Jerome Fontamillas
Encyclopedia
Jerome Earl Fontamillas is a Filipino American
musician. Jerome has played in several bands notably with industrial rock
band Mortal
and Fold Zandura
, with long time musical partner Jyro Xhan
. He currently plays with alternative rock band Switchfoot
as a guitar
and keyboard
player.
In 1985 Fontamillas Graduated from Monterey Bay Academy
in Watsonville, CA. Fontamillas is a Seventh-day Adventist Christian. In 1988 Fontamillas, Jyro Xhan, Ray Tongpo and Wilson Peralta released a six song demo tape called Wish Fifteen on Blue Genius Music as Mortal Wish. Four years later they signed with Intense Records
and became simply Mortal. Fontamillas would continue to play with Mortal until 1996 and played in Fold Zandura (also with Jyro) between 1995 and 1999.
In 2000, Fontamillas quit his day job and ended up joining and touring with Switchfoot shortly after the release of their third album, Learning to Breathe. His first release with Switchfoot was their 2003 release, The Beautiful Letdown
. In 2002 Jyro and Fontamillas released a Mortal reunion album called Nu-En-Jin. He married his wife Kristi in December 2005.
Fontamillas is also a producer for the following independent acts:
Filipino American
Filipino Americans are Americans of Filipino ancestry. Filipino Americans, often shortened to "Fil-Ams", or "Pinoy",Filipinos in what is now the United States were first documented in the 16th century, with small settlements beginning in the 18th century...
musician. Jerome has played in several bands notably with industrial rock
Industrial rock
Industrial rock is a musical genre that fuses industrial music and specific rock subgenres. Industrial rock spawned industrial metal, with which it is often confused...
band Mortal
Mortal (band)
Mortal was a Christian industrial/dance band fronted by Jerome Fontamillas and Jyro Xhan. Both members went on to found the alternative rock group Fold Zandura, and for a time were members of both bands simultaneously...
and Fold Zandura
Fold Zandura
Fold Zandura is an alternative rock band from California. They released four albums between 1995 and 1999 plus one white 7" vinyl. Each album was released under a different label. The two premier members also founded the industrial band Mortal. Their songs are "love songs and praise songs"...
, with long time musical partner Jyro Xhan
Jyro Xhan
Jyro Xhan is the stage/pen name of Filipino American musician Jeff La Villa. He lives in California. He is a singer, songwriter, producer, guitarist and keyboard player. He has been in several bands such as Jyradelix, Cush, Juggernautz, but most notably Mortal and Fold Zandura. He was the main...
. He currently plays with alternative rock band Switchfoot
Switchfoot
Switchfoot is an American rock band from San Diego, California. The band's members are Jon Foreman , Tim Foreman , Chad Butler , Jerome Fontamillas , and Drew Shirley .After early successes in the Christian rock scene, Switchfoot first gained mainstream...
as a guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and keyboard
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
player.
In 1985 Fontamillas Graduated from Monterey Bay Academy
Monterey Bay Academy
- Description:Monterey Bay Academy is located on about south of Santa Cruz, California, on the edge of the community of La Selva Beach between Manresa State Beach to the north, and Sunset State Beach to the south. The campus is directly on a beach on central California’s Monterey Bay, which is...
in Watsonville, CA. Fontamillas is a Seventh-day Adventist Christian. In 1988 Fontamillas, Jyro Xhan, Ray Tongpo and Wilson Peralta released a six song demo tape called Wish Fifteen on Blue Genius Music as Mortal Wish. Four years later they signed with Intense Records
Intense Records
Intense Records was an independent record label whose releases were mostly in the metal genre. Intense was bought out in 1989 by Frontline Records and became an imprint of that company...
and became simply Mortal. Fontamillas would continue to play with Mortal until 1996 and played in Fold Zandura (also with Jyro) between 1995 and 1999.
In 2000, Fontamillas quit his day job and ended up joining and touring with Switchfoot shortly after the release of their third album, Learning to Breathe. His first release with Switchfoot was their 2003 release, The Beautiful Letdown
The Beautiful Letdown
The Beautiful Letdown is the fourth studio album by alternative rock band Switchfoot. Released in early 2003, it launched the band into the mainstream on the strength of two top 20 singles: "Meant to Live" and "Dare You to Move." The album was hugely popular and remained a staple on the Billboard...
. In 2002 Jyro and Fontamillas released a Mortal reunion album called Nu-En-Jin. He married his wife Kristi in December 2005.
Fontamillas is also a producer for the following independent acts:
- The Echoing GreenThe Echoing Green (band)The Echoing Green is an electronica/synthpop band. It began as a duo between Joey Belville and Aaron Bowman in 1992, and has since released eleven major albums....
, Echoing Green (1998) - Sonia V.
- Starflyer 59Starflyer 59Starflyer 59 is an alternative rock band from Riverside, California that was founded in 1993 by Jason Martin, brother of Ronnie Martin of Joy Electric. While Jason Martin has written nearly all of Starflyer 59's songs, the band has included a number of different musicians over the years, including...
, I Predict A Clone (1994) - March, Velvet Blue Music, (1999)