P.O. Box 84653, San Diego, CA 92138
jkanis@rocketmail.com
www.jonkanis.com/blog
619.794.6469 [mobile]

Jon Kanis is an award-winning, Grammy-nominated producer and musician who has traveled the world over entertaining folks from San Diego to Amsterdam — from Cusco to Tibet. With 25 years of experience as a musician and mobile disc jockey Jon can masterfully spin any tune out of the Top 40 from 1955 through 2012 (and beyond) from his 150,000+ song library. He is also an expert musicologist whose writing has been featured in MOJO, UGLY THINGS, The San Diego Troubadour and The San Diego Reader (to name but a few publications). Jon is also extremely intuitive and has helped many truth seekers by providing counseling through the use of astrology and the tarot. Born and raised in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area Jon has spent the last 30 years calling San Diego, California his home. He loves to travel, meet new people and relishes a good creative challenge. If you need someone to transform your next event or project into something truly special and you require the highest level of professional service then you have come to the right place…

Credits and Employment History

Musician / Artist / Writer / Disc Jockey 1983-present
Tarot Readings / Counseling 1995-present
State Controlled Radio [Producer, Host] 2006-2011
Reelin’ In The Years Productions [Producer, Director, Vice President, Archivist] 1999-2005
Thompsonian Empire Advertising [Production Manager] 1996-1997

Industry Qualifications

Producer & Host of 240 weekly three-hour radio programs [State Controlled Radio].
Producer & Director of The American Folk Blues Festival Volumes 1-3 DVD/CDs.
Producer of Soul To Soul DVD/CD.
Producer & Director of five short films on the history of American Rhythm & Blues that are on permanent exhibition at The Stax Museum Of American Soul Music in Memphis, Tennessee.
As a Musician have performed between 450 and 500 gigs over the past twenty years.
Musician, Composer & Producer for dozens of commercially released recordings.
Participant in several group exhibitions with multi-media visual artwork.

Industry Awards

Winner of the Keeping The Blues Alive Achievement In Film Award from The Blues Foundation for The American Folk Blues Festival 1962-1966 Volumes One & Two [2004].
Grammy nomination from The Recording Academy (R.I.A.A.) for Best Long Form Music Video for The American Folk Blues Festival 1962-1966 Volume One [2004].
Honorable Mention from MOJO Magazine Music Awards for The American Folk Blues Festival 1962-1966 Volume One [2004].
Winner of Best Music Anthology DVD Award from DVD Entertainment Awards for The American Folk Blues Festival 1962-1969 Volume Three [2005].
Winner of Best Compilation/Collection Of Clips Award from the Home Media Retailing Awards for The American Folk Blues Festival 1962-1969 Volume Three [2005].

Education

University of California, Berkeley, CA

Technical Equipment

Proficient in GarageBand with a working knowledge of all non-linear audio and video digital platforms [Pro Tools, Final Cut Pro]. Microsoft Word, Excel, Quick Books Pro.

Other Skills and Additional Information

As a musician, artist and professional representative Jon Kanis has traveled extensively throughout the world with a dozen excursions abroad including ten trips to Europe, thirty treks across the continental United States as well as spending a month in Tibet and a fortnight in Peru & Bolivia. To appreciate the full range of his life experiences you are encouraged to peruse The Gig List, a comprehensive chronological listing of every significant public performance that Jon has either witnessed as an audience member or has performed as a musician, artist, actor or production crew member.

References

Grant Brickner, Owner, Complete Music
Henry Diltz, Photographer
Jeff Severson, Producer, JSP Productions

Affiliations

R.I.A.A.

Licenses & Permits

Basic Driving (PLG), Motorcycle

DOWNLOAD PDF SPIN WIZARD PLAY LISTS HERE:
link: https://rcpt.yousendit.com/1274832108/13917757c68ead08d24daffbad88d9e8]

And…if you are seeking evidence of who to hire as your mobile disc jockey for your next celebratory function then you are invited to download these PDF play lists containing 13,000 titles of the most classic PARTY music ever made from the past 80 years. Music for any mood to satisfy everyone at your party regardless of their generation. The secret to hosting a successful party is to have the right DJ/MC to unite everyone around classic sounds that creates an intimate vibe. With more than than thirteen years as a mobile DJ Jon Kanis is an absolute master in the art of celebration. Allow him to design the soundtrack that guarantees a splendid time for everyone.

