John started playing drums aged 10 back in 1960 and played in local pop groups before moving onto show bands.
In 1969 he became a professional musician and played for a wide variety of musical artists, such as the world famous guitarist Big Jim Sullivan, Bert Weedon, Ruby Murray, the Neil Reffley Showband and the Graham Walker Band, plus many more fine musicians and singers.
By 1970 he was teaching drums and seeking to start up guitar tuition. Around this time he taught drum set, tuned percussion and brass band percussion at the The Gleed School in Spalding, Lincs.
In 1974 John and his wife Carol opened their own music shop, where he gave lessons on drums, as well as all styles of guitar. He also taught guitar at King Edward VII High School, King's Lynn during this early period of the shop.
The shop was initially started in very small premises in King's Lynn town centre, but within two years both it and the teaching had outgrown these premises, so the couple moved to the much larger building at 71-72 Norfolk Street.
The shop served musicians and music teachers from right across Europe. It was visited by some world class players including Gary Moore, Jon Hiseman, Rod Argent and Pete York (The Spencer Davis Group), as well as US big band drummer Roy Burns.
In 1969 he became a professional musician and played for a wide variety of musical artists, such as the world famous guitarist Big Jim Sullivan, Bert Weedon, Ruby Murray, the Neil Reffley Showband and the Graham Walker Band, plus many more fine musicians and singers.
By 1970 he was teaching drums and seeking to start up guitar tuition. Around this time he taught drum set, tuned percussion and brass band percussion at the The Gleed School in Spalding, Lincs.
In 1974 John and his wife Carol opened their own music shop, where he gave lessons on drums, as well as all styles of guitar. He also taught guitar at King Edward VII High School, King's Lynn during this early period of the shop.
The shop was initially started in very small premises in King's Lynn town centre, but within two years both it and the teaching had outgrown these premises, so the couple moved to the much larger building at 71-72 Norfolk Street.
The shop served musicians and music teachers from right across Europe. It was visited by some world class players including Gary Moore, Jon Hiseman, Rod Argent and Pete York (The Spencer Davis Group), as well as US big band drummer Roy Burns.
_
In 1977 John wrote his first tutor book, entitled 'The Art of the Drummer'. The book quickly gained an impressive reputation following rave reviews in the national music press. Seven other books then followed in the series during the following years. The books are still selling today and the first book has now been reprinted nineteen times! The Art of the Drummer series is used by leading drum teachers across the world.
In the early 1980's John toured the UK with his own band and conducted a series of drum seminars in leading venues from Edinburgh up in Scotland all the way down to Portsmouth in the southern parts of England, as well as appearing in the Channel Islands.
However, poor health forced the sale of the retail business and since then John has concentrated on teaching. For six years he taught at the Glebe House School in Hunstantion before moving onto Wisbech Grammar School, where he now teaches all styles of guitar and drums.
Former pupils include Graham Godfrey and Simon Strong, both respected professional players and teachers at the internationally renowned music school Drumtech in London. John is often asked to coach other drum teachers and many other former pupils play in local groups, bands and orchestras.
John's thanks goes to all of the teachers for their support over the years. Retail stores continue to stock the books and he his especially grateful to all those specialist drum stores and general music shops for their efforts.
In 1977 John wrote his first tutor book, entitled 'The Art of the Drummer'. The book quickly gained an impressive reputation following rave reviews in the national music press. Seven other books then followed in the series during the following years. The books are still selling today and the first book has now been reprinted nineteen times! The Art of the Drummer series is used by leading drum teachers across the world.
In the early 1980's John toured the UK with his own band and conducted a series of drum seminars in leading venues from Edinburgh up in Scotland all the way down to Portsmouth in the southern parts of England, as well as appearing in the Channel Islands.
However, poor health forced the sale of the retail business and since then John has concentrated on teaching. For six years he taught at the Glebe House School in Hunstantion before moving onto Wisbech Grammar School, where he now teaches all styles of guitar and drums.
Former pupils include Graham Godfrey and Simon Strong, both respected professional players and teachers at the internationally renowned music school Drumtech in London. John is often asked to coach other drum teachers and many other former pupils play in local groups, bands and orchestras.
John's thanks goes to all of the teachers for their support over the years. Retail stores continue to stock the books and he his especially grateful to all those specialist drum stores and general music shops for their efforts.