he was also influenced by country artists and/or groups such as Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Gene Vincent and the Everly Brothers.
Net Worth and Salary
In 2025, Roger McGuinn's net worth is estimated to be around $10 million. His wealth primarily stems from his successful career as a musician, including album sales, concerts, and songwriting royalties, alongside various business ventures over his lengthy career in the music industry.
Career, Business, and Investments
Roger McGuinn began his music career in the early 1960s, originally performing in folk music circles before forming The Byrds. The band's innovative sound led to numerous hits, including "Mr. Tambourine Man" and "Turn! Turn! Turn!" After the band's breakup, McGuinn embarked on a solo career, continued to perform, and explored various music genres. In recent years, he has also ventured into music production and has been involved in various philanthropic efforts supporting music education.
In addition to his music career, McGuinn has invested in technology and media projects, leveraging his music expertise to educate others and promote upcoming talent through workshops and seminars.
By the time Doug Weston gave him a job at The Troubadour nightclub in Los Angeles, McGuinn had begun to include Beatles' songs in his act. He gave rock style treatments to traditional folk tunes and thereby caught the attention of another folkie Beatles fan, Gene Clark, who joined forces with McGuinn in July 1964. Together they formed the beginning of what was to become the Byrds.
Social Network
Roger McGuinn maintains a presence on various social media platforms, connecting with fans and sharing insights into his life and career. His official accounts include:
- Twitter: @RogerMcGuinn
- Instagram: @RogerMcGuinnOfficial
- Facebook: Roger McGuinn
When McGuinn started with the Byrds, he used the name Jim, which he thought to be too plain. He became involved in the Subud spiritual association in 1965 and began to practice the latihan, an exercise in quieting the mind. He changed his name in 1967 upon advice from Subud's founder Bapak.
Telling McGuinn that it would better "vibrate with the universe", Bapak sent the letter "R" to Jim and asked him to send back ten names starting with that letter.
Owing to a fascination with airplanes, gadgets and science fiction, he sent names like "Rocket", "Retro", "Ramjet", and "Roger", the last a term used in signalling protocol over two-way radios, military and civil aviation. Roger was the only "real" name in the bunch, and Bapak chose it.
McGuinn officially changed his middle name from Joseph to Roger and has used the name Roger professionally from that time on.
Education
Roger McGuinn attended Andrew Jackson High School in Jacksonville, Florida, where he began developing his musical talents. He later pursued studies at the University of Florida before fully committing to his music career in the 1960s. While he did not complete his degree, his education laid the foundation for his artistic endeavors and understanding of music theory.
In 1957, he enrolled as a student at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music, where he learned the five-string banjo and 12-string guitar.
After graduation, McGuinn performed solo at various coffeehouses on the folk music circuit where he was hired as a sideman by the Limeliters, the Chad Mitchell Trio, and Judy Collins and other folk music artists in the same vein.
In 1962, after he ended his association with the Chad Mitchell Trio, McGuinn was hired by Bobby Darin as a backup guitarist and harmony singer. Darin wanted to add a folk roots element to his repertoire because it was a burgeoning musical field. Darin opened T.M.
Music in New York City's Brill Building, hiring McGuinn as a songwriter for $35 a week. About a year and a half later, Darin became ill and retired from singing.
