The 21 songs of Sun King Rising's two albums colorfully illustrate his musical vision, borne of the great tradition of southern noir storytelling, told in a modern new form of the genre.

John first displayed his prodigious musical gifts when he started taking piano lessons at age five in his hometown of New Castle, Pennsylvania. Five years later, he had absorbed not only the fundamentals of classical music, but also gospel and rock music. He joined his first rock band at fourteen and was soon composing and singing his own music, eventually attaining regional popularity with his all-original band, Harlequin.