John Reilly is a Liverpool born singer, songwriter, lyricist and writer, now based in Sheffield, England. John has three older sisters and grew up in a house filled with an eclectic mix of music from Sinatra and Nat King Cole, Dylan and Joni Mitchell, to Motown and 70’s glam and he was particularly influenced by the lyrics of Bernie Taupin. His first band at sixteen while still at school was ‘Force’ who played at the legendary ‘Eric’s’ in Liverpool, playing mainly Roxy and Bowie covers.
Two years later John moved to Sheffield and together with Bass player Andy Needham he hand-picked musicians to form BOY ON A DOLPHIN. Pete Hiley on lead guitar, Tom Bryson on drums. After a year, Darren Ford became drummer. Reilly, Needham, Hiley, Ford are still the core of Dolphin today.
2007 John flies to Toronto to write with Canadian pianist/writer Lewis Nitikman. An incredible flurry of creativity ensues and Lewis flies to the UK to continue. John tests out the new songs in shows with him on guitar, percussion and vocal and Lewis on piano. People return again and again and begin to sing songs that they have only heard live.
In 2016, John appeared on BBC1 ‘The Nation Remembers’ show, performing his song ‘Women of Steel’, live from the Imperial War Museum in London.
A John Reilly concert is almost a spiritual event. An evening where every emotion is touched and unleashed in a uniquely intimate atmosphere created by his intensely profound lyrics and stunning vocals.