Bio

Composer/songwriter John Andrew Quinn John Andrew Quinn is a composer/songwriter and pianist with roots on both coasts and in a host of musical traditions. His music catalog, currently 17 volumes strong, encompasses many genres. "The eclectic nature of John's music amazes me," says Doug Scott, Los Angeles Producer and Arranger. "The range of feels, grooves, melodies and texture is
astonishing."

John was born and reared in NYC. His mother Anne was a professional opera singer, so John was surrounded by classical music from an early age. However, his family's musical tastes were varied; jazz and rock were often played as well. The British Invasion -- the Beatles, Stones and other groups -- had a big effect on John's musical development. 

"I was around eight years old when I first tried to write something.  At about 13, I learned to read music, and began writing a lot more, mainly songs. My mom, who had a lot of serious musical training, thought my songs were really good, so she said, 'Let's get them recorded.' We went to a music studio to record four original songs, with a trumpet player, a drummer, and my mom singing. She found these guys at the local church; they were altar boys or something, a year or two older than me. The music was progressive melodic rock; somewhat like the Beatles." John studied classical piano in his mid-teens, but not for very long.

John recalls, "in 1969, when I was 16, my dad hooked me up with Art Wayne, the Shadow Man, who had a minor hit in New York City with 'Come Live With Me.' We wrote a couple of songs together. I can't really remember them, but I do recall that one of them was pretty good. Kind of like Laura Nyro's 'Spanish Harlem'...something along those lines." 

In his late teens John's musical tastes became more diverse: he became very intrigued with Indian classical music, which he studied extensively; progressive jazz including Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Herbie Hancock and John McLaughlin; modern classical musicians like Karlheinz Stockhausen and John Cage; gamelan music, and African music. These various styles continue to influence John's compositions. 

He began his career leading original jazz-rock bands in the New York City area in the mid 1970s; then moved to Southern California where he continued playing original music until the early 1980s. Next John moved to Northern California and focused on writing music. He worked with Kenny Loggins' demo production team in Santa Barbara during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Since then John has concentrated heavily on composing music and compiling the John Quinn Music Library for production music use. The library consists of 13 volumes of music in a variety of genres including jazz, Latin, pop, and modern classical. Three new volumes will be available in late March 2011.

Currently residing on the East Coast, John is focused strongly on composing these days, and makes frequent visits to NYC for "some cultural juice." He continues to write new tunes regularly and appreciates the challenge of composing something specific to
people's needs. John is developing his fan base on radio and social media forums and outlets as well as making his work known in the production music scene--writing for film, TV, other visual productions, along with music for gaming and for background and ambient use in a variety of venues and settings.

"My goal is for my music to be woven into the natural fabric of people's lives, helping them access their emotions and aspirations."