Love Education
JON GIBSONRecording Artist, Writer, Performer and ProducerOnly three artists received more airplay on Christian radio stations in 1991 than Jon Gibson; Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, and Bebe & Cece Winans. Not bad company, and so the story goes: Young rebel grows up on the streets of San Francisco, joins the military, comes home to find his father has become a Christian, accepts Christ, and begins to use his talents for God.Jon has been Instrumental in changing the face of Christian music with his soulful pop sound. He first entered the Christian music scene by what some would call an accident. Local bookstore manager, Brian Tong, heard Jons Warner Brothers/Solar/Constellation release, STANDING ON THE ONE, on a secular radio station. He realized that beneath the slick and savvy production was a powerful message about JESUS. Brian bought the album and took it to K.Y.M.S., a Christian radio station based in Orange County, California. It soon became the first Christian radio station in the world to play a Jon Gibson record.It was during those old Solar days that Jon and Michael Jackson worked together on a song called SO SHY as special guests on Bill Wolfers first solo album entitled WOLF, also a Solar/Constellation release. Bill worked with Michael on the albums OFF THE WALL and THRILLER and previously toured with the Jacksons as a keyboardist on their VICTORY TOUR. During the recording of Jon's first solo album, STANDING ON THE ONE, Bill Wolfer introduced Jon to a new friend, Stevie Wonder. Jon went on to make his next record. ON THE RUN, which was well received rendering his first number one single on Christian radio entitled GOD LOVES A BROKEN HEART.During this period, Jon befriended the first and yet unknown Christian rapper named Kirk Burrell, who had an Oakland based gospel rap group called THE HOLY GHOST BOYS. In 1986, Kirk Burrell, along with Tramaine Hawkins, performed with Jon's band doing several concerts in various halls such as the Beverly Theatre in Beverly Hills. Jon went on to sign with Frontline Records for his forth record endeavor entitled CHANGE OF HEART which rendered Gibson his second number one hit FRIEND IN YOU It was on this historical project that Jon and Kirk Burrell recorded a song together entitled THE WALL. It was within the lyrics of this song that Burrell first identified himself as M.C. Hammer, a performer who would later become one the biggest phenomenons in the history of the music business. The Wall was the first contemporary Christian song to bring Christian rap to the ears of its listeners and was instrumental in opening the door for many Christian rappers to follow.In 1989 Jon was reunited with his original producer, Bill Wolfer, to create his next record entitled BODY AND SOUL. The album netted him three more top ten singles, FATHER FATHER, IN THE NAME OF THE LORD and EVERYONE NEEDS THE LORD.It was on the BODY AND SOUL album that longtime influence and friend, Stevie Wonder recorded with Jon to remake HAVE A TALK WITH GOD originally recorded by Stevie on the his SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE album.In 1990, Jon produced his own album for the first time entitled JESUS LOVES YA. The title song perched atop CCM's pop chart for over four weeks, making it Gibson's biggest hit to date. The album rendered him still another number one hit entitled LOVE COME DOWN.Jon's production, FOREVER FREENDS, surely continues in the tradition of top ten airplay. The number one singles, HAPPY TO KNOW JESUS and CANT LIVE WITHOUT JESUS, soared the album to the number one position on the charts and enjoys continuous airplay today as do many of Jons albums.The LOVE EDUCATION album, Jon not only wrote and produced it, but also played most of the instruments. Love Education has had two top ten single releases and Plans are to release a third one. Jon makes note on this album that radio is opening up to Christian artist and some of the singers form the 50s through the 90s are the very same people worship leaders today are drawing inspiration from.Jon Gibson is one of the most prolific writers in contemporary music today. He is determined to improve the quality of Christian music by widening its preconceived boundaries and questioning its limits. Jon believes that no matter what you do in the service of the Lord, It has to be the best you can do with what you have.Jon is currently working on his new POP/CCM album for B-Rite/Interscope records, the number one gospel record company in the industry. This will be the first of Jons releases that will have a major influence in both secular and Christian Radio and reach-out to the POP, CCM, and Gospel markets. For Jon reaching out to the secular market with Gods message is something he has always wanted to do, and the time is right. B-Right is also excited about Jons new Soul to Praise album soon to be released. The owners of B-Rite (also Kirk Franklin and the familys record company) and Jon share the same energy and ambition in get ting Gods message out to people through music.Jon has recently signed a major (5) record, Producer and Solo Artist deal with B-Rite/Interscope as a Pop and Gospel Artist. He is currently working with producers such as Grand Jury, Tommy Sims, Art Kelly, and Teddy Riley on his up-coming release.Jon has had Eleven TOP #10's Hits and Eight NO #1 Hits on the Gospel charts during his 15 year career and has performed and headlined at hundreds of live venues in the United States and Europe and is considered one of the top Christian artists and performers today. He has been a Writer, Producer, Performer, Publisher and member of A.S.C.A.P. for 15 years, and is a distinguished member of the National Publishers Association.