Pianist and recording artist John Nilsen will perform at 7 p.m. Thursday in the sanctuary at Crawford Street United Methodist Church, 900 Crawford St.

“We are excited Nilsen will be performing at Crawford Street,” the Rev. Cary Stockett, the minister of the church, said, adding he is a very talented musician.

Although Nilsen has performed in Europe, Asia and all 50 U.S. States, this will be his first time to perform in Vicksburg.

The musician said he had performed in southern and northern regions of the state and decided to come to Vicksburg so he could check out the central portion of Mississippi.

“I have played many times in Mississippi, and just thought I would come to the middle and see a little bit more of the state,” he said.

Born in Seattle, Wash., Nilsen began studying classical piano at age 6. In 1974, he moved to Ashland, Ore., to attend Southern Oregon College (Southern Oregon University), where he graduated in 1979.

His career began in 1983 when Eagle Records in Los Angeles, Calif., released a collection of his original piano solos, “Sea of Inspiration.”

However, after many changes, not only in his life, but also in the music industry, Nilsen said he felt the time was right for him to start his own record label, and in 1987, he founded Magic Wing.

Since its founding, the label has had a catalog of nineteen successful titles, each with international distribution, and Magic Wing has had fifteen other CDs licensed in countries including Germany, Great Britain, The Philippines, Canada, Taiwan and Singapore bringing reported total record sales to well over one million copies sold.

During Thursday night’s concert, Nilsen said his performance would consist of a variety of music genres including folk, jazz, classical and “boogie woogie.”

“I will also be performing my arrangements of traditional hymns and some of my own songs,” he said.

Stockett said, the concert is free, but a love offering will be taken during the event.

A nursery will be provided for those with young children and following the hour-long program Nilsen will have CD’s for sale.

For more information, call 601-636-5612.