John was born and raised in upstate South Carolina, with family ties to the western North Carolina mountains. These Appalachian family ties run deep, which in turn creates his enlightened and friendly personality. He began strumming the guitar at the age of eight, learning tunes from family members and friends. As a teenager his musical tastes began to broaden, moving toward a much more traditional "roots" approach . In his mid-twenties he began seriously collecting tunes and stories. He taught  himself how to play a number of different traditional musical instruments,  learning first-hand from the community that surrounded him. John continues to research, collect and document traditions of his heritage.

In 1991 John was accepted for placement on the S.C. Arts Commission Roster. He also applied for, and was placed on other state and community rosters throughout the southeast including; Mountain Arts Program (NC), Children Circuit (NC), SC Touring Artist, Fairfax Arts Co. (VA.) & others.

John is a member of the S.C. Institution for Community Scholars and is associated with the South Carolina Traditional Arts Network (SCTAN). He is a member of the SC Storytelling Network and founder of the Carolina Old-Time Music Network (COTMN). He has conducted a number of field studies in folklore and has been featured on SC-ETV. He currently plays the banjo in the old-time music group, the Carolina TuneCroppers which features early country music of the 1920's and 30's. John also hosts an old-time country music radio show on the NC public radio station  WNCW 88.7 , which airs on Sunday afternoons.

John has competed and won a number of old-time music contest over the years. He placed first at the Mountain Dance Folk Festival in the Old Time Banjo contest, and has won two blue ribbons in the old-time harmonica competition at Fiddler's Grove Bluegrass & Old Time Music Festival.  In 2004 he placed 1st in the Old-Time Banjo category at the Pickens County Heritage Festival and has won a number of open competitions as well.