Lay It On By Jonny Starkes

Jonny Starkes

Jonny Starkes is a singer/songwriter from Hare Bay, Newfoundland who now resides in Toronto, Ontario.

Jonny’s songs are derived from his rise and falls in life and the world around him.

In these songs, Jonny delivers a gritty, soulful peacefulness to his dynamic craft; he leaves everything in the open and lays it all on the line.

Jonny was introduced to the guitar at a young age by his late grandfather, who learned to play in the hospital injured overseas in World War 2. 

“Even tho I didn’t know what I was doing, he never cared while I strummed sweet nothings and knocked his guitar outta tune with a bread bag clip lol”

It wasn’t until the age of twelve that his uncle Roger showed him a few chords which Jonny held onto while he drifted from the guitar and music.

Luckily at the age of seventeen he asked for his own guitar, which his parents bought him for Christmas. 

From there he went on to muster the courage to play in front of school audiences etc.

Jonny always had a desire to push himself, perform in any aspect of his life and to be better than the day before. 

At the age of 27 Jonny decided he wanted to write his own songs and carve his own path in life with his music.

He felt that he had a voice that needed to be heard and was tired of following the herd. 

Since then, Jonny has made himself an up-and-coming name in the Toronto music scene where he has performed in numerous festivals and venues throughout Ontario, venues Jonny had won the epidemic music groups Robin Short award for hardest working and supportive artist in the community.  

Jonny released his debut album, “Father’s Boy”, written around the loss of his father to cancer in 2017.    

– Jonny Starkes – 

“My Father was very sick and I had a show that I thought it would be too much for him  to attend.

I was done playing my set and then I looked and saw my mom walking my father across the field.

I asked the organizers if they minded if I kept playing since my dad never got to see me much.

I played for another thirty minutes while my father just sat and watched me and didn’t even flinch. 

Later at home, my dad called me to the living room, sat me down next to him and asked me what I wanted do with my life.

I told him I wanted be a singer/songwriter.

He gave me a hug, we cried and he gave the money to start recording my debut album and told me to never give up.

He died shortly after this but I had his approval which was something I’ve always sought after with my father and was all that I needed. 

Now to make him happy and to walk my mother down the red carpet at the Juno awards would be a great accomplishment”.

“I believe the voice is a window to somebodies soul, so come on in and have a seat while I sing and play for you” 

Lay It On – Jonny Starkes