John Tedeski

John Tedeski or JT for short has performed on stages up and down the East Coast throughout his 21 year career as a drummer. Hailing from Homer City, Pennsylvania, JT, now 38, started playing drums at the age of 7 getting serious at age 15. He played his first professional bar gig at age 16 while yet a junior in high school and he hasn’t looked back since.

Most of JT’s playing experience has been as a member of several very successful cover bands (Down to the Wire, Miztreater, Kuzzin It) playing throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia. He played with an original/cover band from North Carolina called “Prime Suspect”. He also played with an original band from New Hampshire called “Elias Syn” featuring lead guitarist and founding member Rich Chamberland of “We Are I” fame. JT ventured out to Cleveland, Ohio in 2003 where he joined forces with lead guitarist Billy Morris (Billy Morris Band, Kidd Wicked, Warrant and Paul Gilbert) and lead vocalist Jamie St. James (Black ‘N Blue, Freight Train Jane, St. James and Warrant) to play several shows in Cleveland as a re-vamped version of Jamie’s original 80’s band Black N’ Blue.

During the summer of 2004 JT was approached to play for friends in a Christian Rock band known as “The Witness Protection Program” or “WPP” for short. The band featured on lead guitar and lead vocals Aaron Greer of AGB or The Aaron Greer band. During the 2 short months in which JT donated his time and skills, he racked up about 8 shows and several hundred miles, playing in front of several thousand fans. The band played the Forgiven Festival at the Westmoreland County Fairgrounds in Greensburg, PA. WPP performed both days. Day one’s performance was on the Godstock stage and day two’s performance was on the main stage. Artists on that bill included (FFH, 4 Him, Apologetix, Jeremy Camp, Seventh Day Slumber, The Switch, Michael Josephs, John Reuben, Mark Lowry, Plus One, Lincoln Brewster, Rock & Roll Worship Circus, Todd Agnew, and Big Dismal). The band was also asked to play second stage at the Post Gazette Pavillion @ Starlake in Burgettstown, PA, opening for (The David Crowder Band, Mercy Me & Michael W. Smith). To this day WPP holds the record for most people in attendance for a second stage performance of any band from any genre of music.

Most recently JT answered an ad in the MySpace classifieds for Contemporary Christian Artist Brian Neal who was in the process of putting together a new line up to take out on the road. Brian has played nationwide and had several opportunities to sign to independent labels, those of which he declined. At any rate JT got the gig along with Frank Faccioli on Bass Guitar who had spent sometime playing with both Falling Up and Jeremy Camp. This line up played several shows together before Brian felt the need to take a step back and re-evalute his life, leading both JT and Frank back to Free Agency.

JT’s career goals are to continue to hone his drum playing abilities while looking for or building the band he can call home. He would like to find like minded musicians who not only have a love of music, but also has a love and a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He would like to write music with a positive message. “There is already too much sadness, depression and hatred in this world; I would like to possibly make a difference instead of being a part of the problem…..”

JT has never claimed to be the best, but has tried to be the best that he can possibly be. He brings several added dimensions to the fold as he is highly skilled at performing both lead and background vocals as needed, while rounding out the package, as he likes to refer to it as, his showmanship abilities while maintaining timing and presence throughout. JT is a true showman. He has been compared to the likes of Tommy Lee from Motley Crue, Blas Elias from Slaughter and Rikki Rockett from Poison to name a few. JT plays with charisma and assuredness. ("I've since learned that no matter how I perform I now do it all for the Lord and His glory, no longer for my own.")

JT’s playing can be heard on two cd’s recorded with long time friend and guitar extraordinaire Randy Weitzel. "Angels In Dementia" recorded in 1999 and the newest of the two cd’s “Welcome To Delirium” recorded in 2004, can be heard at www.cdbaby.com/weitzel.