John was raised in Kingston, NY… a small city about 2 hours north of New York City. His love for music started at an early age when he would dress up like Elvis Presley and put on little shows for his Mom and Dad. John started his formal musical education in the 3rd grade when he began playing the violin. The drums followed in the 4th grade. While in High School, John started teaching him self guitar and piano while still playing drums in the school and outside of school in his band that neve...
John was raised in Kingston, NY… a small city about 2 hours north of New York City. His love for music started at an early age when he would dress up like Elvis Presley and put on little shows for his Mom and Dad. John started his formal musical education in the 3rd grade when he began playing the violin. The drums followed in the 4th grade. While in High School, John started teaching him self guitar and piano while still playing drums in the school and outside of school in his band that never had a name! While earning a degree in music w/ a concentration in Composition/Performance, he added vibes, guitar, bass, piano and some woodwinds/brass to his abilities. John also earned a degree in media production w/ a concentration in Film/Audio/Video production/post-production and has worked in NYC for years in film/audio production. He now owns his own studio (JLS Sound) and recently opened his own production company (Bugbird Productions) where he scores instrumental music for film/tv. John is an active member of ASCAP and owns his own publishing company - Mahmnic Music Publishing.
John's writing began in strength upon his diagnosis of cancer. "everything I was going through and had gone through growing up needed a voice", says John. John's music reflects the pains of losing from a young age - the long climb up from what some call a dead end town - a constant struggle to "tell his story." The loss of his father at age 9 was to be the rocky start that would shape John's views on life. John also lost his beloved Mother Lorraine to Leukemia in 2006. "She was my hero...she was my best friend..she got me through my bout with cancer...It's not possible to put into words what she meant to me", says John. And that's just what he writes about - his loss - his life. His song's are his "slice-of-life." Their themes of pain, struggle, anger and yearning to "get out" yet still embracing with pride, the streets and places that shaped him are palpable.
John was 21 when he was diagnosed with aggressive testicular cancer and was given time frame of 5 years after the surgery as a gage for his survival rate. "Funny Man" came as a result of this time in John's life. That song is now featured on a benefit CD ofr cancer survivors through the organization I2Y. I2Y Founder Matthew Zachary says of John, "It's pretty common knowledge that music is a universal language that transcends time, race, religion and pretty much everything else. What isn't common is how often a musician comes along with the purest of creative instinct, the deftness of a fine craftsman, the passion of love's greatest gift and the soul-churning anguish of life-altering medical experience and harmonizes those collective influences into something truly original. It has been my distinct and humble pleasure and honor to not just be a fan of John Schrader but a personal friend as well." After John was considered "disease-free", he began slowly piecing together his own studio and trying to rebuild after his set backs. To this day, JLS Sound (Named for his Father's initials) is where everything is laid down. John is a multi-instrumentalist and usually performs all the vocals and all the instruments on all of his recordings.
On Saxophone, Dave DeGraw. Dave has been on board with John from the start. Dave and John together have logged MANY miles of music! Dave plays Alto and Tenor Sax's and percussion and sings backing vocals in the band. Dave's ear for harmony and sax chops add a very distinct flavor to the live band! He's the big teddy bear of the group...available for hugs after each and every show! He also doubles as everyone's bodyguard!
Sean North is on board playing guitar and doing background vocals. Sean as with the other guys, has been playing since he was a fetus. Sean has played with many different bands in the New York area for years. Sean has a great sense of rhythm...an inate sense! Great harmony vocals make sean an integral part of the band. Sean can be spotted backstage with many notables such as Steve Vai or being MASSIVE on the woodblock for Blue Oyster Cult! Plus, he's funny as hell!
John's first CD, "From Discontent", was recorded and mixed by John at JLS Sound also and from there, he went to Nevessa Productions in Woodstock, New York to master it with Chris Andersen. John shot, directed, and edited three music videos from the album. In 1990, 1992 and 1996, he was a semi-finalist Billboard and Musician Magazine's songwriting competition. John also completed a commercial for which he Directed, was Director of Photography and scored, recorded and performed the original music. The commercial, which airs on WCBS and CNBC, garnered John the Videographer Award and the Communicator Award. The piece can be streamed at Barone Media
John had scored several soundtracks for independent films and TV/Radio commercials. John composed the musical soundtrack for a film by Director Yat-Hong Chow called "China." The film was awarded "Best Fiction Film" and "Best Original Soundtrack" at the 1997 City Visions Film Festival in New York City. John is been involved in all aspects of production for video and audio-- production, post production, etc. John also taught media production at The State University of New York at New Paltz.
John's 2nd CD, "Blood In The Wood," has achieved airplay on radio stations in the US and overseas. "..the emotions of the music are palpable…." John says, "that tells me that I've done my job as a writer…I've come across to people." John's music has been sold or downloaded in well over 20 countries and every state in the USA and is now featured on Apple I-Tunes, CD BABY, Tower Records and many other download sites. John is an active member of ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) and has won two ASCAP awards for his songwriting and composing. As a resutl, John has inked contracts with Field's Music in NYC and Transition Music in CA for his instrumental scores.
John Schrader has been making his mark in clubs from Woodstock, NY to NYC, New Jersey and Connecticut. He has kept great musical company lately…playing with members of Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne, Johnny Winter, Peter Gabriel, Rod Stewart, Sting, The David Letterman Band, Billy Joel, Shania Twain, Matchbox 20, Indigo Girls, Macio Parker, Al Green, Southside Johnny and Leslie West, Van Morrison's Band, Muddy Waters Band, Bo Diddley, Blood Sweat and Tears, Rare Earth, Little Sammy Davis (Imus in the Morning), and Miles Evans (Son of Gil Evans) to name a few. Are we droppin' names? You bet your ass!! ;-) Keep an eye out for John on the road and for his new CD just released to great reviews, "Daylight Crashing."
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