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- First and foremost a songwriter Jon Johanson has worked with many talented people over the years, in Los Angeles, London and Nashville; many household names, some unknown. Disillusioned with the industry at an early age after a deal with a major company soured, (arguments over image and releases not properly promoted), Jon moved six thousand miles away from Cardiff to Santa Barbara aged 19, but after a number of successful concerts Jon suddenly abandoned his own career and turned to the business side, representing, writing for and producing a wealth of artists in Los Angeles and the UK. Jon first recorded in a studio at the age of 14, recording two originals and a cover of Dylan's All Along the Watchtower (one local paper later called Jon the Welsh Bob Dylan). He was given carte blanche at the BBC studios in Cardiff. It was at this time he won his first award for writing - a national award for a short story. He also acted, inspired by his drama teacher Carl Palmer, appearing in many professional productions - radio, television, stage and film whilst getting tuition from the very best at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, the Old Vic and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. One project of Jon's at Cardiff Art College, meant to be a five minute presentation, turned into an award winning full length feature, about a band (Jon's) and missing tapes (sound familiar - this was way before McCartney's Give My Regards). Full time drama school, RADA, was a logical next step but music also beckoned as his band was gaining serious attention. After his move to California his songwriting developed and he moved on to writing scripts for stage and screen, first developing one of his 'story songs' into a screenplay, Obsession. A second television screenplay, Child of Mine, followed, again inspired by one of his songs and a personal true story. His Los Angeles based entertainment company in the 90's attracted and/or worked with many top professionals, including two teen idols from the 70's, a true musical legend, and two Idol judges amongst others, and became a highly respected independent company, creating innovative campaigns and producing some outstanding music for its artists. As a further sign for discovering new talent the company signed eleven of its twelve unsigned acts, to major labels, no mean feat. Now after the time he calls lost in the wilderness, he has returned to his true roots, performing and writing. His acclaimed play Weekend Break was first performed a couple of years ago at the world-renowned Edinburgh Fringe Festival at the Gilded Balloon. Jon starred in the male lead and reviews included "skillful writing";"excellent acting";"impressive". He is returning to acting again this year with his two new plays The Colour of Love, an electrifying contemporary Romeo and Juliet, set in modern day London, telling the story of a 40-something couple; and Trick, a gritty drama which tells the story of nineteen year old prostitute Cheryl, a single mum fighting to get her son back from care, with the possible help of one of her clients. Weekend Break is also returning with a new adaptation and will be touring America as well. All three plays will be filmed over the next two years through Jon's company IEG Productions as independent, low budget features. Each play is also being adapted for radio and there will be accompanying soundtrack CDs for all three. Currently working on what will be his first full solo album, Songs From the Hart, Jon wrote most of the songs for the album in the fall of last year in Hartsville, Tennessee, just outside Nashville. It promises to be a very personal, romantic, intimate album and will feature many guest appearances. Songs will be available later this year. The tracks above are just very rough demos of a couple of Jon's older songs, Jon playing all instruments. He is also looking forward to playing live again. Born in Cardiff, Wales, Jon's mother was a professional opera singer with the Welsh National Opera Company but an avid pop fan, whilst his father, a huge jazz fan, was a respected lawyer - this perhaps explains his creative and business sides. Jon has appeared on numerous occasions on television, film and radio. A special moment was appearing on a Jerry Lewis telethon along with, amongst others, one Francis Albert Sinatra. He has an impressive reputation for discovering new artists and songs, having been the person who has brought many successful artists to the attention of the industry, media and public and he is a respected authority on both music and film. The publication of Dead At Night, a collection of stories featuring Cardiff P.I. Jackson Woods is also set for 2009, with a second collection, Dead Silence, again featuring Woods, already planned. There is also a book of lyrics and poetry scheduled, Today was Tomorrow Yesterday, accompanied by an audio book of the same, inspired by Rod McKuen. You'll find a short story, written especially for Myspace, in the blog section called The Request. Musical inspiration for Jon has come from various genres; Marc Bolan, Neil Young, David Gates, Plant and Page, the many singer-songwriters and bands who emerged from the West Coast and also artists from country, jazz, R & B and soul - Bobby Bland, Charlie Christian, Curtis Mayfield, Jerry Jeff Walker, Marvin Gaye, Gram Parsons, early Grover Washington and Gary Stewart - by the age of 18 he had a record collection of over 10,000 albums. As well as being a huge admirer of American fiction writers including Steinbeck, Williams and James Lee Burke, Jon was strongly influenced by the 'kitchen sink' British dramas; Saturday Night, Sunday Morning; A Kind Of Loving; Alfie; A Taste of Honey; Look Back in Anger; Loot and The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner all strongly influence his work, as do their groundbreaking writers - Stan Barstow, Bill Naughton, John Osborne, Joe Orton and Alan Sillitoe. He also names directors Tony Richardson and John Schlesinger as major influences, even before Jon actually knew who they were; their work inspired Jon and is evident in his own work, the three plays and films scheduled for this year. World cinema as a whole provides much inspiration, in particular the French new wave and modern day dramas (France of course being the birthplace of cinema) and also the films coming out of Asia. His writing incorporates all of these influences whilst at the same time remaining fresh and unique, with his own style; gritty, thought-provoking, contemporary yet classic writing. As a musician, producer and songwriter Jon's last band in LA consisted of a Doobie Brother and members of Chicago and Bonnie Raitt's band, recording in Danny (Three Dog Night) Hutton's Trancas Canyon studio in Malibu, Danny providing backing vocals alongside Jon. Jon was recently awarded a Fellowship from the prestigious Royal Society of Arts and he is also proud to have been Chairman and Artistic director for the last seven years of a respected theatre and arts centre in England, with the world renowned actor, comedian, musician, (and both Charlie Chaplin and Laurel and Hardy's favourite), Sir Norman Wisdom OBE as Patron. Sir Norman is now regrettably very ill. Jon resigned early last year following cuts in grants and promised funding not being received, deciding to concentrate on his own creative career.
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