About Me
Just John Prestia. No Middle Name. Never Really Needed One! John grew up (almost) as a kid in Jackson, New Jersey that's (Springsteen territory), for those that don't know. And, he graduated high school in Long Island, New York where he was born just John Prestia.John has lived in the San Francisco Bay area, and in Cleveland, and Southern California, as well as The Philippines where he did a stint in the U.S. Navy. John says, "it's been quite the journey for him."His recordings began in 1980, with his first record album, yes a record album for those who remember those things!He began his long journey of musical adventures that took place when he relocated to Sarasota, Florida performing his own brand of music playing in local clubs, later on to become The John Prestia Group. The John Prestia Group received many favorable reviews, local television spots and substantial regional airplay in Southwest Florida. There he managed to put out another record album, that went into the cassette age kicking, and then put out three additional CD's before moving to Nashville in 1997.Take Me With You - 1992
What's Done Is Done - 1993
The Last One Taken -1995In that time besides playing clubs and shows throughout southwest and central Florida for three hundred nights a year, John managed to co-write a song with one of his favorite guitar players, Dickey Betts.The song "No One To Run With." Went on to become a hit single for the Allman Brother's Band, one of his all time favorite bands, and was included on the movie sound tracks for "The Cowboy Way" and the "Waterboy". He has also managed to write songs for as well as sing and co-produce the music for an independent film "Hidden Fears" that pops up on TV even now every so often.Of course, John says, his "most important accomplishment while living in Florida was building a very supportive family of a wife and three daughters."When it was time for a change and he felt the need to grow as a song writer, a visit to Nashville convinced him it was where he needed to be to hone in on his song writing skills even more.
After so many years of making a living playing music it was quite a determination to live there. Leaving his friends and musical community that he worked to build in Fla. was difficult. It was his will that saw him through a roofing job (ouch!) and then to a music store position, but finally back to the music business again.John was asked by Lucinda Williams to go on the road with her as a catch all tour manager and an everything else guy to keep things rolling during her "Car Wheels On A Gravel Road" period. She has turned out to be a good friend, and assisted in helping him to get going in the music business although not quite in the playing end he had always done. But just being around a writer of her caliber kept him on the mission he moved to Nashville for. To learn to be a better song writer.After a couple of years in the Lucinda Williams camp a good friend of John's, Joey Supak who was also the drum tech for Tim McGraw and The Dance Hall Doctor's, asked him if he could help out with a guitar problem the band was having.Having played all his life and being the guitar nerd that he says he is he jumped right in to help.This led John Prestia to an offer from Tim McGraw's gang
The Dance Hall Doctor's to hang around as a guitar technician. Going on his fifth year, he is still there.Fortunately to feed his need for the creative side of music,
Tim McGraw and The Dance Hall Doctor's have been very generous in inviting John to the "music party" when there is a need he can fill. It's on the road with Tim and the boys that John is making a lot of new friends he hopes to share his music with, as well getting to stay in touch with his many friends from his past.For better or for worse John feels that once you are friends, it's for life."Just John Prestia. No Middle Name. Never really needed one!"
