Jon Horton

  Before I even picked up an instrument, I dreamed of peforming. I have these vivid memories of dancing my fingers along the bricks of my living room fireplace like it was a piano. And like I was good at it. Or I'd ball my hand into a fist, imagining a microphone in my grasp, and singing. Like I was good at it. I think I wanted to be Michael W. Smith.  Maybe Michael Jackson. Whichever it was, I knew I wanted to be on stage.

          When I was old enough, my dad bought me my first guitar for Christmas and started teaching me. Then at 13, he gave me my first electric guitar and started teaching me music theory which showed me the foundational secrets of how music works. I started playing little made up tunes for family and friends. Their responses tapped into my innate desire to make people feel good. I started to realize that this was all I wanted to do.

          In middle school, I wanted to join the concert band and play the saxophone. I think I just wanted to play the Pink Panther song. But they had too many saxophones, so they put me on drums. I stayed on the drums through High School and joined the marching band playing the quints, eventually picking up some keyboard skills on the side while playing on the band hall's upright piano, some extra bass guitar skills from my dad, and even some Jazz style drumset skills. And I got to implement all those skills while playing in my local church band.

          As an adult, I joined the U.S. Navy Band as a drummer. I also began expanding my skills into songwriting, composing, and even taking up audio engineering. After my enlistment was fulfilled, I tried starting several music projects/bands that just didn't work out, so I enrolled into Full Sail University where I eventually received my Bachelor's in Recording Arts. I gained a lot of technical knowledge about sound, but I still wasn't in my dream.

          It wasn't until I started performing as a solo act that I started doing what I've always wanted to do: SING. Singing songs that I wrote. Being the front man. I had been a follower for so long that it was time to lead. I started taking voice lessons. I got good. Good enough to start getting paid to sing at bars, private parties, and even leading worship at my church. 

          It's been a long journey, but I'm closer to my dream than ever before. If you want to help me along in my journey, or even just follow along, I'd be honored. Click here to find out how.