Biography, Credits & Gig List
Jonn Savannah Bio
At 21 years old Jonn Savannah secured his first professional engagement as a founder member of 'The Sinceros'. After signing a world-wide deal with Epic Records in the UK 'The Sinceros' released two critically acclaimed albums. The band split up after three years due to musical differences. During this time Jonn worked with Lene Lovich on the second Stiff Tour, after which he embarked on a UK and American tour as keyboard player with Bill Nelson and the Practical Dreamers.
Jonn then joined 'Squeeze', who were about to begin work on the 'Sweets from a Stranger' album. After a year of heavy touring the band split. Jonn subsequently co-produced a self-penned single, on which he sang and played most of the instruments. The single, entitled '25 Years' was quickly picked up by Metronome Records in Germany and released all over Europe. While the single was gaining ground Jonn sang and played keyboards for Judie Tzuke on a short UK tour. '25 Years' was released under the name of 'The Catch' and started to attract a lot of attention. Jonn teamed up with drummer Chris Whitten and performed '25 Years' on German television. The single sold half a million copies and reached number 3 in the Musikmarkt Top 75, remaining in the charts for 40 weeks. 'The Catch' made two albums and several singles for Metronome Records selling a total of three quarters of a million records.
After moving to Surrey, Jonn had a recording studio built at his new home. He was selected to play keyboards and sing backing vocals for Tina Turner on her mammoth fifteen month 1987 tour. After six months had elapsed Jonn found himself frustrated and stifled by what had become an uninspiring and routine position. Acknowledging his own abilities as a songwriter and performer he decided to leave the tour and concentrate once more on his solo career.
Jonn immediately secured a recording contract with Polydor Records in Germany, and a single, 'Ordinary Girl' was released in the late summer of 1989. He produced a remake of '25 Years' for Hansa Records in Germany. '25 Years - The Album' was released by Hansa late in 1991, and another single, 'A Man's Gotta Do What A Man's Gotta Do,' was released in February 1992.
In 1990 Jonn was involved with the John Lennon Tribute in Liverpool playing keyboards for the Tribute band, and also worked with Jimi Somerville. In 1991 he re-joined Squeeze for the American and British tours. In 1992 he wrote an instrumental album and material for the new 'Catch' CD. He also did some live work playing Hammond organ for Procol Harum, and hosted the Songwriter's Network at Subterranea. Towards the end of the year he joined the Van Morrison band on keyboards and backing vocals.
In 1994 Jonn set up "Nu-Vibe Productions" with Chris Parkes, managing director of MFL Merchandising to work on various projects and after a successful songwriting week in Devon, was signed by EMI Publishing as a writer. In 1995 Jonn rejoined Squeeze for the third time and toured until the end of that year. 1996 began with pre-production work in 'The Warren' for a Japanese album project and another successful writing week in Devon produced ten more excellent co-written songs.
In 1997 Jonn moved to an 18th Century converted barn in Loxwood, West Sussex. In September of 1997 Jonn recorded 10 tracks, two written by himself, for an Icelandic singer called Sigga and sang a storming soul duet with her. Then another songwriting week was scheduled in Devon, following which Jonn made a decision to experience the excitement and vibrancy of the Nashville scene. After hooking up with some of Nashville's top writers he spent two hectic months polishing off twenty fine songs.
1998 brought more live work with Van Morrison - one nasty incident on the way to Paris saw the band nearly being written off in a plane crash…the engine exploded on take-off and sent the twenty seater aeroplane careening off the runway on to the grass at 120 mph! In October yet another songwriting week took place producing the usual crop of good songs.
October 1999 was the start of another busy time for Jonn. He began producing six tracks for Ruth, another Icelandic singer, and started work in the house band with Lulu for the UK National Lottery show, Red Alert, which continued into 2000.
In 2001 Jonn started working on instrumental CDs for NorthStar Music and began producing library music for Atmosphere, Sonoton, Connect, Focus & Stock Music. Also he managed 'Autopia' - a young band with great songs and attitude. In August work started on a new $100,000 recording facility, Solid Oak Studio, which was completed a year later, outfitted with a Yamaha C3 Grand Piano, a Yamaha 9000 Drum Kit and a Pro Tools rig.
In 2002 Jonn ventured more into the world of voiceovers, recording several corporate projects, and also performed 10 different character voices for a French comedy film. He began working on the incredibly successful American Idol series tuning the vocals for the contestants. In October yet another remake of his hit '25 Years' was recorded. Clinton Heylin also released his critically acclaimed biography on the life of Van Morrison - Jonn had been interviewed by Clinton some time before and was heavily quoted in the book.
2003 saw the start of a year long album project for a local gospel artist - everything apart from the lead vocal was played, arranged, produced and engineered by Jonn. In May of that year Jonn attended the final songwriting week at Huntsham Court in Devon, which was filmed for TV.
2004 brought many changes - in November Jonn and his family moved to the States, settling initially in Boston, Massachusetts. He worked with Tony 'Thunder' Smith and Thaddeus Hogarth, professors at the Berklee School of Music and also recorded ambient projects for NorthStar Music.
