Album Notes

61 years ago, Thomas Crawford Abel stopped talking. In 1947, at the ripe old age of 18, my dad left his home in New Orleans to become a monk. 41 years ago, Mary Ann Abel, the oldest of nine children, chose a similar path and became a nun where she worked as a schoolteacher. 37 years ago, Thomas and Mary Ann met, began corresponding, and quickly realized that life would be better spent together than a part.

I’ve tried to write my bio a hundred times and have realized that this is the most interesting thing about me. In many ways, where I’ve come from has made me who I am today.

When I was 18, fresh out of high school, mom and dad gave me a guitar, an unlikely gift for a guy who was completely uninvolved in the creating or writing of music up to that point in my life. I immediately dreamt of what I would do with the money once I pawned it. Like the improbable meeting of my parents, this foreign instrument would become a close friend and I haven’t stepped into a pawnshop since.

More about Jon:
Jon leads worship most Sunday mornings at Highland Park Presbyterian’s 1105 gathering in Dallas, TX as well as concerts/events nation-wide. A songwriter with Nashville's Universal/Brentwood Benson Music, Jon’s song “Awesome Is The Lord Most High” (entitled “Most High” on Jon’s “More Than This” album) was recently covered on both the “Passion: Everything Glorious” CD and Chris Tomlin’s “See The Morning” album, currently RIAA certified Gold and nominated for two Grammy Awards. Jon’s new album (fourth indy release) entitled “Back To You” was produced by Cary Pierce (Jack Ingram, Graham Colton) and released October ’07. For more news, contact info, & links to Jon’s store, please visit jonabel.com.