February 21, 2025 • 9 mins
He's at the Waterfront Convention Center TONIGHT!!! Find out a little more about John before the big show!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, hello there WLR Studio. Hi, Yes, it is is
this John.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
This is he. How are you Hi?
Speaker 1 (00:07):
I'm doing great. Thank you so much for calling today
and letting us talk to you a little bit and
in introducing a gentleman who people need to know about,
a great songwriter, an awesome singer. But you're going to
be here in our area Bettendorf, Iowa Waterfront Convention Center
with the Isle, and that's going to be on February
twenty first. And I'm telling people all the time, do
(00:29):
not wait till the last minute to buy these tickets
because it's going to end up being a packed house.
And we're just so looking forward to having you in town.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Yeah. I agree. I think everybody needs to go get
their tickets now. And I really look forward to I
love I was always been good.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
To this so well. You come from a beautiful part
of the country, North Carolina, Asheville. Oh there's nothing better
than those great smoky mountains.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
M Yeah, that's true. I've actually get to go home
last week and visited for a little bit and then
just you know, it's funny when you when you grow
up somewhere like that and you come back, you don't
really you know, you take it for granted when you're there,
and then you come back you're like, wow, I get
why everybody and their brother's moving here now.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Absolutely so really, John, talk about your background a little bit,
because you have a bluegrass background and not everyone in
country has that ability. I love bluegrass.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
I do too. Yeah, it's kind of pretty predominant for
you know, the Apple Actionians. I feel like, you know,
I grew up with it being kind of more of
a pastime until I was about I think it was
about ten or eleven. When we started traveling. We just
we had a couple of people to be like, man, y'all.
It was like me and my couple of my cousins
and my uncle, and we just had like this little
family band, and they're like, man, y'all's pretty good. You'll
(01:43):
have to, you know, try to get on some of
these festivals round you know, around here. And so we
started playing, you know, local festivals, and that turned into
me having essentially a ten year career through middle school
and high school just traveling. And we ended up traveling
all over the Tounch and Canada. I mean we went
everywhere and played some of the you know, the bigger
(02:04):
circuit festivals in the bluegrass world. So I really love it,
very thankful for that gave me a greater appreciation for
a musicianship. And you know, think coming to Nashville and
seeing session guys, I can hang a little bit, not
like I used to, but you know, at least at
least I have that under my belt, and it's it's
just fun, man. I love I love that side of
(02:24):
music too.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
I think people what they need to know about you
is songwriting has really, i mean, fired your career up.
Especially when you talk about the friendship with Jason L.
Dean and how many songs of yours he's used. I
think he must really enjoy your writing.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Yeah, I guess so it's funny you don't really, I mean,
for me, I always just try to write the best idea,
you know, when we get in a room, especially when
I'm collaborating, and sometimes it sometimes it works out and
other times it don't. Most of the time it don't, actually,
and thankfully he's just you know, he's been super cool
about now. I'll say this about that he as much
(03:01):
as many songs as he cut, like he it's you
get you get twenty cuts, you know, or fifteen cups
in you know, three four years or whatever writen for him,
But there's hundreds and hundreds of songs that were also
written that didn't get cut, you know, right, And so
I think that's just a testament to him, like he
still tries to really be conscious of cutting the best
(03:23):
songs for him. And that's something that I've kind of
tried to learn from him as well, is like, you know,
just because it's a hit doesn't mean it's a hit
for you, you know what I mean?
Speaker 1 (03:32):
Yes, and well, and to that fact, I just want
to make sure people understand eight cuts on Jason's Making
Georgia album. Three of those hit singles, and one of
those one of my favorites, trouble with a Heartbreak Love
that song. And now, I mean people do know friends
(03:52):
like that your song that Jason got a chance to
sing with you. I will put it that way. He
was lucky enough to be able to sing with you
on this one.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Well, I told him, I said, hey, man, I feel
like I've done my fair share of writing for you.
It's time for you to hop on along with me.
And it was it was cool. Man, I'm really I've
really just been kind of dumbfounded at how the single's
been doing. I mean, obviously it's my first first radio single,
(04:22):
so it's been cool to kind of watch it do
its thing and see the response from everybody.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
You know, It's interesting because I know I saw you
on American Song Contest in twenty twenty two. I know
I did, because I watched that show and I was
so enthralled with it. But to make that connection now
and to have you here in the Quad Cities very soon,
what was that experience like?