You are invited to look Jon up on Facebook or to explore his art work and other ideas on his tumblr page. If you would care to sample some of his original music there are over a dozen tracks that are currently available for FREE download at SoundCloud. Jon is listed on the Gig Salad website.

Jon also offers tarot and astrological readings by appointment.

If you would like to read my feature article on Paul Williams for the San Diego Troubadour magazine you can go to this link here.

What follows below is my eulogy from the memorial in Carlsbad, CA on 04.07.13…

First of all, I want to express my sincere condolences to all of Paul’s family, particularly Cindy Lee and Alexander, Kenta, Taiyo, Eric & Heather and to all of Paul’s friends throughout the world, because there are so many people who were touched by Paul’s incredible zeal and how he expressed the creative principle through his thoughtful and passionate words and actions.

I believe that Paul thought this trip was largely about communication - in order to create communion. One of the thoughts that he committed to paper, and made an example of his life was that: “The only way to enjoy the show, to enjoy life, is to be a participant. Perhaps it’s the people who think they’re spectators who spread the idea that all pleasure must be paid for. Don’t pay for anything - life is free.” Not exactly what you would call the thinking of a free-market capitalist…

I believe that part of the beauty of Paul’s words are that they offer a window into a period of personal and collective history as well as offering a glimpse into the possibilities. The timelessness of Paul’s words are beautiful in that you didn’t have to experience them in his time in order to be enriched by what he put down on the page. His words are an evocation and an invitation of how to see, how to think - of how to simply BE. His words tick off the possibilities and suggest that if you’re willing to take action and responsibility for your personal vision that you can change yourself and, by doing so subsequently change the world. This is what the highest forms of art do. The best art is inspirational and infuses you with the notion that anything is possible, that you can reinvent yourself at ANY moment. So why not now? What are you waiting for? You won’t get a second chance to make the most of this moment. Words can wound and words can heal and words can open doors, move mountains and create universes. Being bold and courageous you can do anything. So, get cracking kid. Over the years those were the types of sentiments I heard Paul express time and again, provocative ideas that could be found throughout all his work but particularly bubbling under in the Billboard Hot 100 in his classic, unclassifiable book Das Energi.

I also believe in the law of magnetism and the principle that “like” does indeed attract “like,” which perhaps accounts for how I found myself on June 9^th, 1986 sitting on a couch in University Heights talking about the great, lost Beach Boys album SMiLE with Paul. I came prepared to our get together by bringing a bootleg copy of SMiLE on cassette for Paul and in appreciation for the gift he whipped out his 1979 book Dylan - What Happened? [which contains the glorious subtitle: How and why did Bob Dylan become a born-again Christian?] - signed it and handed it to me. I was only 21 at the time but already a fan of Paul’s work and of the opinion that his writing regarding the mysterious power and spiritual sway of what we call rock and roll is as substantive and significant as the very sounds that inspired him to write in the first place. With Paul you could look him in the eye and know that you had a confidant who held a paradigm-shifting secret that he was dying to share with the world. He was endowed with a compassionate fervor that wanted to hip everyone to the awareness that music could expand your consciousness and had the power heal your soul and affirm the beauty of existence. Read his musings regarding The Rolling Stones song “The Last Time” and you’ll quickly understand how music wasn’t just a pastime or background noise, that it was no less than Existence Itself: “We’re talking holy noise here, sacred writ.” A great 45 rpm record could contain “sex and death and humor and an attitude and a great beat and guitar piano vocal orchestral rock and roll music to die for.” Jeez, no wonder I loved the guy…

A mutual friend introduced us when I happened to have an extra ticket that I passed along to Paul for the inaugural date of a 41-city North American tour by Bob Dylan, who was touring at the time with Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers. I had never seen Bob Dylan before and by the time the week was over I went to hyper-drive by experiencing four spectacular shows with Paul in San Diego, Berkeley and two nights in Costa Mesa. Over the next decade I would see Dylan another 30 times and the frequent post-concert ritual would find me and many other aficionados sharing notes with Paul about which songs were played and how well the evening came off. Most times I witnessed Paul in what seemed to be a state of ecstasy after seeing Dylan play. His enthusiasm was absolutely contagious and I came to share his conviction that apart from his talents as a writer that Bob Dylan was one of the greatest singers in the history of popular music.

