Jon McCracken

Jon McCracken is a Los Angeles native in his early 30s, who, at the age of six, decided to take up the drums after watching countless videos of Ringo Starr. He started playing to Beatles songs on his make-shift drum kit made predominately out of pots and pans. After several months of this, his parents decided to put an end to the horrific noise and get him an electronic drum kit with headphones. From a very early age, Jon listened to the music his parents grew up with; classic rock bands ranging from The Beatles, to the Rolling Stones, The Who, Queen, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Peter Gabriel, The Police, and more. Other inspirations included Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa, Ginger Baker, Jeff Porcaro, and many more. Jon is often quoted as someone who was "born in the wrong decade."

Throughout school, Jon took music classes starting in elementary school. In fact, they were the only classes he would actually get A's in. In middle school, Jon got into the Symphonic Orchestra by saying he could play the xylophone. He couldn't. That same year, Jon was accepted into the middle school drumline. In high school, Jon continued to drum by joining the Glendale High School drumline. Jon started on cymbals, and eventually moved his way up to tenors, and eventually Drum Captain. Jon also joined the GHS jazz band his Sophomore year. This would lead to Jon winning the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award his Senior year.

After high school, Jon attended Musician's Institute in Los Angeles, CA. There, he studied under amazing teachers such as Charlie Waymire, Donny Gruendler, Gary Hess, Chuck Silverman, Stewart Jean, Fred Dinkins, and, of course, Rob Carson. During the 18-month program, Jon studied various genres such as Rock, Jazz, Funk, Latin, Reggae, and more; along with sight-reading, creating/playing to tracks, chart writing, music theory, harmony, time-keeping, drum recording, music business, and most importantly, how to practice. Jon graduated from MI in 2010.

Since then, Jon has performed in a wide variety of bands on many stages across the country; the most notable being Carnegie Hall at the age of 20-years old. Today, Jon performs with such groups/artists as The Chambers Brothers, Jumping Jack Flash, The Fab Four, Guitar Shorty, The Who Experience, Crazy Tomes, and many more. Jon has also shared the stage with amazing acts like America, George Thorogood, Lady Antebellum, Jimmy Vivino, Joe Bonamassa, and more. Jon is endorsed by Collision Drumsticks and Soultone Cymbals. Apart from music, Jon enjoys film directing, writing, editing, web design, and writing about himself in the third person.