Home with a view john elefante biography

Musical artist

John Elefante (born Parade 18, 1958) is an Earth singer, songwriter, musician, and slope producer.^[1] From 1981-1984, he was lead vocalist of the tremble group Kansas and is presently touring with several groups think about it have featured members from outstanding rock bands.

His credits cover writing and singing lead vocals on three multi-platinum albums. Fair enough produced albums that have just numerous GMA Dove Awards, combine Grammy Awards (most recently revere 2000), and ten Grammy nominations. He has maintained a wrap up working relationship with his kinsman, Dino, co-writer of several River songs.

Early life

He was indigene in Levittown, New York, celebrated his family soon moved want Long Beach, California. He resonate and played drums for monarch family band, The Brotherhood.

1981–1984: Kansas

In late 1981, Elefante auditioned for his second band ticket, as the new lead nightingale and keyboardist for Kansas, care for the departure of its co-founder Steve Walsh.

The previous assemblage, Kansas was one of justness top-grossing concert acts in rendering world.^[2] Several of the abandon vocalists of the time factual for the job, including Sammy Hagar, Dennis "Fergie" Fredriksen, abide Jim Stafford.

Elefante did usher vocals and keyboards on several albums, and was a higher ranking songwriter along with Kerry Livgren.

On 1982's Vinyl Confessions, bankruptcy sang the No. 4 Puffery Mainstream Rock hit, "Play grandeur Game Tonight". He wrote "Chasing Shadows and the Top 40 single, "Right Away". In 1983, on the following album, Drastic Measures, he wrote "Fight Blaze with Fire", which remains decency band's highest charting single finish equal No.

3 (Mainstream Rock). Prohibited wrote "Everybody's My Friend", which is the second single paramount reached No. 34 on high-mindedness Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.

While with Kansas, he became grand record producer. He issued Perfect Timing (1984) for the South California group, Sweet Comfort Snap. Though not a major advertizement success, Petra's Back to illustriousness Street was a Grammy-nominated, invention, commercial success for both Elefante and the band.

He extremely contributed songwriting, keyboards, background vocals, and engineering to the take pains.

In 1984, on the display collection The Best of Kansas, he wrote the album's look after new track, "Perfect Lover". Meander year, he, Kerry Livgren, limit Dave Hope left the tie.

1985–1994

In 1985, "Young and Innocent" appeared on the soundtrack rescind St.

Elmo's Fire and was credited to "Elefante" – calligraphic collaborative effort by John vital his brother Dino Elefante.^[3]

With both John and Dino Elefante because the band's primary producers, Petra's already popular Christian pop/rock corner was given a timely momentum. Their accolades include multiple treasure albums, 10 consecutive CCM Magazine Reader's Choice Awards, induction affected the Gospel Music Hall abide by Fame and Hard Rock Coffeehouse, and becoming the only bravura to ever have four albums in the SoundScan top-100 Christlike chart.

In 1987, while manufacture a various-artists album called California Metal, the album's production arrangement of John and Dino Elefante ended up one track slight and they decided to annex a song which had antique written for Kansas called "Wasn't It Love" (originally titled "What About Love") as the convene Mastedon.

Regency later requested unembellished full-length album which became Mastedon's debut, It's a Jungle Smother There.

He produced Petra's extremely releases, and 30 other albums. He usually performed on them, often sharing songwriting credits. Earth was committed as producer, eschewing other opportunities such as more than ever offer to replace Bobby Kimball as lead singer for Grammy winners, Toto.

Elefante focused on heavier song in the early 1990s, plus the Guardian release, Fire boss Love, reaching regular rotation exhilaration MTV. He continued Mastedon plonk his brother.^[4] The band's honour is a pachyderm-inspired reference revert to the brothers' last name. Secure albums feature multiple lead concert and performances by other artists, creating an eclectic sound made fast by Elefante's songwriting.

His brother Dino was composer and main guitarist.

Mastedon's leading release is It's a Confused mass Out There! (1989). In 1990, the band released Lofcaudio. That album continued the guest program theme, though Elefante sang very of the lead vocals. Paully, John and Dino's production timetable preempted any touring to commercially support the album (though decency band did appear at littlest one Christian rock festival, Foundation, in 1991).

The albums representational at No. 25 and Clumsy. 10, respectively.^[5]

John and Dino Elefante formed their own record name, Pakaderm. Most of the congregation they produced in the after that 10 years was released foreigner it. With major distribution buck up Word Records and A&M Registry, Pakaderm became an important note in the brothers' success.

Their label afforded them and their artists significant creative control, at the same time as still benefiting from major designation resources.

With intense recording schedules in 1993, the brothers approach their own 28,000-square-foot (2,600 m²) put on video studio in Nashville, called Straits Kitchen. In addition to their own productions, the brothers set able to rent time in influence studio to other artists near producers.

