Jon started playing music at the age of 10 and by 12 years of age decided to pursue a career in music-
Jazz in particular. Primarily self-taught, Jon played in the local school band program and joined the
junior high and high school jazz bands, where he worked on improvisational music. He was awarded
"Best Soloist" honors at all area Jazz Festivals that the band attended. By the age of 16, Jon began
playing professionally in the Charlotte area night clubs and was a featured soloist in appearances with
Marian McPartland, Donald Byrd, Dizzy Gillespie and Herb Ellis. In 1981 Jon began formal music training
with a scholarship to the University of Miami in Florida. Since then he has pursued education at Berklee
College of Music in Boston, Winthrop University, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and he has
studied privately at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville with legendary jazz educator Jerry Coker.
Jon's Professional performances of note include those with Dizzy Gillespie, Herb Ellis, Emily Remier,
Eileen Farrell, and Freddie Redd. Jon's touring experience includes dates with Max Roach, Milt Hinton,
Natalie Cole, the Woody Herman Orchestra, the Les Elgant Orchestra, the Nelson Riddle Orchestra, the
Four Tops, the Temptations, the O'Jays, Don Dixon, Marty Jones, Faction, Jim Brock and Beth
Chorneau. Jon can be found on over 50 recordings by various artists from Jazz to Rock to Pop. He has
been recorded on over 100 television ans radio commerials and has been part of the sound track
recordings for the TV series, "The Young Indiana Jones".
Jazz in particular. Primarily self-taught, Jon played in the local school band program and joined the
junior high and high school jazz bands, where he worked on improvisational music. He was awarded
"Best Soloist" honors at all area Jazz Festivals that the band attended. By the age of 16, Jon began
playing professionally in the Charlotte area night clubs and was a featured soloist in appearances with
Marian McPartland, Donald Byrd, Dizzy Gillespie and Herb Ellis. In 1981 Jon began formal music training
with a scholarship to the University of Miami in Florida. Since then he has pursued education at Berklee
College of Music in Boston, Winthrop University, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and he has
studied privately at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville with legendary jazz educator Jerry Coker.
Jon's Professional performances of note include those with Dizzy Gillespie, Herb Ellis, Emily Remier,
Eileen Farrell, and Freddie Redd. Jon's touring experience includes dates with Max Roach, Milt Hinton,
Natalie Cole, the Woody Herman Orchestra, the Les Elgant Orchestra, the Nelson Riddle Orchestra, the
Four Tops, the Temptations, the O'Jays, Don Dixon, Marty Jones, Faction, Jim Brock and Beth
Chorneau. Jon can be found on over 50 recordings by various artists from Jazz to Rock to Pop. He has
been recorded on over 100 television ans radio commerials and has been part of the sound track
recordings for the TV series, "The Young Indiana Jones".
| Jon Thornton |