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Oh man, it was you know what. I really enjoyed
it for the most part. I mean, we were there
during all the COVID stuff, so it was kind of
they were pretty locked down. I mean, not to get political,
but they were just you know, super iman. It was
in the middle of that time where everybody just kind
of was unsure about what was really going on, and
we uh we we broke a few rules, but we
(05:05):
enjoyed getting to go out and do some hiking and
stuff like that. It was really cool to kind of
see La and that from that perspective, because it's not
at all what I had in mind, you know what
I mean. But it was also good, you know, getting
some TV experience under our belt. That was nice.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
I know you're going to be here February twenty first,
but talk about where you're going to be in kind
of like what the future, what this immediate future has
in store for you right now, John.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
That's been taking it as it comes. You know, I've
got got a couple of kids now and stuff too,
So I'm very thankful that I that I even you know,
have the opportunity to do it. And I'm not digging
ditches anymore. I get to, you know, actually do what
I love and make a few bucks here and there.
But really we got we got a bunch of really
cool festivals for playing this year this summer, and so
(05:52):
looking forward to that. Got a few more things coming
up that are kind of the worst. We haven't haven't
announced think thing yet, but got have some cool stuff
coming up in the fall, I believe, if.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
I'm correct, John Morgan music dot Com.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
That's right, That's right. And I will say this too
before I forget. I always forget. But we had my
debut album, Carolina Blue, is gonna be out April twenty fifth.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
I just saw a little article about it. Am I correct? Here?
I think I'm remembering off the top of my head,
eleven cuts and they all sound great.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
Yeah, thank you. Yeah, there's there's eleven new songs, and
then we put friends like that in there just for fun.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
Well, we're really looking forward you'll probably be debuting a
lot of these singles on February twenty first, and we're
really looking forward to your big show here in Bettendorf.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
I am too, man, it's gonna be it's gonna be
a lot of fun. Like I said, we love Iowa.
We've we've actually made quite a few friends in Iowa
just from you know, getting the tour there. And I
think we were there a couple of times with Riley
last year, and I think maybe a few times with Ernest.
I can't remember who we're there with, but we got
to we got to hit Iowa quite a bit over
the last couple of years. So hopefully we'll have some
(06:58):
some people show up that we might know.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
Now, just before you go, what you love to do
in your downtime, like when you're hanging around the house
or you know, besides hanging out with the family, because
I know that's probably something that's very special to you
right now since you're out there.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Yeah, I mean that's a great point. I was actually
had to write yesterday with jameson Rogers. I don't know
if you're familiar with him. He's a good buddy of mine,
and we were talking. I was like, dude, I don't
even remember what my hobbies were before music. You know.
It's like, I mean, you know, this is probably more
so than than you know, a lot of people. But
it's like now, when you get into it and it
(07:36):
becomes your career, I mean, it's just all you. It's
all you do. You know, you're doing a lot of
stuff during the week that people don't really see that
you know, contributes to that, and it's you know, you're
essentially running a business. And so it started out as
my hobby, and now I get to call up my
career and my hobbies. So I don't do a ton
other than you know, I have been traveling so much
(07:56):
to doing radio tour and you know, actual touring well
that when I am home, I am pretty much home.
I like to haunt my kids and we're just feeding
the chickens and doing all that fun stuff. This morning
just that's kind of where I get to kind of
re regroup before I hit the road again. So that's
kind of what I do now. I love to hunt
and anything outdoors. Honestly, that's where you're gonna find me. Yeah,
(08:21):
that's kind of my hobby list right now. Is nothing.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
I love that well, super thank you for making time
for us this morning and getting to know you just
a little bit better before you come into town again.
John Morgan, you're not going to want to miss this
show February twenty first at the Aisle Waterfront Convention Center
right downtown Bettendorf. Don't miss your tickets. And John, we
(08:47):
can't wait for you to come in and spend a
little time with us.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
Likewise, I appreciate you guys taking the time and look
forward to seeing you on a couple of weeks. Look
forward to getting to see you guys in person, get
to hang a little bit. It would be fun.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
Take care of Johnny, see ya all right.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
Thanks Danis Fitz
Well, hello there WLR Studio. Hi, Yes, it is is
this John.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
This is he. How are you Hi?