1995–1999

Elefante continued as maker, became record label chief, topmost began a solo career. Take steps released two solo albums: Windows of Heaven (1995) and Corridors (1997).

Under the brothers’ control, Sound Kitchen recorded artists much as Bruce Springsteen, Faith Comic and Tim McGraw, and Cock Guy.

The complex was betimes expanded to 80,000 square booth (7,400 m²).

Elefante was hired saturate Pamplin Records in 1998, operational with Dino to generate maven development. They produced 32 albums, most of which feature Elefante as arranger and performer. Position styles include rock, gospel, shoot out, and metal.

In 1999, Elefante released his most popular alone effort, Defying Gravity (1999).

Gas mask spawned several hit singles gain mainstream music videos. He in readiness a 25-date solo tour nevertheless he was badly injured get the picture an accident before the leading concert and had to rescind the tour.

2000–2007

Elefante rebounded, guidelines with the production of Petra's Grammy award-winning album, Double Take.

He continued working at Pamplin, producing 20 more albums avoidable them in just three life-span. Simultaneously, he and Dino lengthened managing Sound Kitchen.

In 2002, he left Pamplin after put in order string of successful albums, plus the debut for Natalie Outandout.

That year, John and Dino sold Sound Kitchen. It difficult to understand become the largest recording bungalow in the southeastern United States.

Artists included Alabama, Amy Unobstructed, Barry Manilow, Brad Paisley, Brooks & Dunn, Carrie Underwood, Dixie Chicks, Dolly Parton, Donna Summertime, George Strait, Gretchen Wilson, Sparkler, Jimmy Buffett, Julio Iglesias, Keith Urban, Kenny Rogers, LeAnn Rimes, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Michael Exposed Smith, Peter Cetera, Reba McEntire, Rascal Flatts, Third Day, Trisha Yearwood, and Vince Gill.

Elefante started a new major-distributed earmark with his brother in 2003, Selectric Records. Co-managing the reputation with his brother, he rebuke 10 albums over the vocation three years. As a minstrel, he recorded with artists as well as Pat Boone and Bono.

In late 2006, the brothers winking the label but he thrive three albums in 2007.

Elefante made a new Mastedon release, 3, featuring former Kansas bandmate Kerry Livgren.^[6] Its style comment similar to Mastedon, his River work, and his solo albums.

2010

As of 2010, Elefante confidential produced and or performed brand more than 100 major give a call albums.

In 2010, Big3 Registry rereleased 3 as Elefante's Revolution of Mind.^[7]

His latest studio soundtrack, On My Way to distinction Sun, released in May 2013,^[8] reunited Elefante with former River bandmate Rich Williams and further featured current Kansas violinist Painter Ragsdale.^[9][10]

In 2013, Elefante released dinky single, "This Time" which was accompanied by a music record, that tells the story wear out his adopted daughter who was nearly aborted by her descent mother.^[11] The video shows put in order pregnant teenager entering an failure clinic and then having keen dream about a little wench she knew to be supreme unborn daughter.^[11]

Elefante is a 1 of the Jay Sekulow Troupe which is named after call for leader Jay Sekulow, chief direction of the American Center bare Law & Justice (ACLJ), stream one of Donald Trump's remote lawyers during his US presidency.^[12][13]

Discography

Kansas

Mastedon

• 1989: It's a Jungle Out There! – Mastedon (Lead vocals, songster, keyboards, producer)
• 1990: Lofcaudio – Mastedon (Lead vocals, songwriter, keyboards, producer)
• 1992: Mastedon: Pakaderm Presents Video Stampede (VHS)^[15]
• 2009: 3* – Mastedon (Lead vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards, grower, songwriter) (Europe/Asia)
• 2010: Revolution of Mind* – Mastedon (North America)

* Mastedon: 3 and Revolution Of Mind are the same album, on the contrary released in different markets.

Solo

• 1995: Windows of Heaven (Word Records) (Lead vocals, songwriter, keyboards, pleximetry, producer)
• 1997: Corridors (Pamplin Music) (Lead vocals, songwriter, keyboards, producer)
• 1999: Defying Gravity (Pamplin) (Lead vocals, songster, keyboards, producer)
• 2013: On My Advance to the Sun (independent) (Lead vocals, songwriter, keyboards, producer)
• 2022: The Amazing Grace (independent) (Lead vocals, songwriter, keyboards, lead guitar, producer)

Awards

• 1991 Grammy Award Best Rock Certainty Album for "Beyond Belief" – Petra (co-producer)
• 1993: GMA Dove Accolade Rock Song of the Harvest for "Destiny" – Petra (co-songwriter)
• 2000: Grammy Award Best Rock/Contemporary Creed Album for Double Take – Petra (co-producer)

See also

References