Paul was a spiritual brother in every sense of the word. While it was music, music, music that brought us together I also learned a great deal about Zen philosophy, astrology and the Book Of Changes, the I Ching from Paul. He was the first person I ever saw throw a hexagram when grappling with the uncertainty about how to handle a particular problem. He was an old school hippie, a wise magician, a science-fiction geek with nerd glasses and he knew how to use words as a divination tool. You ended up hearing music differently after Paul’s sensibilities had zig-zagged through your skull and astonishing pictures could emerge from the previously unconnected dots that Paul’s prose drew together, turning your mirror maze of a mind into a cultural playground as profound as the discovery of fire or the invention of the wheel.

Once in awhile I would get a postcard from Paul when he was out in the world traveling. One card dated March 13^th, 1995, sent from Prague reads: “Totally in love with this city - 5 days not enough! Wallet stolen but I don’t care - Dylan reinventing self by putting down his guitar - he always surprises! Love, Paul”

I was hanging out with Paul the night that we heard Nico had passed away from a freakish bike accident in Ibiza in July of 1988. Paul got extremely upset by the news and slammed his fists into his into his knees crying out “No! No!” and fired off a few choice expletives to express his anger and sadness. That visceral response was exactly how I felt when I received the news around Paul’s own bicycle accident in April 1995 and after visiting Paul in the hospital a couple of weeks after the accident with Cindy Lee I was stunned by how quickly things change on a dime. I am grateful for the generosity of Paul’s spirit and that I was privileged to bear witness to many of the times that his generosity bore fruit by putting his love out into the world. He is definitely missed and yet his ideas will be perpetually with us and I am delighted that we got to share a little bit of space and time in this lifetime and I look to meeting up again in the next. Thanks Paul for making a difference in the world. There isn’t a better way to make use of this slice of eternity that each one of us has.

My second day performing at the second annual Unplugged Festival on Adams Avenue. On Sunday I was booked on the Back From Tomboctou stage and played for 60 minutes. Thanks again to Kent for the booking and for everyone who came out to both days of performances. I had a great time and look forward to next year.

1) Surrender
2) Valentine’s Day On Planet Xena/Think It Over
3) White Rabbit
4) Campfire
5) Where Is Joe Strummer When You Need Him?
6) I Love You More Than Words Could Ever Say
7) Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy
8) I Must Be In Love
9) Below The Fold
10) Visions Of Johanna
11) Follow Up
12) Solider Of Love
13) The Waiting
14) Lawyers, Guns & Money/Werewolves Of London
15) Like A Rolling Stone

Good times at the second annual Unplugged Festival on Adams Avenue. I was booked on the Dimille’s stage and played for 65 minutes. Good times. Thanks to Kent for the booking and to Scott Kessler for speaking with me for my feature on Uncovering The Roots Of The Unplugged Festival in The San Diego Troubadour.

1) Tangled Up In Blue
2) Arlington
3) Jimmy Burke The Newsboy
4) Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy
5) Where Is Joe Strummer When You Need Him?
6) I Love You More Than Words Could Ever Say
7) Valentine’s Day On Planet Xena/Think It Over
8) It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue
9) Follow Up
10) Below The Fold
11) Give
12) Visions Of Johanna
13) Five O’Clock World
14) Quick!
15) Like A Rolling Stone

If you are not familiar with Scott’s work check out the following:

Here is a review that I wrote for Ugly Things #32 for MUSIC: What Happened?

And here is a very early State Controlled Radio episode featuring Scott’s brilliant songs.

Also, Sue Trowbridge who runs the site promoting The Loud Family has made the original Game Theory LPs available as a DROPBOX download. Sue writes: “I have made Distortion of Glory, Real Nighttime, The Big Shot Chronicles, Lolita Nation, 2 Steps From the Middle Ages and Tinker to Evers to Chance available for FREE download at Dropbox. My main goal is to prevent people from trying to capitalize by selling these long out of print albums for lots of money. I want everybody who would like to hear these albums to be able to do so without paying outrageous prices. Most of the Loud Family catalog can be streamed free of charge on Spotify and other streaming music services”

The photo below of Scott was taken by Photo Robert [i.e. Robert Toren] in 1986.

