Johnny Don't!
Considered by many to be among the best in Chicago, Johnny's voice has been compared to Jeff Buckley, Berton Cummings (The Guess Who), and Freddie Mercury (Queen).
The “eternal 25-year-old” was born, raised, and lives in Chicagoland and started his music career with piano lessons at age four. He penned his first “song” at six and released a self-produced album at thirteen. By eighteen, Johnny gained national recognition not only for his vocal prowess but also for his skills as a conductor, arranger, music director, and conductor.
Johnny's second release (under the pseudonym “Raine”) hit shelves shortly before his 19th birthday. Proficient on over ten instruments, he wrote, performed, and produced it alone. He moved to Boston only months after its release to attend the Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he studied vocal performance with the world’s top teachers & performers. A year later he returned to Chicago with classes from Eddie Kramer, Bobby McFerrin, Al Kooper, and Billy Joel under his belt.
For the next three years, the singer toured the Midwest, playing open mics; college bars & unions; coffeehouses; and even dormitory lounges, traveling to & fro in his Honda Accord with nothing but a guitar & duffel bag stuffed with clothing, CDs, and a toothbrush. Since then, he has shared the stage with a very diverse group of performers, from hip-hop legend LL Cool J & folk singer Michael Glabicki (Rusted Root) to rock notables John Mellencamp & Bon Jovi.
During his travels, Johnny found time to write & record with other bands & artists. He has appeared on over 60 records, both instrumentally & vocally, and is known for the distinct, lush layers of backup vocals he creates. He is also an accomplished hip-hop/dance remixer, having done remixes for Gangstarr, Common, and OutKast.
In early 2001, Johnny founded Air This Side of Caution, which gained immediate regional attention and featured his dense arrangements and seductive lead vocals. After six years, two full-length releases, and countless sold-out shows at Chicago venues like Double Door, Schuba’s, and the Metro, Air This Side of Caution disbanded.
In 2007, Johnny helped establish popular Chicago band AM Taxi as their lead guitarist and backup vocalist. Featuring members of Lucky Boy’s Confusion & 15 Minutes Late, AM Taxi quickly became a phenomenon. In less than three years, AM Taxi signed a recording contract with Virgin/EMI; released a full-length debut in June 2010, which received critical acclaim nationwide; crossed the country numerous times on various tours (including the notorious summer festival staple, Vans Warped Tour); sold out many Chicago venues such as Beat Kitchen, Lincoln Hall, Metro, and House of Blues; and was also named Chicago's Best New Band of 2007 by 101.1 FM Q101 and the Redeye.
However, his true passion as a musician remains cabaret-style singing. “I love well-written songs from all eras, be it anywhere from George Gershwin or Duke Ellington to Ryan Adams or John Mayer,” he explains. “I like to wrap my fingers & vocal cords around a tune and play with it and discover how I’d sing it had I written it myself.”
The “eternal 25-year-old” was born, raised, and lives in Chicagoland and started his music career with piano lessons at age four. He penned his first “song” at six and released a self-produced album at thirteen. By eighteen, Johnny gained national recognition not only for his vocal prowess but also for his skills as a conductor, arranger, music director, and conductor.
Johnny's second release (under the pseudonym “Raine”) hit shelves shortly before his 19th birthday. Proficient on over ten instruments, he wrote, performed, and produced it alone. He moved to Boston only months after its release to attend the Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he studied vocal performance with the world’s top teachers & performers. A year later he returned to Chicago with classes from Eddie Kramer, Bobby McFerrin, Al Kooper, and Billy Joel under his belt.
For the next three years, the singer toured the Midwest, playing open mics; college bars & unions; coffeehouses; and even dormitory lounges, traveling to & fro in his Honda Accord with nothing but a guitar & duffel bag stuffed with clothing, CDs, and a toothbrush. Since then, he has shared the stage with a very diverse group of performers, from hip-hop legend LL Cool J & folk singer Michael Glabicki (Rusted Root) to rock notables John Mellencamp & Bon Jovi.
During his travels, Johnny found time to write & record with other bands & artists. He has appeared on over 60 records, both instrumentally & vocally, and is known for the distinct, lush layers of backup vocals he creates. He is also an accomplished hip-hop/dance remixer, having done remixes for Gangstarr, Common, and OutKast.
In early 2001, Johnny founded Air This Side of Caution, which gained immediate regional attention and featured his dense arrangements and seductive lead vocals. After six years, two full-length releases, and countless sold-out shows at Chicago venues like Double Door, Schuba’s, and the Metro, Air This Side of Caution disbanded.
In 2007, Johnny helped establish popular Chicago band AM Taxi as their lead guitarist and backup vocalist. Featuring members of Lucky Boy’s Confusion & 15 Minutes Late, AM Taxi quickly became a phenomenon. In less than three years, AM Taxi signed a recording contract with Virgin/EMI; released a full-length debut in June 2010, which received critical acclaim nationwide; crossed the country numerous times on various tours (including the notorious summer festival staple, Vans Warped Tour); sold out many Chicago venues such as Beat Kitchen, Lincoln Hall, Metro, and House of Blues; and was also named Chicago's Best New Band of 2007 by 101.1 FM Q101 and the Redeye.
However, his true passion as a musician remains cabaret-style singing. “I love well-written songs from all eras, be it anywhere from George Gershwin or Duke Ellington to Ryan Adams or John Mayer,” he explains. “I like to wrap my fingers & vocal cords around a tune and play with it and discover how I’d sing it had I written it myself.”
- Location
- Chicago, Illinois
- Occupation
- Producer/Songwriter/Arranger/Solo Cover Act
