John Lawry
Encyclopedia
John Lawry is a Christian musician, composer, producer, and songwriter. He is most remembered for being the keyboardist of Christian rock band Petra
during their most prolific years.
live album, John was born in Japan and was subsequently adopted by an American family from Michigan. Some sources cite John as having grown up in Flint, Michigan
, others cite Millington, Michigan
, but both cities are in the same general area of the state.
Lawry showed musical skills from an early age. When he was 9, he learned to play the accordion
. When he grew up he went to Millington High School and was involved in the school band. He graduated in 1969 and continued working in music. Lawry contributed to several projects during the following years.
In 1982, he joined the Joe English Band
and recorded three albums with them. He also recorded with the band Forerunner. In 1984 he joined Petra recording a total of nine albums with the band. During this period, the band won 3 Grammys and several other awards.
John was initially introduced to Petra fans while on the European dates of the Not of This World tour in August 1984. After completing the tour, Lawry had not fully committed to the band until told by Petra's European Road Manager that he was anointed to become a part of Petra. Lawry then stayed with Petra for the next 10 years.
John's first studio appearance with Petra was on their Beat the System
album in 1984. While Petra had stocked a resident keyboardist (John Slick) for some time, Lawry's entrance into the band brought a new, more "modern" sound that would stay with the band for the entirety of Lawry's tenure.
In 1986, Lawry played a keyboard solo on Greg X. Volz
(former Petra lead singer) first solo effort. He also released a solo album called Media Alert in 1990.
Lawry left Petra in 1994 to dedicate to a career producing and recording. He was replaced by his keyboard technician, Jim Cooper
. He also released another solo album in 1997 titled Excursions.
In 2005, Lawry joined the stage again with Petra during one of the band's final presentations that was released as the Petra Farewell
CD and DVD.
Lawry married his wife, Stefanie, and has two sons, Jeremy and Nick. Stefanie's voice was sampled for "Jesus Loves You".
Lawry, along with the "classic" 80's Petra lineup (John Lawry, Greg X. Volz, Bob Hartman, Mark Kelly, and Louie Weaver) are currently in the studio recording new material, as well as re-recording some classic Petra songs from the Volz era. They plan on releasing an album in mid to late August, as well as starting a world tour starting in October.
s during the Petra years. On the band's first live record, Captured in Time and Space
, John took the stage with an impressive array of keyboards, organized into two stacks.
Petra (band)
Petra is a music group regarded as a pioneer of the Christian rock and contemporary Christian music genres. Formed in 1972, the band took its name from the Greek word for "rock"...
during their most prolific years.
Biography
According to his personal testimony as recorded on Petra's Captured In Time and SpaceCaptured In Time and Space
Captured in Time and Space is the eighth release of Christian rock band, Petra and their first live album. The concert was re-released on DVD in 2006....
live album, John was born in Japan and was subsequently adopted by an American family from Michigan. Some sources cite John as having grown up in Flint, Michigan
Flint, Michigan
Flint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...
, others cite Millington, Michigan
Millington, Michigan
Millington is a village in Tuscola County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,137 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Millington Township....
, but both cities are in the same general area of the state.
Lawry showed musical skills from an early age. When he was 9, he learned to play the accordion
Accordion
The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
. When he grew up he went to Millington High School and was involved in the school band. He graduated in 1969 and continued working in music. Lawry contributed to several projects during the following years.
In 1982, he joined the Joe English Band
Joe English
Joe English is an American musician who, during the 1970s, played drums in Paul McCartney's band Wings and in the Southern Rock/Jazz group Sea Level, among others....
and recorded three albums with them. He also recorded with the band Forerunner. In 1984 he joined Petra recording a total of nine albums with the band. During this period, the band won 3 Grammys and several other awards.
John was initially introduced to Petra fans while on the European dates of the Not of This World tour in August 1984. After completing the tour, Lawry had not fully committed to the band until told by Petra's European Road Manager that he was anointed to become a part of Petra. Lawry then stayed with Petra for the next 10 years.
John's first studio appearance with Petra was on their Beat the System
Beat the System
Beat the System is the seventh studio release of the Christian rock band, Petra. It was released in 1985.It is the first album to feature John Lawry on keyboards. He is featured prominently in it, veering the sound of the album more in the techno-rock genre of music. It is also the last studio...
album in 1984. While Petra had stocked a resident keyboardist (John Slick) for some time, Lawry's entrance into the band brought a new, more "modern" sound that would stay with the band for the entirety of Lawry's tenure.
