A guitarist since age 6, and a songwriter since age 15, John has been performing publicly since 1978. After years in original and cover bands, he moved to performing his own acoustic material in the early 1990's, and hasn't stopped since. John performs extensively at many Detroit-area venues, and, from 1997 to 2004, hosted the Wednesday night open mic at Xhedos Cafe in Ferndale, MI., where he actively supported and encouraged local music and musicians.
He was also a member of Big Green X - a Detroit-area collective of singer/songwriters who get together occasionally for shows and recordings. His music has been heard on Kelly Browns Homeboys show on WRIF in Detroit. In 1999, he won 3 Aurora Borealis Awards, in including Male Vocalist of the Year. His online songs have been downloaded and played all over the world over 10,000 times - including plays in Afghanistan by our troops during early-mid 2003. His songs have even spent time on the playlist of Dutch National Radio.
In 1999 John released his first CD for his own BFE label, Observations & Complaints - a lushly crafted album painstakingly recorded over 18 months. His second, demo-style-with chops CD, Make It Good, came out in June of 2001. This CD features forays into both rock and folk styles, and includes the notorious hit "Refrigerator Science Projects". And his 2002 offering, Sweet Oblivion, is another self-recorded disc, but with newer, digital equipment. His subjects on this outing include the local music press ("Name in the Paper"), a Very Famous Celebrity ("The O.R.P.S. Confusion Blues"), hope ("Glory Up Ahead"), regret ("Sweet Oblivion"), and September 11th ("A Sky That Wasnt There").
John's newest release, Land Of The Living (Sept. 2004), shows him continuing his exploration of new arrangements and subjects. Heartbreak and hope are explored in "Nothing At All" and "A Song Of Hope", respectively, as are engagements ("I Wish You Well"), and writers block ("Between The Paper And The Pen"). Electric guitars dominate the rocking title cut and his take on politics and current events ("Mercy"). And, for the stately "Off The Ground", his own voice is multi-tracked into a 9-voice choir.
NEW: A video of John performing "Refrigerator Science Projects" at Trixie's on 4/5/2008...
NEWER: John performing "How Can You Not Be Angry?" from his upcoming CD, at AJ's Cafe in spring 2008. (Courtesy of Bill Makela)
