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John in the Home Studio
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   About me....I'm a songwriter/musician/producer/recording artist (BMI) currently residing in Nashville, Tennessee. I decided to move to this music center from Niagara Falls, New York nearly seventeen years ago. I spent many years in the Buffalo music scene honing my skills at performing, recording, live audio reinforcement, studio engineering, writing, arranging and producing. My primary instruments are piano, keyboards, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar, and vocals. My primary vocal style trends toward blues, but I can alter my style for different genres.  

  Since I've been in Nashville, I've met many talented people from everywhere who've made their home here to be part of the exciting Nashville Music Scene. I started networking at songwriter events and tech seminars to get to know the Nashville way of doing things, and to establish good professional relationships with writers, artists, and industry people. I've taken the opportunity to co-write with both published and unpublished writers, and I believe these collaborations have really helped to make me more competitive in this crowded marketplace. Although I'm based here in Nashville, I work with people outside of Nashville when a good opportunity presents itself. There are so many writers pitching songs in this town that I feel there's a need to step out of the "Nashville Box" and open alternative doors.

   I continuously work very hard to step up the quality of my work to meet industry standards, and have recently been producing, recording, and engineering productions for commercial release. I am taking on both song and instrumental projects to diversify my catalog which I will try to showcase on this site from time to time. Most of my music on this site right now is either work demos or songs that have copyright protection. If you're interested in hearing my latest recordings please contact me at 615-717-1397 and I'll get you some recent samples of my work. 

 

Here's a little history about me...

   I started studying music on my own around the age of ten. My first instrument was an old acoustic guitar with only four strings on it. I would have preferred six, but we really couldn't afford them at the time! I learned music from as many books as I could carry from the library. Our church was a community music school, and there was a piano in almost every room. I couldn't wait to go to church to play the concert grand piano in the choir room. I'd stop by the church whenever I could during the week to play it when no one was around. 

   At an early age I remember listening to songs and picking out the different parts in the arrangement. I was always amazed at how they could make everything sound so good. I didn't realize back then that many of the most popular artists had a lot of "help" in the studio to get that perfect recording! My first recordings were made on a Radio Shack tape recorder,  with that top-of-line microphone you plugged into the side. I figured that wasn't gonna win me any Grammy's, so I moved up to a Fostex 4-track cassette recorder. From there I used an 8-track reel-to-reel and actually started recording some decent demos. It didn't take long for me to get hooked on recording studios, and I began to sit in on as many sessions as I could in the bigger studios around town. I've always tried to learn as much as I could from anyone who was willing to teach me.

   I've replaced all of my analog recording with digital recording with no regrets. My primary music platform is Logic Pro which is an incredibly versatile and sophisticated program that produces professional results. I have an extensive plugin library for production, mixing, and mastering. I also use the East West sound library which allows me to achieve very realistic results for my symphonic projects.

 

   Most recently I've been concentrating on the production of song demos for commercial pitches along with instrumental works for licensing. My focus has been to speed up the composition process by greatly expanding my repertoire to include more sophisticated jazz, classical, and hybrid works. My goal is to score music for film and TV while completing song productions as time permits. I'd also like to do artist development projects for serious prospects who are willing to put in the work needed for the launch of a successful music career.

 

      I'll add to this mini-autobiography as I get the time. I hope you enjoy my music, art, photos, poetry and anything else I can think of to put on this site!  :o)

  Take care,

   John   

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John doing acoustic session @ VR Audio Productions

My Musical Influences:

I have a variety of musical influences and favorites which I'll add to as I get the time. Stevie Ray Vaughn, Robert Plant, Ray Charles, Steely Dan, Bryan Adams, Chicago, The Who, Garth Brookes, Dave Mathews Band, Lonestar, Three Doors Down, Jerry Lee Lewis, Dan Fogelberg, Ted Nugent, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Mark Wills, Tina Turner, Journey, Goo Goo Dolls, Tracy Lawrence, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Fuel, Styx, "Earth, Wind And Fire", Chuck Mangionne, Metallica, Paul Simon, Evanescence, Bon Jovi, Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Billy Joel, Boston, Gretchen Wilson, Steve Vai, Bob Marley, Kenny Chesney, Eddie Van Halen, Elton John, Jimi Hendrix, Paul McCartney, Jimmy Page, Neil Diamond, Brad Paisley, Mozart, Sawyer Brown, Asia, Santana, Aaron Copland, Michael Jackson, Gamalon w/ George Puleo, Rush, Rod Stewart, Queen, Pat Travers, Tchaichovski, Sting, Louis Armstrong, Kid Rock, Joe Satriani, "Emerson Lake and Palmer", Chopin, Dixie Chicks, Bad Company, Red Hot Chili Peppers, John Williams, 38 Special, U2, ZZ Top, Van Halen, Barenaked Ladies, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts, Lou Rawls, Travis Tritt, Ray Charles, Martina McBride, Pink Floyd, Keith Urban, George Strait, Phil Collins, Kenny Rogers, Celine Dion, Marshall Tucker Band, Brookes and Dunn, Aerosmith, Beatles, James Taylor, Aretha Franklin, George Benson, Reba, Josh Groban, Allison Krauss, Diamond Rio, Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, Bruce Springsteen, Stanley Jordan, Madonna, Creed, Neil Young, Eminem, Allman Brothers, Prince, Kansas, Whitney Houston, Bob Seeger, Peter Frampton, Rolling Stones, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Miles Davis, Alan Jackson, Al Dimeola, Jeff Beck, Alabama, Little Texas, Annie Lennox, Vince Gill, Marvin Gaye, Faith Hill, Kim Mitchell, Whitney Houston, AC/DC

 

 

 

Please come visit my MySpace Music site! Click here!

Please do an "add friend" request on my MySpace Music site. It's the easiest way for me to inform you of new content, digital downloads, events and shows. If you have time, please leave a message or comment. I'll be sure to answer you as soon as I can! Any refferals would be greatly appreciated!