I have logged thousands of hours researching each artist and band I have had the privilege to build a showcase page for and I have learned in doing this there are certain facts and patterns that emerge. Some fall into their craft seemingly by mistake or sheer luck if you tend to believe in that sort of thing. Then there are those who have a clear understanding of their abilities and the opportunities available by applying tremendous work and devotion.
Jonathan Wyndham is a force to be recognized, singer, songwriter, producer/engineer, and a world-class guitarist. When you talk about paying your dues this young man has vested a fortune in the right to be recognized by both fans and peers for his dedication to craft, excellence in work, and sheer faith in what he has to offer.
Bio from the Neat Nashville article and official website:
Jonathan Wyndham grew up in a close-knit family in Lexington, South Carolina. He said as a kid, one of his mom’s rules was he and his two older sisters had to always be in choir and play an instrument. His mother, a classically trained pianist and vocalist who played with the South Carolina Philharmonic, had an old classical guitar lying around. He started to learn and soon realized he could play and sing songs. “That was immediately intoxicating,” he said.
On his 13th birthday, Jonathan got his first electric guitar. “When you’re learning electric guitar you realize that when you turn it up louder, it feels like you play better,” he said with a laugh. “My parents would send me to my grandmother’s house five minutes away, and she would just put up with it. When she got tired of hearing it, she would feed me.”
Jonathan grew up loving The Allman Brothers Band and Eric Clapton from his father. The two took weekend road trips to Clemson for football games and his father would DJ all the classics along the way. “I love blues and southern infusion,” he said. “You take a turkey baster of country music, and you just put it in blues and rock like Lynyrd Skynyrd and Derrick Trucks.” He said his influences are an eclectic mix. Songwriting wise, he’s influenced by Pop music powerhouse Max Martin and country music legend Vince Gill, who he calls “unmatched” when it comes to writing and vocals. Jonathan said artists like Chris Stapleton, Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits, Keith Urban, The Eagles, and John Mayer have also influenced his music and his sound.
“I’m a derivative of my influences.” Jonathan credits his drive to be meticulous and methodical toward his music from his early experiences with his mother and classical composers. “I’m really practical,” he said. “I don’t tell anyone how many all-nighters I pull. They don’t need to know that I sat here and did the guitar and kemper until they were right.” “Music is here forever. I don’t want to sit back in ten years and think the music I’m making now is lame,” he said.
Right after high school, Jonathan moved to the Nashville area. First in Murfreesboro, he said he found it difficult to focus and strive to be better there. “If I’m surrounded by people who aren’t pushing me to achieve or people who aren’t better than me, then I’m going to be stagnant, and I know that,” he said. “I try to surround myself with people who have 30 years on me and who could play circles around me.”
In the summer of 2014, Jonathan made it through on NBC’s The Voice and decided to take a break from school to see what would happen. He said a close friend of his knew someone that was connected with the show. “At first, they said they had plenty for this season so maybe try next year. My friend pushed it and said, ‘No, you need to listen to this guy,’ talking about me. They said okay send us a video. I played “Ain’t No Sunshine” by Bill Withers. We used a different vocal run, and it worked,” he said.
Jonathan made it through and went on to L.A. for an executive audition where he played in front of the producers of the show. In his first performance on the show, he chose to sing “Say Something” by A Great Big World and Christina Aguilera. “They made it fairly clear they saw me as a Pop singer, and I wrestled with that a little bit because I wasn’t sure. I ended up singing that song, and it turned out well.” “In the second round, I sang a Pop song against a Pop singer and got knocked out there,” he said. “I got more gigs that Fall riding that wave.” “I wrote a lot of music and opened a lot of doors. I learned a lot about myself, and I chased every door I opened.”
In the years since 2014 Jonathan has played countless shows all over the US, Canada, and Spain as a guitarist, from honky tonks and small clubs to theaters and arenas. Most recently touring with Colbie Caillat and previously with Jessie James Decker, he can go from a duet on Colbie's Grammy winning song with Jason Mraz "Lucky" to slinging an electric guitar as if it's an extremity he was born with. After the years of touring and writing, he has found what he wants to say. Like countless side musicians before him the need to step out and play his own music came naturally and undeniably when he found his own voice. Now we find Jonathan Wyndham with something to say and the expertise to say it well.
Releasing 10 singles in 2020, finishing out the 14 track record "Nashville Rock & Soul" in 2021, two live trio EP’s titled "Wyndham, Duerst, & Coe: 7.8.22 Part 1 and Part 2" and three singles in 2023, all available for download on digital outlets, Jonathan is rolling with no slow down in sight. From rock to soul to ballads, his catalog has it all. Wyndham says "The music I'm making is the culmination of 12 years of touring and sessions as a guitarist and a deep love for music that has only grown by being immersed in music and a part of the vibrant Nashville music community. If I'm going to release music, then I want it to be commercial while diving deep enough that my musician friends are going to enjoy playing and listening to it just as much as anyone.
"I’ve loved making this music and I hope you enjoy listening!”
