John Schlitt

Last updated
John Schlitt
John Schlitt (cropped).jpg
Background information
Birth nameJohn William Schlitt
Born (1950-02-03) February 3, 1950 (age 75)
Origin Lincoln, Illinois, U.S.
Genres
OccupationSinger
Years active1972–present
Website johnwschlitt.com

John William Schlitt (born February 3, 1950) is an American singer, who was the lead singer of the Christian rock band Petra from 1986 until the band's retirement in early 2006. Prior to joining Petra in 1986, Schlitt was the lead vocalist for Head East until retiring from the band in 1980.

Contents

Biography

Early years

John Schlitt was born in Lincoln, Illinois northeast of Springfield, Illinois. Shortly afterwards, his family moved to Mt. Pulaski where he grew up. He began singing and showed musical talent from a very young age. When he was 13, he joined a band called Vinegar Hills Hometown Band Something Different. He went to Mt. Pulaski High School and graduated in 1968. He and Dorla Froelich, his future wife, met at high school. [1]

After graduating from high school, Schlitt enrolled at the University of Illinois pursuing a degree in civil engineering. However, his main interest continued to be music. In 1972, he joined Head East, a rock band, as the lead singer with fellow students of the university. Juggling his musical career and college studies, Schlitt finally graduated from college in 1974 and dedicated himself full-time to his career in music. [1]

Head-East era and aftermath

Schlitt in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico for a solo performance in 1998 John Schlitt (1998).jpg
Schlitt in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico for a solo performance in 1998

While with Head East, the band had several hits during the 70s. They released five studio albums and a live album. However, during that time, he developed a dependency to cocaine and alcohol. [2] He was fired from the band in March 1980. Then, Schlitt formed a short-lived band, "Johnny", with his brother Jeff Schlitt, Don Colluci, Jim McNeely, Troy Tipton, Mike Willis, and Burk Burkhardt, but the band fell apart as his addiction intensified in a six-month depression during which he "came very close to suicide". [3] [4] During that time, however, his wife became a born-again Christian and convinced Schlitt to see her pastor. Schlitt confesses that he had already decided to end his life and agreed to the meeting only "so my wife would be able to say ‘he tried’ after I was gone." [5]

Schlitt also became a born-again Christian. He decided to leave music and rededicate his life to his family. Afterwards, he worked cleaning the floors at a factory and slowly rose through the ranks until he became a mining engineer for a mining construction company. Finally, he became their cost and scheduling engineer. [4] During that time, Schlitt attended Gethsemane Church in Evansville, Indiana where he sang with the worship team.[ citation needed ]

Thirty-one years after being kicked out of Head East, Schlitt appeared with the band again to mark the band's 2011 induction into the Iowa Rock N Roll Music Association Hall of Fame. He was joined by former Head East drummer Steve Huston along with the band's keyboardist Roger Boyd. [6]

Petra era

Five years after being in Head East, Bob Hartman called him and asked him to audition for Christian rock band Petra. Petra had just lost its lead singer Greg X. Volz, who had left to pursue a solo career. After a session with Hartman (band's co-founder and guitarist), he was asked to join the band. Schlitt's first show with the band was on February 3, 1986 beginning a career of nearly two decades with them. His first album with the band was their 1986 album Back to the Street .

While he was with Petra, the band released two RIAA certified Gold albums [7] ( Beyond Belief and Petra Praise: The Rock Cries Out ) and earned four Grammy and numerous Dove Awards. They went to all 50 states in the U.S. traveling to over 35 countries.

Solo career

During breaks from performing in Petra, Schlitt recorded and released two solo albums: Shake in 1995, and Unfit For Swine in 1996. Both albums were moderately successful and received positive reviews. [8] [9] [10] After Petra retired in 2005, Schlitt and Hartman started II Guys From Petra. An album was released on January 26, 2007 titled Vertical Expressions. Hartman and Schlitt have performed several shows promoting the album.

In addition, Schlitt released his third solo project, The Grafting, on January 22, 2008. Dan Needham, Schlitt's son-in-law, produced the album. The album was released with performances of the tracks "The Grafting" and "Only Men" by Schlitt on the program Celebrations. Daystar Television Network aired it internationally. [11] In May 2008, Schlitt performed eight concerts in six cities in India with an all-new backing band, StoneJava. He played songs from his solo albums along with many Petra favorites to positive reviews. In 2012, he released his fourth solo project, titled The Greater Cause, on 4K Records. Needham was the album's producer again. Hope That Saves The World was in the top 30 on the Billboard and Christian Weekly charts in July 2012. [12] In 2019, Schlitt released his sixth studio album, Go.