We just got back from our honeymoon late last week and have been non-stop ever since but I wanted to take the time to write something great for you because you truly made our wedding special.

I don’t know where you came from but I thank my lucky stars that you responded to me on Gig Salad. You were very professional, extremely flexible and above all a calming source within what can sometimes be a stressful time — planning a wedding. From the very beginning of our emails and phone conversations, you were always reassuring and willing to do whatever we wanted as a bride and groom. My unique request of playing guitar and singing to a Tesla song you had never heard before, came together perfectly. When you first played the song for me, I knew the moment of me walking down the isle would be special to Rob. To this day he said that is a moment he will never ever forget. I can’t thank you enough for putting the song together for us. You played perfect songs during the beginning part of the reception. Your voice and guitar playing skills were noticed by many of our friends and family members. Then you seamlessly switched gears to a DJ that got the party going! I had no idea how many people would end up dancing through the night and you played songs that everyone loved and couldn’t stop dancing to.  This was our second time around (planning a wedding) and not including the countless number of weddings we’ve attended and watched other DJs -  I would attest to anyone that you really are a gem and anyone would be fortunate to have you as part of their wedding or any other kind of event. Thank you for everything.

Thanks again Jon for your patience in returning this email to you and most of all thank you for helping make our wedding day exactly as we had imagined!

My Best,
Ann Zanzinger
[received October 9, 2012]

Your company did the music on our Hornblower wedding back in June. I just wanted to write you and say thank you for everything and that our DJ, Jon, did a great job!!! He was fantastic and couldn’t have done a better job! He did a great job at making sure there was a little bit of everything for everyone to enjoy. Our guests really got into the dancing, more than I thought they would! But I loved that they did and I think a lot of that had to do with him! I kept hearing our guests talk about what a great selection of music that was played. He was totally on top of what type of music to play at specific times and it made the whole process really smooth! So I can’t thank you both enough for all your hard work and for helping make our special day as perfect as it was!!! I would definitely refer you and your company to anyone I know that would be in need of a DJ. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Jennifer Foster :)
[received on September 6, 2012]

Hi Jon:
It’s Holly from the wedding on the 13th of Oct on the Renown! We wanted to say thank you so much for everything on our wedding night! You were amazing and even better than we expected!!!! Thanks for the CD too! :)

Holly and Dan :)
[received on October 18, 2012]

Happy 50th birthday to Laura Jane Wilcox! You are awesome baby!

1) Hello There
2) Think It Over
3) I Didn’t Ask For This
4) I Love You More Than Words Could Ever Say
5) Come Correct
6) Where Is Joe Strummer When You Need Him?
7) Doorbell
8) Below The Fold
9) Song For Sharing
10) Wail

Listening To Rocks is Roger Morrison [electric guitar, vocals], Brad Smith [drums] and Jon Kanis [electric bass, vocals].

Our bookshelves are lined with habits that successful people do on a daily basis. We read about them and implement them into our routines and practices. Quite often these practices improve our productivity and make our lives better as a result. But that’s not what this article is about. It’s not about what successful people do, but what they did.

Here’s a brief study of 10 things that these hungry and unstoppable people did to see the success they all eventually achieved.

The 10 Things Successful People Live By Before They Make It

1. They didn’t use excuses.

We all have two voices. There’s the voice that tells us to work hard, to focus on the task at hand and to finish it before we move on to the next. And to finish it well.

We also have the voice that tells us to take a break, to think about what’s on TV, or to visit a site that we like to visit that entertains us – whether it’s ESPN.com or facebook.

In life we’re the victim of injustice from time to time. It could be a promotion that we deserve but don’t get. No matter who we are, we’re going to be treated unfairly at some point. We can either feel sorry for ourselves, or push forward and put it behind us – even use it as motivation.

Nelson Mandela could have used his unjust imprisonment as an excuse to give into his anger. Instead, he used it as an opportunity to learn, grow, and eventually free others.

