I came to Chicago from Connecticut in 1984 to attend Northwestern University and earned my degree in Communication Studies in 1988. After 3 years working in public relations for companies like Leo Burnett Co., I opted out of PR to pursue my real passion—music.
In south Florida, there are always new places to find! After a nice run at the Blue Martini in West Palm Beach (now closed), I’ve settled into a regular steakhouse piano bar at the new Miami-area location of Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille every Thursday and Friday. I’m also performing weekly at the Leopard Lounge piano bar in the historic Chesterfield Hotel in Palm Beach every Saturday for happy hour from 5:30-8:30pm.
Before heading south to the Miami area, I had the pleasure of singing and performing at Chicago’s hottest spot for live music, The Redhead Piano Bar, for more than 20 years… nowhere else in Chicago did I get to connect on such an intimate level with the crowd, and perform as great a variety of music styles and artists (they make a great martini too!). I also spent years playing at several of Chicago’s greatest steakhouses — Mastro’s, Chicago Chop House and Magnum’s to name a few. Other nightclubs and restaurants I’ve been featured at include Seasons 52 in Oakbrook, Chicago and Schaumburg; Evanston’s Rhythm Room, and Rush Street’s Hugos’s Frog Bar, where the atmosphere made any after-dinner meet-up a memorable one.
After a year in Florida, it’s time to “embrace the track” and give full power to the advantage of having not only the piano skills to cover anything, I’ve added the dance, Motown, swing and rock-n-roll grooves for a whole dance party to please even the pickiest customer (or restaurant owner!). Still, in addition to playing the usual piano-bar fodder (“Piano Man”, “Brown-Eyed Girl”, “Tiny Dancer”, “Sweet Caroline”, Sinatra…) I love to go off track: play deep-track classic rock covers, dabble in country, Broadway, jazz and, especially, feature the newest in contemporary or alternative like Dave Matthews, Train, Jason Mraz, John Legend, and more. Of course, I love to be challenged by a request for an old Nat King Cole swing song, or a vintage I-bet-you-don’t-know-this-one by Billy Joel or Elton.
Very nice performance on Friday night. I had a terrible day and just needed to be alone for a couple of hours, relax, ask for a martini and listen to good live music…Really enjoyed it, thanks!
Hey John, my husband MacArthur Bickhem and I just came from the Rhythm Room at the Century Cinemark Theater in Evanston, IL and we truly enjoyed listening to you! You’re awesome. Thanks for taking all our requests too – The Girl from Ipanema, Stevie Wonder, and Lionel Richie favs. Next time I’ll request Piano Man, since I see that in your play list. Thanks again for a great night of music. Melody & Mac
Red Head es uno de los mejores bares de Chicago y este músico maravilloso anima, alegra cautiva con su hermosa voz… Si vas a Chicago no te lo puedes perder… Red Head y John Zamojcin..