John Bankston
Singer Songwriter Artist

John Bankston's many fans will tell you that they love him for his soulful voice, classy guitar work, finely crafted original songs, and energetic, extemporaneous stage presence. At six feet two, with blonde hair tied back in a pony tail, adorned with multiple bracelets and earrings of jade and bone, and known for a taste in fashion that runs to black leather, Bankston is an accomplished entertainer, a riveting presence onstage. His frequent performances in the best Central California clubs have made him a consistent favorite with audiences for the past two decades.

Discography

Blue Moon

• Blue Moon
• Big Sur
• Be My Loving Baby
• Simple Relationship
• Oo Lady
• Got Na Money
• Sad-Eyed Sarah
• Coming 'Round
• Sleeping Dogs
• Days That Are Gone
• Will of the World
• Better In The Morning
• Surf's Up for the Big Sur Sound.

Lately, this veteran of the night club scene has been telling folks that things actually are Better In The Morning....

The Big Sur Sound. Surf Funk. Redwood Rock. Beach Tribal. Call it what you will, Better In The Morning, John Bankston's newest CD, is causing a wave of excitement among music lovers with a taste for authentic, cutting edge, alternative, adult rock and roll. Better In The Morning showcases twelve original songs that, in addition to being irresistibly danceable, are rooted in, yet transcend, traditional musical categories. The Music Director of California's award winning radio station, FM 94.3 KOTR in Cambria, praises Better In The Morning, as "the best music to come out of Central California in decades." Fans agree, and the bottom line tells the story. John & John Records reports that it has ordered another pressing to keep up with demand.

Funky, bluesy, alternative, adult rock and roll. All of the songs on Better In The Morning make you want to move, to sway, to dance, to jump up and down. The CD opens with the stylishly funky "Stories," followed by the upbeat title cut "Better In The Morning." "Everyday," track number three, is a driving, acoustic rocker that clearly invokes the feeling of Bankston's first CD, "Blue Moon Big Sur." A distinctive, reggae spirit permeates the fourth song, "Shallow Grave," while track five, a rock and roll romp called "I Shoulda Never Left California," is already on its way to becoming a favorite with radio audiences. "True Love" offers a new take on a classic subject, enriched by Bankston's multi-layered electric guitar work. Track seven, the rock and roll anthem "Slash and Burn," conjures visions of rainforests and fire.

Track eight, "Crab" (AKA "Baby Crawly Crabby") is a certifiable dance hit, demonstrating again Bankston's sure feel for funk and the clever guitar hook. "Another American Pie," track nine, is an up-tempo, musical reaffirmation of love and faith, while "Shine On Blue Moon" leaves no doubt of Bankston's sure touch as a bluesman. Track eleven, "Big Surfunk," seems to capture the magic and feel of a beach side concert on that enchanted coast. Better In The Morning wraps up the musical tour de force with a potential Americana crossover hit, the rocking-but-haunting "Keep On Loving You."

John Bankston's extraordinary talents define and propel Better In The Morning from start to finish, with credits that include vocals, harmonies, acoustic and electric guitars, bass, harmonica, organ, piano, percussion and drums. No stranger to the technical side of his craft, Bankston engineered the entire twelve- song set himself. And yet, Better In The Morning is also a collaborative effort. Bankston is joined on the project by his longtime friend and music partner, John Connerley, with whom he co-produced the CD and co-wrote six of the songs. Connerley's fine vocals and acoustic guitar work are important ingredients in Better In The Morning's success. To round out the production, Bankston and Connerley (the John and John of "John & John Records") recruited saxophonist Frank Gary and drummer Mike Kirkpatrick, as well as the legendary percussion section, the Big Sur Conga Nation. Check out the liner notes and you'll discover that Ivan Duran, the owner of Stonetree Records in Belize, Central America, contributed music to "Crab." The CD also features eye-catching, original art and graphics by John Bankston's wife, Lynn Bankston, and Maya-inspired artwork by Big Sur artist Louis "The Monk" Lauck.

Listen to Better In The Morning , and catch the Big Sur buzz!