(In his own words!)
My career in music started at the ripe, old age of five. My dad played every Saturday night at a small square dance in Hazel, KY. It was there that I made my singing debut, performing "Louisiana Saturday Night," by Mel McDaniel. I was a hit, and I've been on stage virtually every Saturday since.
My earliest childhood memories are of daddy playing his telecaster, through a Fender Twin, and pickin' out solid, country gold. He'd sing "The Other Woman," by Ray Price, and I'd cry to mama that, "Daddy shouldn't sing that song about some other woman!"
While other kids were at home watching MTV, I was two-steppin' to "Easy Lovin," on a sawdust floor, with some lady ten times my age!
At the age of nine, my dad and I auditioned for a theater-style country music show in Draffenville, KY. Dad got the gig as lead guitar and vocalist, and I got the job as young, show-stealing kid! It was there that I really began to blossom as an entertainer. There was no dancing, so the crowd actually paid attention to the music!
I was a member of that show ages 9-19. During my tenure there, I had the opportunity to open shows for Grand Ole Opry stars like: Bill Monroe, Little Jimmy Dickens, Bill Anderson, Ray Price, Connie Smith, John Conlee, Kitty Wells, and Jerry Clower. I also rubbed elbows there with my hero, Merle Haggard, and he autographed my guitar!
When I was fourteen, I entered the first annual talent search at Loretta Lynn's dude ranch in Hurricane Mills, TN. The contest had more than 40 contestants, lasting almost eight hours. At the end of the night, I was proclaimed the winner!
The prize was to be the opening act at Loretta's annual concert at the ranch. My set included a blistering version of Waylon Jennings’s "Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line," and was an outstanding success.
You can blame at least part of my tenacity on Loretta Lynn, because she came onto the stage after my set and declared to the 5000-plus in attendance that "he will be a star."
Well... I'm still workin' on it, Ms. Loretta.
During that same period I began making regular guests spots at the Renfro Valley Barn Dance in Renfro Valley, KY. It was an honor to perform on their stage, which served as a launching pad for many rising stars.
I shared the stage with Troy Gentry (Montgomery Gentry) and Steve Gulley (Mountain Heart) in those days.
After high school I enrolled at Murray State University, in Murray, KY. In the year 2000, I was voted “Mr. Murray State.”
I'm proud to say that I have a bachelor's degree in Public Relations, with a minor in Organizational Communications. Mama says they sent my diploma to our house, but I've never looked at it.
During my college career, I helped form a band called Hoosier Daddy. We performed a variety of covers from The Doors, to Marvin Gaye, to Hank Jr. I was the lead singer, and later lead guitarist.
From 1999 to 2004, we played gigs in many different states, and we continue to draw oversized crowds at our "reunion" shows.
My Number One Fan was none other than My Dad
Working on 'Country as Cornbread' in the studio
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Manager Robert (Rookie) Edwards and his daughter Allison join John at a recent performance.
In 2003, I started writing songs. After playing rock and roll for a few years, I was ready for a change.The songs that started coming out of me took me all the way back to my days at the little square dance. I didn't fight it.
Country radio had turned me off with its pop-rock songs, and cookie-cutter stars, and I was dyin' to hear some steel guitar. I decided to buck the trends, and be just as damn country as I could be!
In 2004, I took my traditional sound to Nashville. I rounded up an A-team of country session players from the 60s and 70s, and found a historic studio where they still used analog technology.
We went in and cut a COUNTRY record, with a vintage sound, and an outlaw edge. I'm very proud of the finished product, "Country as Cornbread," and I've been touring and promoting this album for the last two years.
I feel like my kind of country music is screaming to be heard. I'm in the process of writing songs for my next album, and you can bet your ass that I'm not going soft.
-- John