In 2005 Jonn relocated to Medford, New Jersey recording a jazz guitar album for NorthStar Music, tuning vocals for an Estonian singer and also writing songs with local artists. Today he continues to tune vocals for various UK singers and producers, his reputation growing as one of the few people to be able to keep the humanity of a vocal performance, while bringing it into tune. Jonn recently played piano for the Pawnshop Roses in Philadelphia and also sat in on sessions on keyboards, bass and guitar for a new album being recorded by Joe Zahm.
Jonn is also the voice of Wharton Business School - subscribers to Wharton's bi-monthly release of seven new business-related articles have the option to download an audio version of the articles read by Jonn.
Jonn Savannah Credits
Production, Songwriting, Vocals, Keyboards, Guitars, Bass, Drums, Sax, Flute, Appalachian Dulcimer, Native American Flute, Banjo, Flugelhorn, Harmonica.
Solo:
1983 - Signed to Metronome Records in Germany under the name of 'The Catch'. First single '25 Years' sold 500,000 - #3 in the Musikmarkt chart.
1984 - 'Balance on Wires' CD, Metronome Records.
1985 - 'Walk The Water' CD, Metronome Records.
1989 - 'Ordinary Girl' Single, Polydor Records.
1991 - Remake of '25 Years' Single, Hansa Records.
1991 - '25 Years - The Album' CD, Hansa Records.
1992 - 'A Man's Gotta Do What A Man's Gotta Do' Single, Hansa Records.
1994 - Signed to EMI Music Publishing.
1996 - Remake of '25 Years' Single, East West Records.
1997 - Re-release of 'Balance On Wires' & 'Walk The Water' CDs, G.I.B. Records.
2001 - 'Feng Shui' CD, Healing Harmonies.
2002 - 'Le Grand Bleu' CD, Ambiente.
2002 - 'Tantric Sex' CD, Ambiente.
2003 - 'Chill Out For The Mind' CD, Northstar Music.
2005 - 'Watercolours' CD, Ambiente.
2006 - 'The Mayan Codices' CD, Invisible Earth Productions.
2006 - 'Sanctuary' CD. Invisible Earth Productions.
2006 - 'Inversions' CD, Invisible Earth Productions.
Live:
1978 - Lene Lovich.
1978-80 - The Sinceros.
1980 - Bill Nelson.
1981-83 - Squeeze.
1983 - Judy Tzuke.
1986 - Roger Daltrey.
1987 - Tina Turner.
1988 - Al Green, Natalie Cole, Freddy Jackson, Ashford & Simpson,
Jonathan Butler, Joe Cocker - First Mandela Concert, Wembley Stadium.
1990 - Dave Edmunds house band - John Lennon Tributes
Liverpool & Tokyo Dome.
1991 - Squeeze.
1992 - Procol Harum.
1992-95 - Van Morrison.
1995 - Squeeze.
1998 - Van Morrison.
1999-2000 - Lulu.
2005 - Tony Thunder Smith.
Library Music:
Atmosphere Music
Match Music
Edge Music
Focus Music
Killer Tracks
Sonoton Music
Stock Music
Studio Sessions:
ABC, Baby Ford, The Belle Stars, Boy George,
Brian Kennedy, Chris Eaton, Clive Griffin,
Dr. Mouthquake, Eezee Posse, Fingerprintz,
Francis Ruffele, Gary Clark, Gary Moore,
Gianni Morandi, Gregory Gray, Heartland,
Holly Johnson, Jaki Graham, Jesus Loves You,
Jimi Somerville, Joe Cocker, Jona Lewie,
Katrina & the Waves, Lee Kosmin, Mark Nevin,
Martyn Joseph, Mindy McReady, Model,
Nick Kamen, Nik Kershaw, The Pawnshop Roses,
The Quick, The River City People, Roger Daltrey,
Russell Watson, Sheila Walsh, Squeeze,
Stephen Duffy, Tasmin Archer, The Sinceros,
This Picture, Thomas Anders, Tina Turner,
Tom Jones, Tracey Ullman, Tracie Young,
Van Morrison, Wendy & the Rockets, Worlds Apart.
Co-writers:
Rick Astley, Steve Booker, Helen Boulding,
Sally Boyden, Chris Braid, Garry Christian,
Gary Clark, Jay Dee, Cathy Dennis, Chris Difford,
Charlie Dore, Minnie Driver, Richard Drummie,
Graeme Duffin, Sherena Dugani, Francis Dunnery,
Ron Francois, Peter Glenister, John Goodwin,
Dory Jackson, Andy Kane, Gary Kemp, Brian Kennedy,
Jennifer Kimball, Kipper, Simon Kirke, Mark Kjeldsen,
Mick Leeson, Robin Lerner, Liz Longley, Angela Lupino,
Neill MacColl, Marsha Malamet, Rebecca Martin,
Reg Meuross, Paul Muggleton, Billie Myers,
Sarah Nagourney, James Nesbit, Mark Nevin,
Howard New, Richard Niles, Tessa Niles,
Robert Ellis Orrall, Wendy Page, Marti Pellow,
John Peppard, Heitor Pereira, Monty Powell,
Guy Pratt, Phil Roy, Maggie Ryder, Jimmy Scott,
Chris Sheehan, Ellen Shipley, Joey Tempest,
William Topley, Judie Tzuke, Peter-John Vettese,
Mark Weston, Wildflowers, Mark Williamson.
