John Charles Weston
John Charles Weston is a songwriter in Chicago, IL who favors simple, concise writing and storytelling that draws on many musical traditions.
If being a musician is a fault, John comes by it honestly – his parents met when his father was referred to be the piano accompaniment for his mother’s French horn senior recital. When he was four years old, John fell from a jungle gym. In the fear that he may have suffered a concussion, his parents woke him in the middle of the night and asked, “Who is the greatest composer of the 20th Century?”. His response was, “Stravinsky!”.
As a child, John studied classical music at the piano for several years, but found his true calling in the dusty grooves of his parents’ classic rock and pop collection. “I was mesmerized by the color of the late-60s’ psychedelic recordings, the belly-bursting soul of the Motown sound, and the raw, larger-than-life energy of my favorite southern rockers.” Most of all, he grew increasingly interested in the history, construction and production of the popular song.
As John’s influences expanded, so did his experience and influence. In 2003 he established his first group, AEquitas in which he acted as the principal songwriter and singer (the group has long since disbanded). In 2007, John joined the group The Buzzkills – quickly establishing himself as one of the primary songwriters, guitar players and singers for the group. In the subsequent years, The Buzzkills became a successful original music and cover act in the Midwest – performing all over Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and
Kentucky, as well as in Arizona and California.
All the while, John has managed his own solo music career as the artist John Charles Weston (see John Charles Weston) – also performing and writing all over the West, Midwest, and in the South.
Presently, John lives in Chicago, IL where he divides his time between songwriting, recording, performing, and teaching music. In 2010 he co-founded the group Sklut and Weston with his songwriting partner, Tommy Sklut. Sklut and Weston have since achieved success in the Chicago original music scene. He has also co-founded the Sklut and Weston School of Music (see Sklut and Weston School of Music) – bringing after school music programs to students on the Near North Side of Chicago. John is a member of NSAI (Nashville Songwriters Association International), CSC (Chicago Songwriters Collective), and has been an integral part of each of the following groups: Hotfoot Teddy, the Usual Suspects, and John Charles Weston and the Broken Strings.
