Percussionist, drummer, and vocalist John Mahon has been touring and recording with Sir Elton John since 1997. He has performed 2over 2,000 shows around the world with the superstar, in close to 70 countries, and appears in over 50 Elton recordings. John was voted #3 Percussionist by Modern Drummer magazine’s 2010 Readers Poll. The Elton John Tour was awarded one of the highest grossing tours of all time.
John has recorded numerous albums and video with Elton John, achieving both Gold and Platinum success along with The Emmy winning Live at Dodger Stadium video, The Red Piano from Las Vegas and played on BB King’s Grammy Award winning record, 80 BB King & Friends. As a writer and producer John has composed for Jose Feliciano, Ray Charles, Windows, and his music can be heard on Hallmark Movies, LA Ink, HBO’s Vice, and others. John is currently playing live and producing his own projects and other artists.
John’s drumming career started when he was 13, as an original member of the Canton Police Boys Club Drum & Bugle Corp, which went on to become the award winning DCI Blue Coats. From there he went through marching, orchestral bands, and choir at St. Thomas Aquinas High School. Afterwards, he continued to study drums, percussion, and vocals privately in northeast Ohio. He was also playing full time in jazz and top 40 bands and doing recording projects in local studios. He moved to Los Angeles in 1983 on the recommendation of my drum teacher Bill Severance.
After settling in LA, he and keyboardist Fred Stickley formed their own original pop band, The Stickmen. As the lead singer John was also playing a Yamaha hybrid electronic/acoustic drum set similar to what he uses today. This band opened doors to songwriting and recording sessions as a singer, programmer, and player. He was introduced to the smooth jazz scene recording and touring with Windows and guitarist Peter White. This led to touring with Al Stewart, Helen Reddy, and Rita Coolidge playing drums.
In the mid 1990’s John joined Chuck Negron’s band (lead singer of Three Dog Night) playing acoustic/electronic percussion and singing. In 1997 his late friend bassist Bob Birch introduced him to Elton John’s musical director Davey Johnstone, who consequently asked me to audition for Elton’s band on percussion, electronic drums and vocals.
Performing with Sir Elton John has given him the opportunity to play amazing music night after night all over the world for millions of fans. He has also had the great fortune to share the stage (if only for a song) with some incredible musicians like Billy Joel, Garth Brooks, Joni Mitchell, Brandi Carlisle, Lady Gaga, Stevie Wonder, Michael McDonald, Ray Charles, Tina Turner, Cher, John Mayer, Mary J. Blidge, Barry Manilow, Patti LaBelle, Phil Collins, LeAnn Rhymes, Bryan Adams, Leon Russell, Gregg Allman, Dolly Parton, and many others.