Production:
Bernie Armstrong, Brigid Boden, Chris Sheehan,
Dixie Peach, Ed Belgeonne, E.L.L., Hanne Boel,
High Frontier, Hilaire Penda, Jaki Graham,
Jaqui Berne, Lindi, Lisa M, Mike Allen, Minnie Driver,
Paul Anderson, Random Man, Ray Shell, Roy Gayle,
Ruby Turner, Ruth, Sandi Russell, Simone Chapman,
Tessa Niles, The Catch, The Sinceros, Wildflowers.
Jonn Savannah Gig List:
1977
November
24th Hollywood - The Railway, Wealdstone.
25th Hollywood - The Harbour Lights, Acton.
26th Hollywood - The Spooky Lady, Hackney.
27th Hollywood - The Mecca Ballroom, Purley.
December
1st Hollywood - The Railway, Wealdstone.
2nd Hollywood - The Spooky Lady, Hackney.
3rd Hollywood - The Railway, Wealdstone.
8th Hollywood - The Railway, Wealdstone.
9th Hollywood - The Spooky Lady, Hackney.
10th Hollywood - The Railway, Wealdstone.
1978
January
14th Sticky Stuff - Barrow.
20th Sticky Stuff - Bumbles, Wood Green.
21st Sticky Stuff - Country Bumpkin, Andover.
2nd Sticky Stuff - Tiverly Ballroom, Buckley, North Wales.
February
13th Sticky Stuff - Chancellor Hall, Chelmsford.
18th Sticky Stuff - RAF Colingsbury, Lincolnshire.
March
3rd Sticky Stuff - Emmaline's Club, Rugby.
4th Sticky Stuff - Emmaline's Club, Rugby.
15th Sticky Stuff - H.M.S. Mercury, Petersfield
17th Sticky Stuff - Bunny's Place, Cleethorpes.
22nd Sticky Stuff - 2 week residency - Lido Room, Hotel de France, St. Helier, Jersey.
April
27th The Vibrators - The Drill Hall, Lincoln.
28th The Vibrators - The Vauxhall Holiday Park, Great Yarmouth.
30th The Vibrators - Tiffany's, Shrewsbury.
May
3rd The Vibrators - Slough College.
4th The Vibrators - Radio One In Concert - Paris Studios.
5th The Vibrators - Edinburgh University.
10th The Vibrators - Barbarella's, Birmingham.
12th The Vibrators - Rafter's, Manchester.
16th The Vibrators - Locarno, Bristol.
17th The Vibrators - Sussex University.
18th The Vibrators - Music Machine, Camden, London.
19th The Vibrators - Corn Exchange, Cambridge.
21st The Vibrators - Locarno, Portsmouth.
22nd The Vibrators - Top Of The World, Stafford.
23rd The Vibrators - Cheltenham Town Hall.
29th The Vibrators - Revolver, ATV, Birmingham.
June
24th Pete Ross Band - Southall Football Club.
August
11th The Sinceros - Rochester Castle, Stoke Newington.
13th The Sinceros - Golden Lion, Fulham.
18th The Sinceros - High Wycombe Town Hall, supporting the Rezillos.
September
1st The Sinceros - Metro Club, Plymouth.
12th The Sinceros - Hope & Anchor.
23rd The Sinceros - Dingwalls, supporting The News.
27th Lene Lovich - Nelson's, Wimbledon Park.
29th Lene Lovich - The Nashville, supporting Wreckless Eric.
October
1st The Sinceros - The Roundhouse - Anti-Nazi Rally.
11th Stiff Tour - Lene Lovich - Liverpool University.
13th Stiff Tour - Lene Lovich - Aston University, Birmingham.
14th Stiff Tour - Lene Lovich - Plymouth Polytechnic.
16th Stiff Tour - Lene Lovich - U.M.I.S.T. Manchester.
17th Stiff Tour - Lene Lovich - Lancaster University.
19th Stiff Tour - Lene Lovich - Strathclyde University, Glasgow.
20th Stiff Tour - Lene Lovich - Strathpeffer Spa Pavillion, Rosshire.
21st Stiff Tour - Lene Lovich - Wick Assembly Rooms, Caithness.
23rd Stiff Tour - Lene Lovich - Ruffles, Aberdeen.
24th Stiff Tour - Lene Lovich - Dundee University.
25th Stiff Tour - Lene Lovich - Clouds, Edinburgh.
26th Stiff Tour - Lene Lovich - Stirling University |
