Album Notes

The JOHN CAREY XPERIENCE
A View of the People’s Guitarist

John Carey was destined to be the people’s guitarist. He thrills audiences with his kaleidoscope of intimate soulful sounds and lyrics such as red-hot sultry Little Black Dress and the moving deep purple vibe of his grand finale tribute to the great guitar legends in Guitar Heroes. John’s heart’s desire is wrapped around doing his work in “giving back to the community and to his beloved mother”, embracing everyday experiences that are meaningful to thousands of listeners, mixing them in with his rich world of sensual sound and poetry, and delivering them back to his audiences in a memorable spontaneous package of love.

A man for all seasons and ages John’s musical expression touches people from five to ninety. In a world where stress, computers, and fast food can have the upper hand a five year old boy recently came up to John Carey after a concert and told him how much he loved his music, a ninety-five year old woman let him know how she was taken back to the "good old days" in her experience of his soul-stirring music.

Born, John Russell Carey, in the mid 1950’s in the windy city of Chicago Illinois, the depth of grit, beauty and elegance so characteristic of John’s artistic expression emerged out of a background of an impoverished gang-infested sector of Chicago like the miraculous lotus flower out of muddy water. Raised by his mother alone John’s love of music was nurtured by the music in the home that she always had playing while she was cooking. B. B. King, and other blues and soul artist were like constant incense wafting through the air everyday. It wasn’t long before John’s heart and soul found expression in playing the guitar. He cultivated his craft at the Chicago Conservatory of Music in the early 70’s and began his career as an electric guitarist and vocalist. His versatility shows in his ability to play drums and percussion, keyboard and bass.

After being invited to play background guitar with The Chi-Lites and appearances with Natalie Cole, George Benson, & Earth Wind and Fire, John had a defining moment while playing in one of their concerts. From that moment on, while grateful to be a part of a group, he decided he had something more to say and it wasn’t going to happen in the background. He needed to be the one in front in the sensual dance of life experiences with his audience. He knows of the sacrifices and the rigorous discipline it takes to produce art that has universal appeal and he is committed to the path.

Always a progressive artist, a teacher of over thirty years, John Carey is forging new expressions out of his Roland GR20 Guitar Synthesizer. Audiences are amazed to hear the sounds of a saxophone and other times, a violin, emerging from his guitar. John maintains a delicate balance of the classical sounds of jazz, soul, blues, and R&B with some new finely-tuned mysterious mixtures.

The Xperience Preferred CD produced by John, was heard and founded by QFX record label. QFX Records has already injected some mesmerizing theatrical surprises into John Carey’s performances. In John’s last concert at Pharaoh’s Amphitheater in Redlands, CA the audience was surprised with a beautiful dancer who weaved through the aisles and stage acting out the words and sentiment of Little Black Dress in serpentine fashion. She appeared in the middle of the performance bringing the already tantalizing experience of John’s popular ballad to fever pitch.

An extraordinary artist with a musicological repertoire that can seem spiritual, even mystical at times attracting music sophisticates, John never strays from his cultural and musical roots. His love for community reflects the spirituality that keeps John’s music alive. Currently working in the grassroots arena before heading onto another tour John is giving college students a tangible opportunity to experience their vision of what they are preparing for, academically, in a real live event.

Budding musicians will be able to play in a concert with John’s band, audio-visual students will get to practice their skills, and dancers will have a shot at performing in a semi-theatrical production. John hopes these opportunities will give students an early break in the pursuit of their careers. With such humble undertakings and expressions of his heart and soul it is no wonder that John Carey is known as the people’s guitarist.
Under the name J Smooth John put out 3 CD's, Doves Of Paradise, Passion, and For Lovers Only.
Xperience Preferred is his latest release under the QFX Record Label.
My set is 90 min with majority original material.
Standing In Quicksand
Change In the Weather
The Good Old Days
Bar B Q
Little Black Dress
I Can't Wait
Feeling Alright
Passion
When We First Met
Guitar Heroes
Guitar, Bass, Keyboards, Drums, all vocals please go to to www.qfxrecords.com for stage rider.