Bio:

John Simons was born in Omaha, NE, and has played bass for 22 years - teaching for the past 10. He plays and teaches many contemporary musical styles, and has lived in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Denver, Colorado, Austin, Texas, and currently resides in San Diego, California.

John began studying Bass in 1987 under guidance of David Valentine and Jim Vaughn (both Principal Bassists with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra), and early in his career quickly began performing with the Colorado Springs Community Jazz Big Band, and other local artists and jazz swing small groups.

In the early 1990's and after moving to Denver, Colorado, he joined the Neil Haverstick Band which often featured popular area vocalists such as Charla Bevan and others. While with the group, John played the Cherry Creek Arts Festival, and opened for Coco Montoya and Maria Muldaur. The band was versatile enough to perform a dizzying array of styles - afro-cuban, blues, country, funk, jazz, metal, and rock - and often featured a 45-minute set of original microtonal music, performed on custom built instruments (guitar and bass) fretted with 19-divisions (frets) per octave or 19-tone (equal tempered scale).

When not exploring alternate musical realities, he toured with one of the region's most popular Top 40 Country Cover Bands - Ty Taylor & The Powder River Band. He also performed and recorded with Australian born singer/songwriter Leighton B. Watts as well as other local groups.

John moved from Denver to Austin, Texas in the mid 1990's, and upon arriving met up with singer/songwriter Jim Stricklan with whom he performed at the Austin Music Hall - sharing the stage with Toni Price and Joe Ely. Also while in Austin, he performed and recorded with the Dave Sebree Band, Laffing Sam, , John Ussery, Lee Person, and many other local groups...

In the fall of 2000, John relocated to San Diego, California where he currently lives and enjoys a busy schedule of performing, recording, and teaching. While in San Diego, he's performed and recorded a variety of music with local and regionally touring bands (cover and original material) with styles ranging from Acoustic, Blues, Country, Flamenco, Funk,  Fusion, Hip-Hop, Improvisational, Instrumental, Jazz, Latin, Motown, R&B,  Rock, and many Singer/Songwriters... his bands have opened for Walter Trout, David Sanborn, Chris Botti, and Elvin Bishop.

John has been very fortunate to play on several recording projects with recording engineers/producers Alan Sanderson of Strate Sound Studios, and Ray Peterssen of Raining Notes Productions.

For more detailed information and to hear samples of his studio recording credits - click here.

He has also been exceptionally blessed to work with the following list of bands, and fellow artists/musicians since moving to Southern California...