My Dad was a natural-born musician. If he heard a track, he might play it. My brother Joe inherited that expertise. I didn’t.
On our American Symphony cruise, I knew that Joe would take pleasure in assembly and listening to proficient performer Jon England. With a reputation like American Symphony, the brand new riverboat is an acceptable leisure residence for Jon. With its musical artwork decor, the Symphony and Jon are a preferred crew with passengers.
Exhausting to imagine however the musically versatile Jon has by no means had a music lesson in his life. But the self-taught musician has been entertaining cruise ship passengers all over the world since he was a teen.
Jon’s superb phonographic reminiscence permits him to play all types of music – from classical to point out tunes to Massive Band and pop, even the Beatles. He can also play a large repertoire of musical devices.
“I can play no matter must be performed and I can play any instrument that must be performed,” Jon says with a smile. Take a look at Jon’s web site for extra at www.jonengland.com.
Jon England presents his Beatles present.
Changing into a cruise ship entertainer
So how did the person from the English seaside develop into a cruise ship entertainer with the audience-bestowed nickname ‘The Velvet Piano Participant?’ “My father,” Jon solutions merely.
Rising up close to Dorchester in England, Jon was the grandson of a vaudeville pianist. “I assume I acquired it from my grandmother,” he says. “There have been three pianos in our residence and I can’t keep in mind after I didn’t play.”
When he was 19 years outdated, Jon was given a profession enhance by his father. “My dad submitted a tape of me taking part in to Cunard and informed them, ‘If you’re ever searching for a piano participant, my son is a superb one.’”
Two weeks later, Jon acquired a name from Cunard. That was again within the early Eighties. “And I’ve been doing it ever since.”
Actually, Jon has sailed all over the world 5 occasions and entertained on most cruise traces.
Beatles, classical music and extra
For leisure aboard the American Symphony, Jon tickled the ivories through the night cocktail hour within the River Lounge. On our cruise, Jon will likely be presenting two particular productions – Beatlemania and Classically Impressed which options hits from Chopin, Tchaikovsky, Mozart, Debussy and extra.
For Beatlemania, Jon strapped on a Brit-pop guitar, mop-top wig and Nehru-style jacket to rock out the Fab 4’s best hits. Passengers sang alongside to the total display screen lyrics.
Jon England and my brother Joe
Jon moved to America in 2000 however nonetheless has an open door to go to his childhood residence. “I’ve one sister who nonetheless lives within the outdated residence place in England so I can return and go to there,” he says.
As for the way his life and profession have developed, Jon says it’s the better of all worlds.
“I grew up by the ocean and I grew up with music so I’ve the ocean and music in my soul,” he says. “That is the proper job for me. I really like what I’m doing.”
An enormous bass fiddle is a part of the musical artwork decor on the brand new American Symphony.
Images by Jackie Sheckler Finch
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7 Night time – Decrease Mississippi River Cruise from.. American Symphony (cruisecompete.com)
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