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Jon has been playing and writing music since high school (Schaumburg Saxons!). During college (Illinois State University) he was a member of The Code, an 80's New Wave-influenced band that toured locally before disbanding circa 1988.
After playing in several college-oriented cover bands, Jon teamed up with former Code compadres to form The Shrugs (jangly Beatlesque pop) and later, the locally successful trio, The Time Beings (Power-Pop with an edge). Jon wrote nearly half of each band's material, drawing upon his folk, pop and classic rock influences. The Time Beings recorded 2 full-length CD's and one EP, the appropriately titled "Gas Money", which featured Joy Missile's keyboardist, Dave Bills as the fourth member. The tracks "Give" and "Spin The Wheel" from the Gas Money CD have been licensed for use on several U.S. and European cable TV networks. After recording several follow up tracks at Gravity Studios with Doug McBride, The Time Beings went on permanent hiatus. Jon had penned several songs during his tenure with The Time Beings that never quite fit the power-pop-trio format. Stylistically, these songs relied more on groove, emotion, improvisation and rhythm than his previous material. Dave Bills, had also accumulated several non-formulaic piano-based tunes that needed an avenue, so they decided to get together with their friends to throw these orphan songs off the wall just to see what would stick. As a result, Joy Missile was born as a unique fusion of two very different, but mature songwriting styles.