John began playing jazz early in high school with mentoring from an upperclassman who introduced him to improvisation through playing along with the music of Bix Beiderbecke, Red Nichols, Louis Armstrong, and others. His first band was the East Side Dixieland Sextet, with John leading the group on trumpet and vocals.

John provided sound for many of the early sessions/performances of the CIJS, and is a past president.

He transitioned to keyboards in the early 1980s and played old country, rock and roll from the '50s through '80s, and worked on his jazz chops. John played regularly with bands like CenterLine, Moonshine County Express, Out to Lunch, The Heat, Gail Thomas Band, Bernard Allison, Barb Boyles, Guys Without Ties, and did local recording sessions for commercials and other projects. He used his personal digital recording studio to record his original compositions for some small film projects as well.

John and his brother Jim formed a computer-MIDI duo, the Stereo Bros., which performed at various venues in the Midwest.

A very close friend encouraged him to build the ScamJam, which played alternating weekends at the Copper Kettle, up until it closed. The band was formed shortly after his friend introduced him to the River City Soul Review who invited him to sit in. John's favorite memories of the ScamJam include the wide variety of musical local legends who sat in when they visited the Kettle for the after party following their gigs.

Today (Oct 2014), he sings lead/backup, plays keyboards, bass, and hand percussion (bongos, conga, guiro, dumbek, etc.) with such diverse groups as:

• SideTracked (mowtown, jazz (kybd/voc))
• Another Fine Mess (classic rock trio (kybd/bass/voc))
• The Midnight Special (classic and sophisticated 70s rock (kybd/voc))
• Country Club (old-school country (kybd/bass/voc))
• John J. and his Eternal Jamnation (soul jazz, jazzy rock) (kybd/bass/voc))

He has also sat in with or filled in for:

• The Barn Owls (kybd/perc)
• The Brazilionaires (perc)
• Dave Hoffman & Friends (perc)
• Gary Raye (kybd/bass)
• JC and the Redemption (kybds)
• Larry Harms Trio (kybd/perc)
• Rich and Rare (acoustic interpretations of 90s rock (perc))
• Johnny and the Jets (variety 50s-80s) (kybd/bass/voc))
• Coco Loco Unplugged

John has hosted and co-hosted open stages at the Red Barn, Jimmy's Hideaway, Kuchie's Corner, and Toaster's Tap.

John is currently on hiatus from performances beginning 2016.