Today we’d like to introduce you to Jonathan Sherrill.
Hi Jonathan, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Jonathan Sherrill I’ve been performing live for over 20 years. Started when I saw Clapton perform in 2001, I knew this was what I wanted to do. In high school, I cut my teeth in indie groups, before moving to LA to attend Musician’s Institute college. I studied not only guitar theory, but recording as well.
After I moved to New York, New York! I worked in orchestra pits off-broadway. Supervised sound engineering and post-production for independent movies. All the while continually exposing myself to new sounds and art. It was an exciting time.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Exposing myself to such arts. That kind of life took its toll, however. I was a pretty bad addict. Got to be so bad I had to come back to Arizona for a reboot. After getting sober, I moved to Portland, OR for my next venture. This was where I really grew as a suppositional solo artist. Work show, after show, after show. Touring cities all over the east coat, and parts of Canada.
Then the pandemic hit. I lost work. Just like everyone. But I wasn’t scared. My own struggles had taught me to see every setback as an opportunity. I started teaching music online, and boy, business was booming. 20 to 35 students per week. Almost always one and one. Eventually, I got to perform live again, but COVID really helped me grow as a person. Now, my students have become much more important to me than any audience.
Unfortunately, not everyone in Portland adapted as well as I did. Times got tough again and my house was burglarized. Car was stolen too. The day I ended up having to buy back one of my own guitars from whoever took it, I knew I couldn’t stay there anymore.
I came back to Arizona. Feeling life defeated me, again. But time has done its thing. It’s been 8 months since all that, and I’m teaching guitar to more students than ever. Zoom and in-person. Singing lessons too. I’m performing live with new and interesting people. Even working with some startup companies for their company jingles. I’m optimistic about the future.
Whether bad things happen to us, or by us, we are beneficiaries of pain. That means we have a debt to pay. I owe it to the next generation of musicians to pass on what I’ve learned. But my main lesson is this: You only live once, so live your life. Run, stumble, get back up, and try for better. Learn, listen, but don’t try to be someone you’re not. Just try to be the best version of yourself. And that will be better.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a independent musician. Specializing in leaving impactful musical experiences, live or in the studio. I run my own business “Jonathan Sherrill Music, LLC” which not only focuses on live music; but post production for film, commercials & app jingles as well. Im also a music teacher and studying to become a music therapist.
I’m always adding new artistic expressions to my business and continue to be surprised by the results. I’m now starting to paint, sculptor and add graphic design to my creative vocabulary, and so far, very overwhelmed by the new clientele & responses.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Persistence and patience. I also believe in a quote that Dylan left behind. I can’t recite it perfectly to his poetic tongue. But more or less, it was about divine intervention, and he was the vessel to deliver the message. I feel sometimes the same way. My quality of work is not on my time, but a divine time. When received, it moves effortlessly through me and I take on the role of the creator. To bring it all to life. It continues to surprise me, not only do I watch my success grow, but I blossom into a better human being.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jonathansherrillmusic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jsherrillmusic/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100075297661832
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4b6wpwbI2j6yR1a-beD9PQ
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/jonathan-sherrill-259299147
