@PEOPLE
option: Jonathan loved to sing. He spent his free time practicing
one thing—the opera was Aida, starring Luciano Pavarotti.
and listening to jazz music’s greatest composers. “I played Irving Berlin like crazy. Then I got into Cole Porter. I liked that
After a few years in New York, Jonathan stepped away from
their songs told a story.”
theater. Rehearsals didn’t always pay, and Jonathan realized singers could get several gigs a week and have a somewhat
Jonathan’s mother was a dance teacher at Fort Smith School of
reliable income. Wanting more experience performing, Jonathan
Ballet, and his uncle played saxophone for the Shoffey band.
moved back to Fort Smith and began singing with local jazz
“My family was artsy, so I was always getting into things like
musician Don Bailey. “Don welcomed me with open arms, which
that. When I was in school, I said, ‘I want to take choir, I want to
I thought was great. I mean, he’s an accomplished musician, and
take drama.’ My family was just a bunch of actors and actresses
I was just an obnoxious kid.”
walking around without roles, so they were all pretty excited if I was in a play or something.”
By the time he was twenty-two, Jonathan’s personality and voice had matured. Often compared to Sinatra, he was encouraged to
However, when Jonathan graduated from Southside High School
move to Las Vegas and find work as a lounge musician, which
and decided to pursue singing and acting full time, not everyone
he did. For two years, Jonathan worked in supper clubs, lounges,
was supportive. “A lot of people would say, ‘You’re great, you’re
and casinos, crooning jazz standards by such greats as Freddy
talented, but so is this guy. You need to have a fallback career.’”
Cole, Nancy Wilson, and Ella Fitzgerald. “It was the first time
But Jonathan’s mom, Nancy, disagreed and gave him some good
I got to start interacting with audiences. I love sharing a song
advice: don’t have a fallback career, because then you’ll fall
that washes over you, a song that tells a story and has some
back on it.
meaning to it. I’ve had people come up to me in tears saying, ‘That was beautiful.’ And that’s what I love — being able to give
With that in mind, Jonathan moved to New York City a week
something to another human being.”
after he graduated. He was seventeen. “While I was living in New York, I considered going to college for a music or theater
After two years in Vegas, Jonathan was ready for a change. He
degree. But no one seemed interested in a degree, only in what
moved to San Diego, despite the fact that he had no friends or
you had to offer.”
connections there. He got a job waiting tables at a restaurant, which just happened to have a stage for entertainers. Jonathan
So Jonathan enrolled in the William Esper Acting Studio.
convinced the owner to let him sing, and he began building a
Then, upon a friend’s suggestion, he auditioned as an actor at
fan base. Four years later, Jonathan now has regular gigs singing
the Metropolitan Opera House. He was hired, filling mostly
at the US Grant and La Valencia Hotels. “Both have bars and
character parts. “It certainly wasn’t high school theater, but it felt
lounges where the locals hang out. There are a lot of regulars,
comfortable. It was great to be on stage,” says Jonathan. “I was in
so I never stay with a set list of songs. I love it because every
a couple of ballets and an opera.” Jonathan neglects to mention
show is different.”
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