Music
Jon Doll Launches First Full Album with Grammy-Nominated Artist's Aid
2024-12-01
Jon Doll, a Sheboygan native with 50 years of writing and performing experience, is now releasing his first full professional album. "Let That River Run" is the realization of his lifelong dream to make his music accessible to all. Doll, who plays the acoustic guitar, has been performing in various settings for years, from corporate boardrooms to coffeehouses and open mics.
Discover Jon Doll's Musical Journey and His First Professional Album
Early Musical Beginnings
Doll's musical journey began as a teenager when he formed The Primates with friends. They played mostly in bars and at parties. During college at the University of Washington, he started writing original songs for college groups, combining parodies and love songs. After college, he used his people skills and music to raise consciousness on social issues while working in retail. An incident led to the creation of "Power Merchant", a satire that applied to everyday life. His efforts to improve the business atmosphere led him to teach management through music.Travel abroad expanded his musical exposure. After leaving retail, he worked in the nonprofit industry in Seattle and London. During his time in London, he performed in pubs and realized his musical talent. Travels to other countries further broadened his musical horizons. His mother's influence on community theater and charitable work also shaped his music.Collaboration with Hans Christian
A chance meeting with Grammy-nominated music producer Hans Christian through a mutual friend started a new chapter. Christian, with a 40-year legacy in musical performance and production, contributed to "Let That River Run" by playing various instruments and assembling the backup team. They worked at Studio 330 in Sturgeon Bay.Doll hopes the album points out the various emotions and aspects of the world. His intent is to create another album with Hans and the same Door County musicians in December.Availability of the Album
"Let That River Run" is available through Jon Doll's website, jondoll.com. The CD includes lyrics and bios of other artists, and costs $15 plus shipping. It is also available through a link on the website to major streaming services.Joe Gulig, a retired journalist, shares this story. Doll continues to perform around the region and has won awards along the way.