Listen to your excuses. Understand why you have them. Then figure out how you can use them for good.

2. It wasn’t just about them.

‘Things’ can be a motivator, they can even be a reward, but they can’t be the motivator. The truly successful in life always get there because they created change in the lives of others, not just their own.

If something drives you that is greater than just the ‘ends’, we’re going to work harder, longer, and we’re going to give more of ourselves to our project.

Yes we can make money when we have the primary goal of making money. Some might even use that money for good – which is awesome. But there’s no fulfillment in simply making money. And isn’t that the point?

3. Early mornings and late nights.

People who have achieved true success in their lives have worked for it.

This might come at the detriment of other areas of their lives, such as family or social life. But their mission is first and foremost. Until it’s complete, everything else comes second.

There’s literally no substitute for hard work. Abraham Lincoln said, “Things may come to those who wait… but only the things left by those who hustle.” If you want to be successful, you’re going to have to out hustle everyone else.

4. The greatest commodity.

Energy is a huge commodity that is often not talked about. Yes, energy in the sense of fuel and electricity is talked about everywhere, but I’m talking about our own energy levels.

The fact is that the more energy we have, the easier it is to focus, and the higher the quality of our work is.

One of Richard Branson‘s ‘key’s to success’ is staying in great physical shape. So would raised energy levels be the greatest benefit to working out? It may be.

Keeping physically fit gives us greater blood-flow to our brain, enhanced alertness and improved focus. Make training a routine part of your life and increase your chances at success – in every meaning of the word.

5. Principles.

History will be kind to me. For I intend to write it.

Winston Churchill had principles. The difference between him and the rest of us, is that he stuck to his principles at all costs. He didn’t waver when they weren’t popular – an extreme rarity in politics.

What are your principles? All of us should have them, know what they are, and live our lives bythem.

One of Apple’s principles is to bring change to the world through technology, and they do it with every product they release.

Identify what principles you have that guide your life through tough times, and when things couldn’t be any better. They shouldn’t change, and at your core, neither should you.

6. Wavering, yet unbreakable faith.

We all have moments of doubt. Even the best of us question if our dream is going to come true. The one thing that separates the truly successful from those who never reach their true potential is an unbreakable faith in the fact that what they’re doing is right.

Even if they have moments of doubt, they’re soon quelled, where other’s listen to that doubt and let it eat them up and finally they quit.

Have your moments of doubt. You’re human. Just don’t let that doubt eat you up. Instead let it motivate you to prove your optimism right.

7. A reason.

Many of the greatest accomplishments in the world were accomplished by insecure men and women, people who had something to prove to others. A desire to elevate their status and create change that was so strong, that failure is simply never and option.

Abraham Lincoln‘s reason(s) had to do a lot with his view of himself in relation to how other’s viewed him. Where others saw a poor, illiterate boy, Lincoln saw someone capable of achieving more, even if he had to do it completely on his own. He also saw the need for change. A nation that preached freedom wasn’t free. He saw something fundamentally wrong with this and set out to change it. His why wasn’t about him. Which in turn made him one of history’s great men.

Understand why. You have that reason to work when others sleep, to sacrifice a safe life for a risky one with no ceiling. Find it by asking why, and not stopping until you hit your core, emotional reason for wanting to change your status, or the status of others.

8. They persevered when others didn’t.

How does the guy who quit on his dream know how long it would’ve taken him to become a success? He doesn’t. None of us do. It could be tomorrow, or ten years from now.

What separates a lot of the great people we read about in our history books from those we’ve never heard of is the fact that they never quit. Quitting was never an option. They only stopped when they reached their dream. And even then, they created a new mission.

Take James J. Braddock, or even Nelson Mandela, for example. They didn’t achieve their greatness or success early on in their careers or in life like some. They achieved it after surviving. They survived while others literally died, or quit. In their cases it wasn’t just that they were the best, but they were the best because of what they endured. They were the last one’s standing.

We don’t know when our breakthrough will come. So don’t guarantee your failure by quitting. You can adapt, change, and evolve, but never, never, never quit.