John Schlitt has earned multiple Gold Records, Grammys, and Dove Awards. He has toured all over the world and has been inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame as the lead singer of Petra. He was recently[ when? ] named the best rock singer in Christian music history by GospelMusicChannel.com. According to the website, he remains one of the most distinctive and impactful male singers.[ non-primary source needed ]

Post-Petra era

Schlitt is active today singing in various projects and bands including Project Damage Control, a Christian progressive hard rock band. He is the lead vocalist of a band, The Union of Sinners and Saints, with White Heart founder, guitarist, and songwriter Billy Smiley. [13] Schlitt is a vocalist with the Jay Sekulow Band. He released a single, "Fighting the Fight", in February 2019, which he wrote with Ryan Horn. It was produced by John Lawry. [14]

Personal life

Schlitt and his wife, Dorla have been married since August 28, 1971. They have four children and live in Franklin, Tennessee. [15]

Discography

Solo

Release
date
TitleLabel
1995 Shake Word Records/Epic Records
1996 Unfit for Swine Word
2008 The Grafting 4K
2012The Greater Cause4K
2013 The Christmas Project 4K
2020Go [16] Girder

with The Union of Sinners & Saints

Release
date
TitleLabel
2016The Union of Sinners & SaintsCul De Sac Records & Suite 28 Records

with II Guys From Petra

Release
date
TitleLabel
2007Vertical ExpressionsPetra Productions

with Petra

Release
date
TitleLabel
1986 Back to the Street Star Song Records
1987 This Means War!
1988 On Fire!
1989 Petra Praise: The Rock Cries Out DaySpring Records
Word Records
Epic Records
1990 Beyond Belief
1991 Unseen Power
1992 Petra en Alabanza
1993 Wake-Up Call
1995 No Doubt Word Records
Epic Records
1997 Petra Praise 2: We Need Jesus
1998 God Fixation
2000 Double Take
2001 Revival Inpop Records
EMI Records
2003 Jekyll & Hyde
2004 Jekyll & Hyde en Español
2005 Petra Farewell

with Head East

Release
date
TitleLabel
1974 Flat as a Pancake A&M Records
1976Get Yourself Up
1977 Gettin' Lucky
1978 Head East
1979Head East Live
1979A Different Kind of Crazy

Other contributions

References

  1. 1 2 A Guide to Petra: Michael and Cathy Jones (1998). "John Schlitt Biography". Archived from the original on October 20, 2007.
  2. John W. Schlitt. "Biography & Testimony".
  3. "John Schlitt MySpace Page". 30 April 2015.
  4. 1 2 CBNMusic: Savage, Cynthia and Tim Branson. "John W. Schlitt: A Rock Star Redeemed".
  5. John W. Schlitt. "John W. Schlitt Biography".
  6. McCain & Co PR. "LEGENDARY RECORDING ARTIST JOHN SCHLITT REUNITES WITH '70s ROCK BAND HEAD EAST".[ non-primary source needed ]
  7. CMSpin (October 23, 2007). "Petra Frontman John Schlitt To Release Third Solo Album In January". Archived from the original on July 14, 2009.[ non-primary source needed ]
  8. John W. Schlitt. "Reviews for Unfit for Swine from various publications".
  9. Christian Music Review Headquarters: David Longenecker (December 1, 1995). "CMRH Reviews: Shake by John Schlitt". Archived from the original on February 9, 2008. Retrieved October 30, 2007.
  10. John W. Schlitt. "Shake reviews from various publications".
  11. "John Schlitt". johnwschlitt.com. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  12. "LEGENDARY ROCK SINGER JOHN SCHLITT CLIMBS THE CHARTS WITH NEW SINGLE". JesusFreakHideout.[ non-primary source needed ]
  13. "NEWS: Award-Winning Petra Vocalist John Schlitt Joins Forces with Whiteheart Founder for The Union of Sinners and Saints". February 23, 2016. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  14. "NEWS: JOHN SCHLITT RELEASES FIRST NEW MUSIC IN SIX YEARS, 'FIGHTING THE FIGHT'". January 11, 2019.
  15. Petra1: Daniel Brian Abbey (2002). "Petra Lineup". Archived from the original on December 20, 2001.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  16. "JFH News: John Schlitt's New Single, "Feel It," Releases to Christian Rock Radio". Jesus Freak Hideout. February 5, 2020. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  17. "Jesus Christ The Exorcist (Live at Morsefest 2018)" . Retrieved August 31, 2024.