Born in a small suburb outside Cincinnati, Ohio, John Brandon moved to Sarasota, Fl at age fifteen. It was not until a tragic car accident in 93' that he picked up a guitar. John Brandon recalls, "I was a competitive tennis player, but the accident left me in a wheel chair for two months. My dorm roommate had a guitar, which introduced me to an entirely new world."
John's college, acclaimed for their jazz program, was home to several guitarists that also lived in the dorm. "I’ve always believed it's important to surround yourself with people better than you, so I collaborated with the best guitarists as frequently as possible," Brandon recounts. As the chords become songs, John Brandon soon revisited his voice: "I was the lead in my high school musicals and participated in chorus competitions, but I really had not dome much singing since then."
Inspired by bands like Smashing Pumpkins and Gin Blossoms, John formed a two-man acoustic act and played everything from coffee houses to sorority parties. Soon after joining the local circuit, John Brandon formed a three-piece band called Still Life. With a few marked moments of glory, the group opened for major label acts such as Sister Hazel and Limp Bizkit and produced two CDs - Who's Lily and Not Without Labor. As college came to a close, John Brandon went on musical hiatus. "I still played in a cover band, but I wasn't writing anymore." Brandon Says.
It wasn't until a friendship with a local producer/engineer (Daryl Phenneger - now on drums) led to a freshman solo album. "I was introduced to the major league process and I got vocal coaching (Christina Aguilera, Disney, etc.) that led to a new sound, quite different from what I was used to,” John recounts. About Last Night, his first album had local and nation interest, attracting major label interest. "I just wasn't willing to risk giving up all that I had worked for in school and my work to play the odds," he says.
No regrets according to him. The musical journey has been reinvigorated with the new musical direction. How We Got Here, a sophomore spark, is quite replete with catchy songs that command second attention. John collaborated on this album with lead singer (The Sophomore Attempt) and producer Jeremiah Dunlap, who has recently taken the producing world by storm. Combined the two make an incredible team, complimenting each other's areas of development. The end result....listen for yourself. This lineup is epic:
John Brandon - Vocals, Guitars and Keys
Jeremiah John Dunlap - Vocals, Guitars and Keys
Ryan Viti - Guitars and Vocals
Daryl "The General" Phenneger - Drums
Paul Lapinski - Bass