9. Great people relentlessly studied their craft.

Tony Gwynn and Mike Tyson studied their craft as much as anyone. Gwynn spent hours upon hours studying opposing pitchers. He studied their patterns. He wasn’t the most athletic guy around, but he put his work in to be the best at what he did: hit baseballs.

When people think of Tyson, they think of an animal, but what we fail to see is the student. No one studied boxing like Tyson did. Watched more film than anyone in the history of the sport. He was a student first, a fighter second.

These great athletes studied film, but how can we perfect our craft?

Using myself as an example; much of my job has to do with writing, and obviously fitness. So, I study those two things. I read books about how to become a better writer, ways to connect with the reader, and I simply read great books written by authors who are much better at writing than I am. If you’re in sales, read and study sales. If you’re a marketer, then do the same with marketing.

Being a drone that simply goes through the motions is no way to achieve greatness. Assuming success is something you want, you have to study your craft, whatever it may be. Learn it inside and out. Build a wealth of knowledge. It’ll help you create great, inspiring, and unique work.

10. Risk.

No risk, no reward. Yes it’s an over-used, cliché of a phrase. But it’s true. Those who have achieved real success have often risked the most to get there.

There have been billions of people throughout history who have had the ability to achieve greatness, whether it was the talent or smarts, they had it. What they didn’t have was the guts to risk the life that they were living. They also didn’t have the work ethic to see their talent realized.

The greatest tragedy in life is wasted talent ~ A Bronx Tale

Your big, audacious dream might be to marry the girl of your dreams and have a family with her. You risk might be to leave the career that you love in order to support her and your family. Your dream might be to help millions live longer, healthier lives. Whatever your dream is, give it enough of a chance to be realized.

Risk if you truly want to see the reward.

Find your dream. Then risk everything to get it.

Well, another year comes and goes and it pleases me to NO end to say that it has been six years since Roger & Sara Morrison tied the knot and became husband and wife on the stage of The Casbah on 02.18.07. Ever since 2008 it has been a yearly tradition for Roger to perform with his band Listening To Rocks at The Casbah with a hand-picked lineup of San Diego bands that he and Sara always do a great job of curating/booking. It is one of my supreme joys in this life to call Roger & Sara friends (as well as fellow band mate Brad Smith) and I am never happier than when I get to make a righteous sound with these two gentlemen. We played two sets in the Atari Lounge between True Stories, Sundrop Electric and Old Tiger. More fun than human beings should be allowed to have. Thanks to everyone at the Casbah including Tim Mays, Ben Johnson and Ryan behind the bar. Roger & Sara have the most amazing friends who come out every year to support them and show their love. It’s pretty beautiful. My thanks also go out to Frankie. I think that this was our best show yet. Congratulations to you two. You are both an inspiration.

1) Think It Over
2) Capitalist Plot
3) Come Correct
4) Can’t Wait [with Sara Morrison on vocals]
5) I Love You More Than Words Could Ever Say
6) [The Human] Race [Is A] Riot
7) I Didn’t Ask For This

8) Where Is Joe Strummer When You Need Him?
9) Song For Sharing
10) Below The Fold
11) Kiss Me Again
12) Wail
13) Quick!

Listening To Rocks is Roger Morrison [electric guitar, vocals], Brad Smith [drums] and Jon Kanis [electric bass, vocals]. Poster art by Sara Morrison. Photos by Marie Haddad, Eileen Regalado and John Vaughn.

1) Jimmy Burke The Newsboy
2) Below The Fold
3) Quick!
4) Five O’Clock World
5) It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue
6) I’ve Just Seen A Face
7) The Wind Cries Mary
8) [The Human] Race [Is A] Riot
9) Merry-Go-Round
10) We Can Work It Out
11) What You Give
12) Night Moves
13) Beautiful Loser

14) Maybe You’re Right
15) Next To You
16) Solicitude
17) Don’t Stand There
18) So You Think You’re In Love
19) The Daily Planet
20) Where Is Joe Strummer When You Need Him?
21) 23 Skidoo! [the hot wheels song]
22) Cosmic Mirror/Cosmic Mate
23) Look Away, Johnny Stash
24) Visions Of Johanna
25) You’re Gonna Lose That Girl
26) Surrender
27) All I Gotta Do