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 heard his first Elvis Presley 45 rpm. John's musical education began in grade school with the violin and drums. Upon entering college for the formal study of music, John broadened his talents to include a wide range of musical instruments. Things seemed to be on track for John until the age of 21 when he was diagnosed with a deadly form of Cancer. The Doctors had given John a time frame of 5 years after the surgery as a gauge for his survival rate. Certainly NOT what a 21 year old wants to hear! When John was nine years old, he lost his Father to cancer. Upon his own diagnosis, John's life changed dramatically over night. Going away to college didn't seem so important given the fact that he did not know what kind of time he may have left on God's green earth. John started writing music. He saved quarters in a milk jug as his studio fund. When the jug was full, he took the money and his courage to Salem Recording Studios in Port Ewen, NY. It was there that John learned the ins and outs of songwriting, playing, arranging and recording. After John was considered cured of Cancer, he began slowly piecing together his own studio where today, he wears many different hatsengineer-producer-songwriter, etc. To this day, JLS Sound (Named for his Father's initials) is where everything is laid down. John, a multi-instrumentalist, writes all his material then lays all the instruments and vocals down himself.
The Question: Who does John sound like? A question John dreads! I have never set out to sound like anyoneso I can't say with forethought, that I really sound like anyone but me. John draws his inspiration from life around him.the good and bad.the streets he grew up in and all that they have thrown to he and his family. John says he has been influenced musically by piece of music he has ever laid ears upon. It only makes sense. We like what we like and dislike what we dislike. Everything steers us down the road we walk. And such is the way with John's music. So there you have it. The LONG version of the short way to say, Listen for yourself and draw your own comparisons.
John's last 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. He's also scored the soundtracks for several indie film and video projects and recently completed a commercial for which he was the Assistant Director, Director of Photography and scored, recorded and performed the music. The commercial airs annually on CBS and CNBC and won two international awards. John also scores music for film/TV/industrial projects. John scored the musical soundtrack for a film by Director Yat-Hong Chow called China. The film was named Best Fiction Film and awarded Best Original Soundtrack at the 1997 City Visions Film Festival in New York City. John has been involved in all aspects of production for video and audio-- production, post production, etc. He also owns Mahmnic Music Publishing.
John's latest effort, Blood In The Wood, is John's best work to date. It is a far deeper record emotionally than Discontent. Blood In The Wood has garnered interest from European and American record companies and radio stations in the US and overseas.
John Schrader has been making his mark in clubs all over NY, New York City, New Jersey, Connecticut and Boston. He has kept great musical company latelyplaying with members of Bob Dylan ,The David Letterman Band, Billy Joel , Arlen Roth, Matchbox 20, Indigo Girls, Richie Havens, Macio Parker, Van Morrison's , Leslie West, Muddy Waters Band, Bo Diddley Jr., Al Green, Southside Johnny, Lew Soloff-(Tito Puente, Maynard Ferguson, Frank Sinatra, Dizzy Gilespie,Gil Evans, Steve Gadd, Blood Sweat and Tears), Little Sammy Davis of Imus in the Morning, Miles Evans (Son of Gil Evans). He is now working on material for a new CD. Keep checking back!!
