JOHN MONROE is a singer/ songwriter/ guitarist/ and keyboardist who began performing at age seven. John played in several groups during his school days, slowly creating a vocal and guitar style that is soulfully explosive, but also melodic and sensitive. HE CAN ROCK with the best of them, but also delivers a stunning ballad performance. John's versatility is amazing; - playing nine instruments fluently. When John Monroe was 19 his first album, with the single "Take Me Away" was released on San Francisco's Edge Records. By age 21 he had toured the nation several times, performing in nearly every state with his own band, as a soloist, and as a guitarist, backup singer and opening act with many popular artists over the years including: MERLE HAGGARD, STEVE MILLER BAND, JOHNNY RIVERS, ATLANTA RHYTHM SECTION, WAYLON JENNINGS, STYX, JAMES BROWN, BAD COMPANY, BILL MONROE, PERCY SLEDGE, KANSAS, DOC SEVERINSON, NEIL YOUNG, TONY JOE WHITE, MARSHALL TUCKER BAND, JEANNIE C. RILEY, JEFFERSON STARSHIP, BLOOD SWEAT & TEARS, MICKEY MURRAY, GUESS WHO, THE TAMS, STEPPENWOLF, BOOTS RANDOLPH, EXILE, The GRASS ROOTS, MITCH RYDER, THE DRIFTERS, RICKY VAN SHELTON, TERRI GIBBS, HEART, B.W. STEVENSON, RED SOVINE, RONNIE DOVE, LARRY JON WILSON, LEON EVERETTE, BILLY JOE ROYAL, DENNIS YOST, and many others. After years on the road and homesick for the South, John settled in Nashville and landed a gig singing demos for a Grammy-winning songwriter. His first one was heard and recorded by PEGGY SUE, - LORETTA LYNN & CRYSTAL GAYLE's sister. The song, "I Love To See Me In Your Eyes", was a big hit, reaching number 14 on the charts. Many other successful sessions followed, plus performances with some of Music City's finest, most famous pickers, forging friendships that endure to this day in the "City Of Dreams". John moved back home to South Carolina/Augusta,Ga. when the opportunity came for him to co-produce Soul-screamer & Appolo show-stopper MICKEY MURRAY with fellow home-towner JAMES BROWN. The result was the R & B smash hit - "TRANSPARENT PANTS", written by John. Mickey is best remembered for the million-seller - "SHOUT BAMALAMA", penned by the great OTIS REDDING. In recent years, after moving back to "SmashVille",  John Monroe has opened hundreds of exciting shows for such popular Country & Rock artists as: TIM McGRAW, MARK CHESTNUT, TRACY LAWRENCE, CHARLIE DANIELS, MOLLY HATCHETT, JOHN ANDERSON, 38 SPECIAL, SAWYER BROWN, KENTUCKY HEADHUNTERS, AARON TIPPIN, LITTLE TEXAS, RESTLESS HEART, ALLISON KRAUSS, JOE DIFFIE, DOUG STONE, SHENADOAH, MEL McDANIEL, BILLY DEAN, MARK WILLS, DAVID BALL, MARTY STUART, DAVID ALLAN COE, LEE ROY PARNELL, COLLIN RAYE, T.GRAHAM BROWN, RADNEY FOSTER and several others. John is also an aspiring actor, having appeared in the motion pictures - "GLORY", and TNT Productions "GETTYSBURG" and "ANDERSONVILLE", which won two Emmys. To date, he has produced, sung, or played on 146 records & C.D.'s including his nine solo albums, and has won 11 songwriter and vocal awards. John has also appeared on several T.V. shows over the years, including "You Can Be A Star" hosted by his friend JIM ED BROWN, and "CHARLIE DANIELS TALENT ROUNDUP", another good friend who shares John's father's hometown of Wilmington, NC. During his long and eventful career John Monroe has performed on many legendary stages including THE GRAND OL' OPRY HOUSE, THE TEXAS TROUBADOR, THE NASHVILLE PALACE, TOOTSIES, THE OPRYLAND HOTEL and THE RYMAN AUDITORIUM in Music City;...the TROUBADOR and WHISKEY in HollyWood;...the BUCKBOARD in Atlanta, and CATCH A RISING STAR and BROADWAY in New York. Monroe has also been mentioned in "BillBoard", "CashBox", "Rolling Stone", "Guitar Player", and numerous other publications & newspapers. While playing a 6 month Caribbean gig on Carnival's flagship - "Triumph", John enjoyed hosting THE GRAND OL' OPRY's 75th anniversaty cruise tour with BILL ANDERSON, LITTLE JIMMY DICKENS, JIM ED BROWN, JEAN SHEPPARD, JAN HOWARD and 1,500 hard-core Country music fans. John's most recent album, "FROM THE HEART", recorded in Nashville with many notable musicians, is enjoying excellent reviews and praise worldwide, and is his most successful release since 1991's critically acclaimed - "LONEWIND", recieving massive airplay & sales around the globe in Europe, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Argentina, Canada, and the U.S. Not surprisingly, Apple's itunes, itunes U.K., Napster, Japan's Daiki Sound and France's Starzik are leading the way in this new age of international digital musical artists. A good friend of mine since 1977, and a "good ol' boy" too, John Monroe is also an exciting live performer who repeatedly leaves his audiences feeling well entertained, and often with an appreciation for his electrifying vocal ability and instrumental wizardry. By STEVE ENG, - "Red Phoenix Press", Nashville, TN Author of The New York Times best-seller - "JIMMY BUFFETT, The Man From Margaritaville Revealed",(St. Martin's Press), and "A Satisfied Mind, The Country Music Life Of Porter Wagoner",(Rutledge Hill Press), nominated for the Rolling Stone music book of the year and the Ralph J. Gleason Award.