John McManus is a twenty-six year old singer, songwriter and guitarist from Delaware County, Pennsylvania. He was inspired to make music in 1992 when he saw the video for Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” while leaving the house to attend a school function. He would never be the same again.

John started playing guitar his junior year of high school and with his friends quickly formed a band called Linus. Playing in the band, John began to pursue his artistic calling. His next band was Minimum Wage, for which he played rhythm guitar. This band recorded an EP which was John’s first studio experiment. In 1997, he began college at Penn State Delaware County, pursuing a Secondary Education, Social Studies Degree. He left Delco and his family and friends behind in August of 1999 and transferred to Penn State University Park Campus.

It was only after graduation in December of 2001 that John seriously began composing and performing original songs, although he had been writing and playing guitar for many years. John spent hours composing music and began to mold his artistic vision. Growing confident, he performed these songs as a solo artist at a number of open mics. That spring, John consistently received positive response to his material. Just before leaving for a summer job, he called on three of his closest friends---Michael Meredith, Keith Roman and Dan Reimer----to form the band Jumpship.

In September 2002, Jumpship quickly began composing arrangements for John’s songs and played open mic nights in the area. Soon finding a niche, the band received a number of bookings at Bootlegger Buck’s in Media and drew upwards of fifty people to its shows. By the Summer of 2003, the band Jumpship had broken up. Despite a short tenure, the band is proud of its accomplishments.

John’s artistic journey has come full circle and he is currently performing as a solo artist throughout the Greater Philadelphia area. Among the open mics he regularly attends are The Point, The Grape Street Pub, Bootlegger Buck’s, Jocyln’s, The Coffee Club, The Spence Café and Stoney’s. He has also been booked at the Bellefonte Cafe, Stoney's, Club 218 and all area Borders stores.

His goal is to continue to compose and perform his songs for all who will listen. Through open mic nights and booked shows, John has had the pleasure of playing with the likes of John Faye (IKE), Laura Shay, Tom Johanning, Brene Wilson, Paul Lewis, Chubby Buddha, Kyle Swartzwelder, Hopper’s 13, Divine Lorraine, Easily Amused, North of the Knee, David Stone, The Phoenix Trap and many more. John’s diverse musical influences include The Beatles, The Clash, Led Zeppelin, U2, R.E.M., Smashing Pumpkins, Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana, The Posies, Caroline's Spine, Ryan Adams and Johnny Cash, to name a few. Despite these influences and comparisons that have been made---to the likes of the Goo Goo Dolls, The Violent Femmes, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Elvis Costello---John McManus creates passionate, energetic, original, memorable and honest music all his own. He appreciates all of the support he receives and hopes you will enjoy what is to come.