Nashville ’s Hidden Gem With his blonde hair tucked inside a baseball cap, the singer and songwriter Jon Michaels sits quietly at the end of the bar at Music Row’s most famous industry hangout, the Longhorn Steak House, and few people pay him any mind. As so often happens, folks outside of Nashville are quicker to recognize many of Music City ’s most amazing talents than those within the often set-in-its-ways music community here. That was very much what happened in Jon’s case. His path to the Row began in the LA suburb of North Hollywood , where Jon grew up in a single-parent household and fell in love with the music of singer/songwriters such as Jim Croce and Harry Chapin. In those days, country was the last thing on his musical mind. But unlike many musicians, Michaels also had a savvy business sense from the beginning, and after finishing his education he landed a high-paying job as an investment broker. Jeffrey Steele, the writer of over 45 Top 5 Country singles, is one of Jon’s biggest fans. “In a land full of `same ol’, same ol,’ it’s so good to know Jon stays the course for being a little bit different. I love his songs.” Michaels has indeed stuck by his guns, “I’ve tried to stay true to my individuality,” he said. Jon’s road to Nashville shows a lot of his courage, and his street smarts. He was playing clubs at night in LA and selling investments during the days. It was 1992 when Jon came to Nashville for his first visit; he stayed a week and was hooked. “I’d never seen anything like this,” he said. “That’s where I got my first taste of a guitar pull, when I went to the Bluebird and Douglas Corner for the first time.” He returned to the West Coast, sold his house, packed his guitar and never looked back. “I gave up my job, I gave up everything,” he said. “I’ve been working ever since on my career. Nashville is graduate school. It’s where you really learn about songwriting.” Jon’s songs, from the outrageously clever “Check Please,” to the unforgettable “Stones” (destine to be a classic) recently recorded by Tracy Lawrence’ and Ty Herndon, show a range of colors and emotions rarely found on Music Row or anywhere else. | ||
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Other artists from US Christopher Joel Richard Stooksbury Kira Small | ||
Uncommon Ground Past Show Dates | ||
| 2007-03-29 (464 days) | Pamela Richardson | |
| Jon Michaels | ||
| Phylis Renee Marconi | ||
| Phil Rockrohr | ||
| Nicole Fedanzo | ||
| Singer Spotlight Unplugged | ||
