Born in Bristol, R.I., USA, John based himself in Boston, where he worked as guitarist with rock singers JIMMY CLANTON, BOBBY RYDEL, and FREDDY CANNON.

He also performed with CHUCK BERRY, THE DRIFTERS, THE FOUR TOPS, BO DIDDLEY, THE RONETTES and other blues and rock groups. He was bandleader for HERB REED AND THE ORIGINAL PLATTERS.

In 1970 he became guitarist/bandleader/singer with vocal group “THE HAPPENINGS”, where he enjoyed two #1 hits: “I GOT RHYTHM” & “MAMIE.”

In 1973 he became a member of “FRANKIE VALLI AND THE FOUR SEASONS.” As a SEASON he received TWO GOLD SINGLES, ONE PLATINUM and TWO GOLD ALBUMS. They toured Canada/ Europe/ Australia and New Zealand.

He left the SEASONS in 1977 and worked the New York mountain hotel circuit as staff guitarist with former BUDDY RICH pianist MICKY MCLAINE.

Following a European tour with FATS DOMINO in 1979, he met Margie. John and Margie  got married in 1981 and John became a permanent Munich resident.  He makes frequent trips abroad to  perform.

He has worked with jazz altosax great, HERB GELLER, and performs with his own group “DIRTY HANDS”.

John played as soloist with “THE MUNICH PHILHARMONICS”, and in the pit band at the “DEUTSCHES THEATER” for Broadway-musicals “EVITA”, “LA CAGE AU FOLLES”, and “ALL THAT JAZZ”. 

John has worked with various cabaret artists as bandleader/arranger/composer AND script-writer. He played in “RENDEZVOUS OF THE CLOWNS” at the “RESIDENZ-THEATER”, in “LIEDER UND LEUTE” with BILL RAMSEY, and in Munich´S, “LACH-UND SCHIESS- GESELLSCHAFT.”

John worked in England with: BOB WILBUR, KENNY WEELER, bassist JIM RODFORD and jazz guitarist JIM MULLINS.
He did his first solo recording “CRANKY” with drummer H. RÜSCHENBAUM and bassist K. KNETTNER.

John’s group “DIRTY HANDS” has played extensively around Germany. He has  lectured at “UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN” in USA. There are two new CDs featuring John: “CHANGING TIMES” WITH ALBERT C. HUMPHREY and “66 MINUTES OF JOY”, with STEVE HOOKS´ band “TOO COLD”.