Speaker 1 (00:07):
I'm doing great. Thank you so much for calling today
and letting us talk to you a little bit and
in introducing a gentleman who people need to know about,
a great songwriter, an awesome singer. But you're going to
be here in our area Bettendorf, Iowa Waterfront Convention Center
with the Isle, and that's going to be on February
twenty first. And I'm telling people all the time, do
(00:29):
not wait till the last minute to buy these tickets
because it's going to end up being a packed house.
And we're just so looking forward to having you in town.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Yeah. I agree. I think everybody needs to go get
their tickets now. And I really look forward to I
love I was always been good.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
To this so well. You come from a beautiful part
of the country, North Carolina, Asheville. Oh there's nothing better
than those great smoky mountains.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
M Yeah, that's true. I've actually get to go home
last week and visited for a little bit and then
just you know, it's funny when you when you grow
up somewhere like that and you come back, you don't
really you know, you take it for granted when you're there,
and then you come back you're like, wow, I get
why everybody and their brother's moving here now.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Absolutely so really, John, talk about your background a little bit,
because you have a bluegrass background and not everyone in
country has that ability. I love bluegrass.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
I do too. Yeah, it's kind of pretty predominant for
you know, the Apple Actionians. I feel like, you know,
I grew up with it being kind of more of
a pastime until I was about I think it was
about ten or eleven. When we started traveling. We just
we had a couple of people to be like, man, y'all.
It was like me and my couple of my cousins
and my uncle, and we just had like this little
family band, and they're like, man, y'all's pretty good. You'll
(01:43):
have to, you know, try to get on some of
these festivals round you know, around here. And so we
started playing, you know, local festivals, and that turned into
me having essentially a ten year career through middle school
and high school just traveling. And we ended up traveling
all over the Tounch and Canada. I mean we went
everywhere and played some of the you know, the bigger
(02:04):
circuit festivals in the bluegrass world. So I really love it,
very thankful for that gave me a greater appreciation for
a musicianship. And you know, think coming to Nashville and
seeing session guys, I can hang a little bit, not
like I used to, but you know, at least at
least I have that under my belt, and it's it's
just fun, man. I love I love that side of
(02:24):
music too.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
I think people what they need to know about you
is songwriting has really, i mean, fired your career up.
Especially when you talk about the friendship with Jason L.
Dean and how many songs of yours he's used. I
think he must really enjoy your writing.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Yeah, I guess so it's funny you don't really, I mean,
for me, I always just try to write the best idea,
you know, when we get in a room, especially when
I'm collaborating, and sometimes it sometimes it works out and
other times it don't. Most of the time it don't, actually,
and thankfully he's just you know, he's been super cool
about now. I'll say this about that he as much
(03:01):
as many songs as he cut, like he it's you
get you get twenty cuts, you know, or fifteen cups
in you know, three four years or whatever writen for him,
But there's hundreds and hundreds of songs that were also
written that didn't get cut, you know, right, And so
I think that's just a testament to him, like he
still tries to really be conscious of cutting the best
(03:23):
songs for him. And that's something that I've kind of
tried to learn from him as well, is like, you know,
just because it's a hit doesn't mean it's a hit
for you, you know what I mean?
Speaker 1 (03:32):
Yes, and well, and to that fact, I just want
to make sure people understand eight cuts on Jason's Making
Georgia album. Three of those hit singles, and one of
those one of my favorites, trouble with a Heartbreak Love
that song. And now, I mean people do know friends
(03:52):
like that your song that Jason got a chance to
sing with you. I will put it that way. He
was lucky enough to be able to sing with you
on this one.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Well, I told him, I said, hey, man, I feel
like I've done my fair share of writing for you.
It's time for you to hop on along with me.
And it was it was cool. Man, I'm really I've
really just been kind of dumbfounded at how the single's
been doing. I mean, obviously it's my first first radio single,
(04:22):
so it's been cool to kind of watch it do
its thing and see the response from everybody.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
You know, It's interesting because I know I saw you
on American Song Contest in twenty twenty two. I know
I did, because I watched that show and I was
so enthralled with it. But to make that connection now
and to have you here in the Quad Cities very soon,
what was that experience like?
