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Jon Dillard
Singer/Songwriter Hailing from Detroit, the farmlands of the Mid-west, West Texas, and now Memphis, Jon is a songwriter that performs an authentic blend of roots rock, Texas Country and Americana mixed with that special sauce that you can only get in Memphis. He doesn’t play every style, just one, his own. Self titled - tractor pull music – it is the crossroads of power and pride, motor city and the farmer’s ride. A family tradition... with a father that played drums in a small jazz combo and a mother that played marimba/percussion in a Big Band…a grandmother that played trumpet ... and a brother who is accomplished horn player... it was no coincidence that Jon Dillard would become a musician in his own right. Jon’s musical career began early on, singing at church in the children’s programs where his father was the preacher. At age eight his parents bought him a Sears Silvertone guitar. He took guitar lessons from the famed Gus Zappi in the Detroit motor city and wrote his first song at age 9 for an elementary school program. His earliest influences were Gospel, Motown, CKLW(Canadian Radio) top40, and his mother’s collection of Show-tune 45’s. The songs I wrote became my toys. Hours spent playing with my toys. --- As a teenager Jon’s family moved to Bowling Green, Ohio, a small mid-west college town where FM Album rock was the order of the day. He became the lead guitar player and vocalist for the already formed progressive rock band Panama Red. Several of Jon’s original songs worked there way into the band’s set list. Nothing like having a fan request one of your own songs-- Attending college in west Texas Jon received a degree in Art Education. He also studied jazz and played percussion three seasons in the symphonic band. Jon performed annually at Dallas Cowboy halftime shows to sell-out crowds. Entering the corporate world Jon turned his musical attention back to playing guitar and song writing for his own personal enjoyment. The toy thing again After several years of writing and honing his craft - well actually that’s a bunch of nonsense. I allowed myself to get stuck in corporate America. Desk job… 20 years no less. But my heart and head has escaped-!! Hallelujah!……. Now lets continue with the bio. Moving to Memphis Jon became involved in the vibrant Memphis Music community. He has served on the board of directors of the Memphis Songwriters Association. An organization co-founded by the legendary Estell Axton of Stax fame. Jon has performed as a guest at the Bluebird café in Nashville. He has also performed as the featured musical guest on the Memphis ABC affiliate TV program Live at 9, sharing the billing with then Tennessee governor Sunquest. He has also been a guest several times on the live radio broadcast of the Juke and Jamm show on WQOX. His first recording for distribution was in 2002 when Jon’s original song “Noel, No You” was selected to be on the compellation Christmas CD “The Santa Cause”… a project benefiting Lou Gerhrig’s disease. This was followed by another original song “Zydecalico” recorded on the Humane Society CD project for national release.. Jon’s original songs have also been included on the Best of Memphis CD “Flying in Memphis” and the Memphis Songwriter’s Association “Best of” CD. In 2007 Jon finished the recording of his first solo project Get Right or Get Left. This includes the hit song Elvis Bone already being featured on radio stations in Australia and Japan. Jon performs about 30 shows annually and has had the pleasure of sharing the stage and billing with such notable acts as Michael McDermott, Guy Clark, The Avett Brothers, Gavin DeGraw, Rodney Crowell, Mark Chesnutt and Spin Doctors. My lady calls me Jon. Sometimes she calls me JD. She even calls me Jon Boy but I like it best when she calls me “ Ohhh .. Jonny” |