Music is in John’s blood. His mom, Kathy, born and raised in LaGrange Park, toured for decades as part of the folk duo O’Hara Laffey, frequently performing at Chicagoland venues such as Fitzgerald’s, Palmer Place, Orphan’s, and the Earl of Olde Town. John’s dad was an audio engineer, handling live sound for Kathy and touring with various Chicago-based bands. After John was born, Kathy phased out of the touring lifestyle and transitioned into her “day job” at Nazareth Academy, where she worked for 44 years before retiring.
Carrying on the family tradition, John moved to Nashville in 2012 after graduating from the University of Missouri to pursue a career as a country music artist, songwriter, and producer. In 2019, he won NSAI & CMT’s annual songwriting contest, catching the attention of industry executives. His debut EP in 2020 amassed over 20 million streams on Spotify and landed him on the cover of their flagship country playlist, Hot Country. His latest single, Exes, was released this weekend on February 7, and is now available on all streaming platforms.
John's early exposure to music led John to where he is today. We found John’s story so inspiring - growing up in La Grange, attending St. Francis Xavier, Nazareth Academy, University of Missouri and ultimately taking that leap to Nashville is a great reminder to chase your dreams and do what you love. Follow John @johngurneymusic and to check out his newest music.
