John Merrill(I)
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Born May 19, 1944 in Chicago, Illinois, John Merrill grew up in Southern California in the Pasadena area. He began classical music training with piano lessons at age six and flute at age 11. Starting in 6th grade, for the next four years, he played flute in school orchestras and sang alto in the Pasadena Boys Choir directed by Dr. John Henry Lyons.
In ninth grade, Merrill began playing guitar, and shortly after, five string banjo. Working at folk music performing, he ended his orchestral and choral involvement at this time and replaced it with something he loved even more. He had folk groups at John Muir High and Cal State L.A.
In 1964, while performing with his folk groups The Crosswinds and The South City Singers, he started playing electric guitar and writing songs. Soon, with Barbara Robison (who replaced vocalist Cindy Ellis), and with fellow Cal. State student Jim Cherniss, he recorded his first record with their group (trio) The Young Swingers; a song he wrote entitled, Love Her Every Day. Subsequently, John was a founding member of the rock groups The Ashes (1965-66), and The Peanut Butter Conspiracy (1966-69). He also worked as a studio musician, vocalist, and composer/songwriter for movies, commercials and recording artists in Hollywood in this period and into the 70's.
In 1985, he worked on location as a vocal coach in the film Peggy Sue got Married, coaching Nicolas Cage, Jim Carey, Glen Withrow, and Harry Basil.
Merrill has songs recorded by Three Dog Night, Randy Meisner, others, along with the groups he was in. Vocalist Barbara "Sandi" Robison (1945-1988) was a major inspiration for Merrill's writing in the early/mid sixties.
Still living in Southern California, he still writes and performs today, while also teaching guitar and voice. He and his wife Jo-Ann were married in 1991, and have a daughter Allysen Merrill, who is a musical theatre singer and dancer, and actress.
In ninth grade, Merrill began playing guitar, and shortly after, five string banjo. Working at folk music performing, he ended his orchestral and choral involvement at this time and replaced it with something he loved even more. He had folk groups at John Muir High and Cal State L.A.
In 1964, while performing with his folk groups The Crosswinds and The South City Singers, he started playing electric guitar and writing songs. Soon, with Barbara Robison (who replaced vocalist Cindy Ellis), and with fellow Cal. State student Jim Cherniss, he recorded his first record with their group (trio) The Young Swingers; a song he wrote entitled, Love Her Every Day. Subsequently, John was a founding member of the rock groups The Ashes (1965-66), and The Peanut Butter Conspiracy (1966-69). He also worked as a studio musician, vocalist, and composer/songwriter for movies, commercials and recording artists in Hollywood in this period and into the 70's.
In 1985, he worked on location as a vocal coach in the film Peggy Sue got Married, coaching Nicolas Cage, Jim Carey, Glen Withrow, and Harry Basil.
Merrill has songs recorded by Three Dog Night, Randy Meisner, others, along with the groups he was in. Vocalist Barbara "Sandi" Robison (1945-1988) was a major inspiration for Merrill's writing in the early/mid sixties.
Still living in Southern California, he still writes and performs today, while also teaching guitar and voice. He and his wife Jo-Ann were married in 1991, and have a daughter Allysen Merrill, who is a musical theatre singer and dancer, and actress.