John Proulx is a

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...

pianist, vocalist, educator, and composer based in Los Angeles, California. His singing style has elicited comparisons with a young

Chet Baker Chesney Henry "Chet" Baker Jr. (December 23, 1929 – May 13, 1988) was an American jazz trumpeter and vocalist. He is known for major innovations in cool jazz that led him to be nicknamed the "Prince of Cool". Baker earned much attention and ...

. He is a recording artist with four albums to his credit. His most recent album, “Say It” came out in 2018 on the ArtistShare label, and features Chuck Berghofer on bass, Joe LaBarbera on drums, Larry Koonse on guitar, Bob Sheppard on sax, with special guest, Melissa Manchester and string quartet arrangements by Alan Broadbent. As an educator, John has taught jazz piano and voice at Cal State Long Beach, Cal State Fullerton, Cal Poly Pomona, and Azusa Pacific University. He has a Bachelor’s degree in jazz piano performance from Roosevelt University in Chicago and a Master’s Degree in jazz vocal performance from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Currently, John is working for a jazz piano teaching website, pianowithjonny.com where he creates online courses and videos for the subscription-based community.

Career

John Proulx is from

Grand Rapids, Michigan Grand Rapids is a city and county seat of Kent County, Michigan, Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city had a population of 198,917 which ranks it as the List of municipalities in Mi ...

. The son of two musicians, Mark and Suzanne Proulx, he began his formal musical education at the age of 3 on Suzuki violin, but quickly switched to classical piano lessons. His grandfather, Clyde Proulx, was a jazz guitarist who introduced him to the world of jazz. In 1994 Proulx graduated from Catholic Central High School. After high school, he attended Aquinas College in Grand Rapids for two years. He then moved to Chicago where he studied at Roosevelt University's Chicago School of Performing Arts. In 2001, Proulx moved to Los Angeles to further his musical pursuits. Proulx has composed songs for jazz artists Nancy Wilson,

Mary Stallings Mary Stallings (born August 16, 1939) is an American jazz vocalist and mother of soul singer Adriana Evans. Biography One of eleven children, Mary Stallings was born in San Francisco, California. She grew up in the neighborhood of Laurel Hei ...

, Melissa Manchester, Al Jarreau, and Greg Walker.

Deana Martin Deana Martin is an American singer and actress. She is the daughter of singer Dean Martin. Film and television Martin was born in Manhattan to Dean Martin and his first wife, Elizabeth Anne "Betty" McDonald. She moved to Beverly Hills, Californ ...

recorded his song "Stuck in a Dream with Me" on her 2013 album ''Destination Moon''. Proulx teamed with

Melissa Manchester Melissa Manchester (born February 15, 1951) is an American singer, songwriter and actress. Since the 1970s, her songs have been carried by adult contemporary radio stations. She has also appeared on television, in films, and on stage. Early l ...

, and

Al Jarreau Alwin Lopez Jarreau (March 12, 1940 – February 12, 2017) was an American singer and musician. His 1981 album '' Breakin' Away'' spent two years on the ''Billboard'' 200 and is considered one of the finest examples of the Los Angeles pop and R ...

for the song, "Big Light" on Manchester's 2015 album, ''

You Gotta Love the Life ''You Gotta Love The Life'' is an album by the 25th Annual Grammy Awards#Pop, Grammy Award winning singer and songwriter Melissa Manchester in 2015. Her 20th studio album, and her first since ''When I Look Down That Road'' (2004), the fourteen-trac ...

''. In addition to his performing career, Proulx is also an experienced educator, having taught for several years at Cal State Long Beach, Cal State Fullerton, Cal Poly Pomona, and Azusa Pacific University. Currently, John works for an online piano teaching website, pianowithjonny.com, where he creates online course and videos for the subscription-based community. John has four albums to his credit: “Moon and Sand”, “Baker’s Dozen”, “The Best Thing For You”, and “Say It”.

Awards

Proulx composed the song "These Golden Years" with lyricist D. Channsin Berry for Nancy Wilson’s 2006 album ''

Turned to Blue ''Turned to Blue'' is the fifty-second and final studio album by American jazz singer Nancy Wilson. It was released in 2006 through MCG Jazz. The title track is a poem written by Maya Angelou. The album won Best Jazz Vocal Album at the 49th Annu ...

'', which won the 2007 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album. Proulx received his Bachelor’s Degree in Jazz Piano Performance from Roosevelt University Chicago in 1999 and his Master’s Degree in Jazz Vocal Performance from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan in 2019.

Albums

* ''Moon and Sand'' - 2006 * ''Bakers Dozen (Remembering Chet Baker)'' - 2009 * ''The Best Thing for You'' - 2012 * Say It - 2018

References

External links

Official siteThe Berry / Proulx Project
{{DEFAULTSORT:Proulx, John Aquinas College (Michigan) alumni Roosevelt University alumni Mainstream jazz pianists Living people 21st-century pianists Year of birth missing (living people) ArtistShare artists