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Oh man, it was you know what. I really enjoyed
it for the most part. I mean, we were there
during all the COVID stuff, so it was kind of
they were pretty locked down. I mean, not to get political,
but they were just you know, super iman. It was
in the middle of that time where everybody just kind
of was unsure about what was really going on, and
we uh we we broke a few rules, but we
(05:05):
enjoyed getting to go out and do some hiking and
stuff like that. It was really cool to kind of
see La and that from that perspective, because it's not
at all what I had in mind, you know what
I mean. But it was also good, you know, getting
some TV experience under our belt. That was nice.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
I know you're going to be here February twenty first,
but talk about where you're going to be in kind
of like what the future, what this immediate future has
in store for you right now, John.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
That's been taking it as it comes. You know, I've
got got a couple of kids now and stuff too,
So I'm very thankful that I that I even you know,
have the opportunity to do it. And I'm not digging
ditches anymore. I get to, you know, actually do what
I love and make a few bucks here and there.
But really we got we got a bunch of really
cool festivals for playing this year this summer, and so
(05:52):
looking forward to that. Got a few more things coming
up that are kind of the worst. We haven't haven't
announced think thing yet, but got have some cool stuff
coming up in the fall, I believe, if.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
I'm correct, John Morgan music dot Com.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
That's right, That's right. And I will say this too
before I forget. I always forget. But we had my
debut album, Carolina Blue, is gonna be out April twenty fifth.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
I just saw a little article about it. Am I correct? Here?
I think I'm remembering off the top of my head,
eleven cuts and they all sound great.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
Yeah, thank you. Yeah, there's there's eleven new songs, and
then we put friends like that in there just for fun.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
Well, we're really looking forward you'll probably be debuting a
lot of these singles on February twenty first, and we're
really looking forward to your big show here in Bettendorf.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
I am too, man, it's gonna be it's gonna be
a lot of fun. Like I said, we love Iowa.
We've we've actually made quite a few friends in Iowa
just from you know, getting the tour there. And I
think we were there a couple of times with Riley
last year, and I think maybe a few times with Ernest.
I can't remember who we're there with, but we got
to we got to hit Iowa quite a bit over
the last couple of years. So hopefully we'll have some
(06:58):
some people show up that we might know.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
Now, just before you go, what you love to do
in your downtime, like when you're hanging around the house
or you know, besides hanging out with the family, because
I know that's probably something that's very special to you
right now since you're out there.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Yeah, I mean that's a great point. I was actually
had to write yesterday with jameson Rogers. I don't know
if you're familiar with him. He's a good buddy of mine,
and we were talking. I was like, dude, I don't
even remember what my hobbies were before music. You know.
It's like, I mean, you know, this is probably more
so than than you know, a lot of people. But
it's like now, when you get into it and it
(07:36):
becomes your career, I mean, it's just all you. It's
all you do. You know, you're doing a lot of
stuff during the week that people don't really see that
you know, contributes to that, and it's you know, you're
essentially running a business. And so it started out as
my hobby, and now I get to call up my
career and my hobbies. So I don't do a ton
other than you know, I have been traveling so much
(07:56):
to doing radio tour and you know, actual touring well
that when I am home, I am pretty much home.
I like to haunt my kids and we're just feeding
the chickens and doing all that fun stuff. This morning
just that's kind of where I get to kind of
re regroup before I hit the road again. So that's
kind of what I do now. I love to hunt
and anything outdoors. Honestly, that's where you're gonna find me. Yeah,
(08:21):
that's kind of my hobby list right now. Is nothing.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
I love that well, super thank you for making time
for us this morning and getting to know you just
a little bit better before you come into town again.
John Morgan, you're not going to want to miss this
show February twenty first at the Aisle Waterfront Convention Center
right downtown Bettendorf. Don't miss your tickets. And John, we
(08:47):
can't wait for you to come in and spend a
little time with us.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
Likewise, I appreciate you guys taking the time and look
forward to seeing you on a couple of weeks. Look
forward to getting to see you guys in person, get
to hang a little bit. It would be fun.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
Take care of Johnny, see ya all right.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
Thanks Danis Fitz
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com