Artist description Former bike messenger from San Francisco converts his life experiences to music.

Music Style Pop, rock, gospel, urban/r&b, world beat

Musical Influences baroque, 60s British Invasion rock, Motown, surf music, jazz, 20th Century classical, gospel, psychedelic, world beat

Similar Artists Latin rock, funk, gospel, James Brown, Sly & Family Stone, Monkees, Sting, Bryan Ferry, Talking Heads, David Bowie

Artist History Biographical Profile of John J. Blair 2000 Some describe him as a "Californianized Pennsylvanian." Blair says, "Mymusic is an extension of my faith, my friendships, my marriage and mytravels. I was born in PA but became a bi-coastal urban gypsy, ending up inNorthern California. As a bicycle messenger I rode around on the hillystreets of San Francisco, seeing all kinds of global diversity. People aresurprised that I'd relocate to the small city of Williamsport but there's ahappy medium there. Artistic and spiritual purpose is a mobile thing." Putting on a strong performance is one of John's hallmarks. John entertainsand pleases audiences with his singing and ability to play manyinstruments. Whether playing in a small room or a stadium, John gives tothe crowd. When he wasn't headlining he has opened concerts for BlessidUnion of Souls, Jerry Garcia Band, Stephen Stills and others. As a "guestartist" he has performed with post-wave power popsters Flying Color,Americana chantuese Julie Miller, Mike Roe (of the 77s) and more. Johnembraces many styles and makes his own accessible sound, but he still callsit "pure pop music." John has performed or recorded various genres, ranging from baroque tochildren's music to country to jazz to punk to (even) "microtonal"classical music. His first full-length album DOOR IN THE WATER (1985)reflected this diversity. Critics compared it to "60s British Invasion,Motown and Beach Boys framed by post-punk/new wave." John's second album,YELLOW HOUSE (1988), further stretched the bridge between "pure pop" andprogressive music, earning him a critics award from UK's Stride magazine in1989. Critical endorsements have come from singer/entertainer LeAnn Rimes,surf-guitar hero Dick Dale, Christian Rock pioneer Larry Norman (for whomJohn has opened for), BritPop legend Cliff Richard and Brian Wilson (TheBeach Boys). Beyond the USA, his music has garnered airplay, press andsales in Australia, Canada, Europe, New Zealand, South Africa, SouthAmerica and the United Kingdom. "I've had a lot of 'small roles' in this business," says John. One of his"small roles" in recent years has been as a producer. In 1991 he labored ina tiny Oakland (CA) studio to produce NeitherNeither World for SubPopRecords (Nirvana's first label), which charted the following year. That EPis now a "collectors item" fetching up to $50 in music shops. In 1993, John directed his first music video: a new version of "DaydreamBeliever" for Davy Jones of The Monkees, with whom John works as a producerand occasional sideman in concert. John was the principal collaborator onJUST FOR THE RECORD VOLUME FOUR, an independently released album of alloriginal songs by Jones (1996)-part of a four CD boxed set containingremixed album tracks, demos, rarities and singles in which John"biographed" Jones entire recording career from 1962 onward. The two alsorecently finished a new album called JUST ME-THE JONES-BLAIR PROJECT. TheBlair/Jones partnership is about to break into new projects ofinternational possibilities. John contributed pre-production to The Monkees' 1997 reunion album JUSTUS(Rhino Records) and the single"Today's the Day" by The Teen Idols-the "XTCstyled" single offered on the 1998 tour which united Jones with 60s poplegends Peter Noone (Herman's Hermits) and Bobby Sherman. In recent years Blair expanded his resume to encompass "workshops," whereknown artists act as "clinicians" to instruct audiences in how to playinstruments, prosper in the music industry and so on. In these settingsBlair has worked with Bun E. Carlos (Cheap Trick), The Funkmasters: ClydeStubblefield & Jab'O Starks (James Brown) and Laurence Juber (PaulMcCartney & Wings). He recently finished an all new music album, FIRE, which featuresappearances by Davy Jones, John Bechdel (Fear Factory), Billy Matlack (NeonCactus), gospel singer Monette Newsuan, and famed stickman "Funkmaster"Jab'O Starks. His latest musical direction merges high-energy house/technoand world beat rhythms with layers of gospel and "American-roots music." Currently John performs live as a solo act as well as making frequentappearances with gospel artists Adrienne Blanton, Bomb Squad (a popular"youth choir"), Monette Newsuan and other UCF live music projects that arean extension of his church, Unity Christian Fellowship (UCF), where he is akey player in the contemporary gospel praise and worship. He is happily married and lives in Williamsport, PA with his daughter Jadeand wife Cassie, a graphic artist and singer who often appears on herhusbands projects. Approaching the new millennium with excitement and purpose, John adds, "Ihave a rule about playing music: make the other person sound good. If it'sjust me up on that stage, I have to engage the listener into a somethingthat's uplifting, making them resound with good. They can take a piece ofthat home. It's all about keeping a focused mind and a clear heart. Therehas to be a vision in everything we do."

Group Members Johnny J Blair + session players & guests (includes Davy Jones of The Monkees)

Instruments vocals, accordion, bass, drums, drum machines, guitars, keyboards, loops, percussion, turntable, violin

Albums EXOTIC ANIMALS & BEACHES OF PENNSYLVANIA

Press Reviews F I R E --the CD album by Johnny J Blair--is now available! With guest appearances by Davy Jones (Monkees), John Bechdel (Fear Factor,Prong), Jab'O Starks (James Brown), Sandy Gennaro (Cyndi Lauper), "Master"Henry Gibson (Curtis Mayfield), Billy Matlack Jr. (Neon Cactus), PistolAllen (Motown), Cassie Blair, Adrienne Blanton, Monette Newsuan, Mista Sandand more friends. Early reviews: "An ambitious, daring, across-the-boards collaborative effort, FIRE takesthe listener on a journey via a cast of diverse characters creating popmusic with a conscience. It's a melting pot of textures and rhythms:Rock/House/Techno/Gospel/Jazz and American roots music, resulting in a"pure pop" sound. Blair's influences-both past and present-are not merelyimitated, as so often happens with hybrid sounds, but rather furthered andembellished."--C. Brian Jasper/GOLDMINE magazine. "A talented man and a good friend. 'Dancin' by the River' should be top ofthe pops."--Davy Jones/The Monkees "Awesome...I love it...SO much talent." --LeAnn Rimes, singer/entertainer. "This is one CD that sounds better every time you cue it up." --Joe SmithIII, music critic/Williamsport Sun Gazette "An over the top comeback...Power for the week, joy for the broken, churchfor the Church. This FIRE burns from the inside." --Chris Yambar,cartoonist, creator of MR. BEAT

Location Williamsport, PA - USA

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