Artist Information
Biography
Now and then a special performer comes along that you just know when you first hear it that greatness is just around the corner.One of those performers has just arrived.Johnathan Hepner is his name and his sound is unique but familiar.
Although his roots are in Oklahoma, his musical roots are scattered throughout the spectrum of musical genres.He claims musical inspiration from the likes of Garth Brooks, Dave Mathews, James Taylor, John Mayer, Ben Folds, and Damien Rice.Groups like Snow Patrol, Dashboard Confessional, Something Corporate, and Graham Colton have also influenced this 26-year-old Oklahoma State University student from Altus, Oklahoma.
Early performance in Hepner’s life began in pre-school performing in everything from school plays to local talent shows.He learned the piano and guitar in elementary school and began writing songs in Junior High.His high school years were spent performing solo and with friends Tyler Shelby, Brian Quinn, and Jon Goforth.The boys formed a group called Silentgreene. These friends would eventually play on the album that is currently in the process of being released.
His high school years were highlighted at the Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute in which a song Johnathan wrote was performed as a group by his cabin.The performance of Dead Man Walking not only won the talent show of the best young performers in Oklahoma, it also drew a standing ovation from the one thousand plus in attendance a week later at the final performance of the Institute.
He has produced a c.d. named Entirely in memory of a high school friend that died tragically in an auto accident.He later produced a c.d. called Cornerstone in collaboration with his old high school buddies. A more sophisticated work came from his college experience, known as The Orange LP, it is well worth the time spent
to listen.A c.d. of his latest efforts is in the works and is on its way to a release date, and will be titled Sit and Wait.
His college years have seen wins in talent shows like OSU Cowboy Showcase.He has performed at coffee houses around Stillwater and has a performed at the establishment where Garth Brooks first performed. Currently he has signed a with Emma Burroughs at Southern Storm Promotions, a division of CMG Records in Nashville, TN. He is booking shows across the country and will set out early in the summer headlining his tour, Sticks and Stones, with new up and coming artist, Evan Mustard.
There's nothing that quite describes Johnathan Hepner's music like the word diverse. Go to a show and you will experience first hand the diversity found in his music, and the music he covers. Growing up in Oklahoma had its advantages and its disadvantages, but one thing it did help to prepare him for was the reality of playing shows where the style of music was critical in entertaining his audience. He has been influenced by everything from red dirt country, to hard rock, and hip-hop to acoustic singer/songwriters. There is a genuine quality to the music he produces, and it shows in his lyrical styles, and powerful choruses, that will leave you singing them in your head. There is nothing that can speak more powerfully about a person's music than the music itself, so he has left it up to you to decide, and up to you to experience for yourself.



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