In 1986, Lawry played a keyboard solo on Greg X. Volz
Greg X. Volz
Gregory Xavier Volz is a Christian singer. He is most noted for being the former lead singer of Christian rock band Petra from 1979 to 1985 and is currently the lead vocalist of the reunited lineup.-Biography:...
(former Petra lead singer) first solo effort. He also released a solo album called Media Alert in 1990.
Lawry left Petra in 1994 to dedicate to a career producing and recording. He was replaced by his keyboard technician, Jim Cooper
Jim Cooper (musician)
Jim Cooper is a Christian musician, songwriter, and producer.Cooper studied at Temple Christian Academy in his hometown. Jim Cooper got his feet wet with Jody Davis with the band Phos Also in the Band was a lead singer by the name of Gary...
. He also released another solo album in 1997 titled Excursions.
In 2005, Lawry joined the stage again with Petra during one of the band's final presentations that was released as the Petra Farewell
Petra Farewell
Farewell is the last album released by Christian rock band Petra. It was released in 2005. A DVD of the concert was released in 2006.This is the second live album of the band and it was recorded during the bands Farewell tour in Franklin, Tennessee on October 4, 2005.The concert features guest...
CD and DVD.
Lawry married his wife, Stefanie, and has two sons, Jeremy and Nick. Stefanie's voice was sampled for "Jesus Loves You".
Lawry, along with the "classic" 80's Petra lineup (John Lawry, Greg X. Volz, Bob Hartman, Mark Kelly, and Louie Weaver) are currently in the studio recording new material, as well as re-recording some classic Petra songs from the Volz era. They plan on releasing an album in mid to late August, as well as starting a world tour starting in October.
Equipment
Is well known he is an avid user of Lync LN4 and LN1000 keytarKeytar
A keytar is a relatively lightweight keyboard that is supported by a strap around the neck and shoulders, similar to the way a guitar is supported by a strap. Keytars allow players a greater range of movement compared to conventional keyboards, which are placed on stands...
s during the Petra years. On the band's first live record, Captured in Time and Space
Captured In Time and Space
Captured in Time and Space is the eighth release of Christian rock band, Petra and their first live album. The concert was re-released on DVD in 2006....
, John took the stage with an impressive array of keyboards, organized into two stacks.
Stage Right (top to bottom)
- Yamaha DX7Yamaha DX7The Yamaha DX7 is an FM Digital Synthesizer manufactured by the Yamaha Corporation from 1983 to 1986. It was the first commercially successful digital synthesizer. Its distinctive sound can be heard on many recordings, especially Pop music from the 1980s...
- MoogMoog synthesizerMoog synthesizer may refer to any number of analog synthesizers designed by Dr. Robert Moog or manufactured by Moog Music, and is commonly used as a generic term for older-generation analog music synthesizers. The Moog company pioneered the commercial manufacture of modular voltage-controlled...
MemorymoogMemorymoogThe Memorymoog is a polyphonic electronic music synthesizer manufactured by Moog Music from 1981 to 1983, the last polyphonic synthesizer to be released by Moog Music before the company was sold to management and renamed Moog Electronics... - KorgKorgis a Japanese multinational corporation that manufactures electronic musical instruments, audio processors and guitar pedals, recording equipment, and electronic tuners...
CX3 tonewheel organ
Stage Left (top to bottom)
- Roland Juno-106Roland Juno-106The Roland Juno-106 was a hybrid digital/analogue polyphonic synth manufactured by Roland Corporation in 1984. It featured Digitally controlled oscillators for tuning stability and digital envelope generation along with analog filters and signal path....
- Yamaha DX7Yamaha DX7The Yamaha DX7 is an FM Digital Synthesizer manufactured by the Yamaha Corporation from 1983 to 1986. It was the first commercially successful digital synthesizer. Its distinctive sound can be heard on many recordings, especially Pop music from the 1980s...
- Fairlight CMIFairlight CMIThe Fairlight CMI is a digital sampling synthesizer. It was designed in 1979 by the founders of Fairlight, Peter Vogel and Kim Ryrie, and based on a dual-6800 microprocessor computer designed by Tony Furse in Sydney, Australia...
(used for his signature "Jesus Loves You" solo) - custom modified strap on ARP Axxe pre-MIDIMusical Instrument Digital InterfaceMIDI is an industry-standard protocol, first defined in 1982 by Gordon Hall, that enables electronic musical instruments , computers and other electronic equipment to communicate and synchronize with each other...
controller