Jon Gonzales
Hailing from the hills of Sonoma County in the San Francisco North Bay, Jon Gonzales records and performs ukulele hook-folk melodies for ALL humans to enjoy. Teamed with producer, recording engineer, and bassist Michael Lindner of Alley One Studio, Jon has become a popular mainstay as recording artist, entertainer, and organizer on the bohemian music scene of the North Bay.
Jon's music attracts listeners of all ages with his catchy hooks and lyrical twists. Songs "Yer So Beautiful" and "Oh Lucia" from his debut Water 'n Whiskey (2012 BMI) and "Green Grass 'n Shade" from Hump (2015 BMI) are highly-influenced by his songwriting idols Bob Dylan, Bono, Tom Waits, Gregory Alan Isakov, Bruce Cockburn, and Paul Simon, and authors Tom Robbins, Tony Vigorito and Khalil Gibran. Jon's songs are frequently aired on various radio stations in northern California, and performed live in his various formats.
Jon's performance credentials include Railroad Square Music Festival, Earlefest, the North Bay Ukulele Festival, Levi's Granfondo, an on-air video interview on KRCB's Sonoma Spotlight, a video interview with folk icon Bruce Cockburn, and articles in The North Bay Bohemian (Jan. 2017) and the Upbeat Times (Oct. 2016).
Father of five for life, Gonzales performs as soloist, as harmonic trio aka Jon Gonzales Stringband, and as full band, Jon Gonzales 'n Family.
Jon also hosts the popular radio show, KRCB's North Bay Songwriters, showcasing the talented songwriters of the north bay region. Along with fellow uke-ist Carissa Green, Jon hosted the inaugural North Bay Ukulele Festival in Santa Rosa, CA.in October 2016.
After living his childhood in suburban streets of Bakersfield, Jon got his degree and teaching credential in English at Sonoma State University, and has served as full-time teacher from 1999-2017, before taking the captaincy of his all-encompassing music career. In 2008, after wielding the acoustic guitar for 15 years, Jon picked up a ukulele, taught himself, and now you have today's emergent ukulele singer/songwriter.
