Life's A Good Gig: Author Bio

John Cain - Musician, Composer, Teacher, Author.

Raised by wolves in the high Sierra Nevada mountains of Mexico, Cain was educated in Switzerland by eunic monks. He was kidnapped by a band of Swedish pencil sharpeners and worked in a peanut brittle mine for 67 years. After defeating the Nazi's in WWII he began his musical career as a bass kazoo player in the Azuza Kazoo Band. He quickly rose up the ranks by humiliating the conductor in a staring contest. He became the fifth Beatle but quit the band because of "creative differences." Cain soon became Miles Davis' trumpet player and lead singer for Elvis Presley. The rest is history. Naw...not really! Here's the official story... A professional musician since he was 15 years old, Cain has watched the world go by from sitting behind a piano on the bandstand. In his new book-"Life's A Good Gig"- he shares his experiences and unique view of life. An astute observer of people and human nature he explores the mysteries of life and music in this well crafted memoir. At meet-the-author events he offers an entertaining and educational musical performance and speaks about topics in the book. He safely guides the audience from American music-(jazz, blues, country, standards from the "great American song book") into the world of Latin music, with lots of laughs and surprizes along the way. Cain plays several musical instruments including the piano, guitar, bass fiddle, accordion, harmonica and Latin percussion. He is also an orchestrator, arranger and produces recordings for many other artists and musicians. For years Cain has been delighting audiences with his unique and versatile talent, singing in five languages and performing a vast, international repertoire. Cain is always fun and entertaining. He appears regularly at top San Diego venues like the world renown Hotel Del Coronado, Humphrey’s, the Bahia Resort Hotel and Elario’s atop the beautiful Hotel La Jolla where countless famous names have performed. He performs songs in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and French with a repertoire of Jazz, Blues, Latin, American Standards as well as his original compositions. He has recorded several CDs (see "shopping" section) including "Silly Songs & Lullabies" for kids which includes a companion book that he also wrote and illustrated. In the Community John Cain is active in the local community as a docent for the Advocates for Classical Music which brings local elementary school children to symphony concerts. He gives seminar/performances on the history of American and Latin American music to Jr. High and High School students. He perfoms each year for the Dos Aguilas Bi-Cultural Fiesta at the San Diego Natural History Museum, the proceeds from the event benefit binational education and research at the museum. He recently performed and participated in the Old Highway 80 parade celebrating the 80th anniversary of Highway 80 which is now El Cajon Blvd. Cain also organizes musical events for fund raising for the Puerta De Fe Orphanage in La Mission, Baja, Mexico. Childhood The son of jazz bassist Willy Cain, John was born in Seattle, Washington. After WWII, Willy played many different venues from big band to be-bop, working at times with Ray Charles and the legendary jazz saxophonist, Dexter Gordon. Willy also played piano and guitar, and taught John and his two older sisters to play. The Cain family relocated to San Diego, California around the time the “hootenanny” revival of folk music was becoming popular. Willy bought his three “Cain Kids” Spanish-style acoustic guitars in Tijuana and they were soon performing as a folk trio at local school and church functions. John got his first real “gig” when he was 14. He and a buddy learned every Clancy Brothers song on the album, wore traditional Irish cable knit sweaters, and performed at an Irish Pub after school. A major influence of this time was his mother’s love of classical music, Broadway show tunes, and pets, that led to his wide range of musical interests and later inspired the production of a childrens’ CD, “Silly Songs and Lullabies,” as a tribute to an idyllic childhood. As a Young Adult John went on to learn to play many other instruments including tuba, trombone, horns, drums, bass fiddle and accordion in the high school orchestra, eventually becoming the student conductor. Encouraged by his band teacher, he began learning orchestration and wrote many arrangements for the choir and jazz band. He was voted “Most Talented” in his senior yearbook. John’s music teacher “moonlighted” in an orchestra at Murrieta Hot Springs Resort. When John was 15 he was invited to join the band. Known as “The Catskills of the West,” Murietta brought in the same comedians, magicians, dancers and singers from The Dunes Casino in Las Vegas. Here John played the bass and became proficient in sight-reading charts (arrangements), learned some Yiddish from the comics, and a lot about show biz! In college, John studied arranging under Howard Brubeck, the brother of famous jazz pianist Dave Brubeck of “Take 5” fame. He also studied Spanish, worked in a music store demonstrating pianos and guitars, and gave private music lessons. About this time he became enamored with music from south of the border, including Mariachi, bossa nova, and Latin jazz. A Little Name Dropping After college, John formed the group “Rainbow Road” with his then-wife, singer Cyndi Rhodes. (Cyndi’s father was John’s mentor, Richard Rhodes, a master arranger who worked with Rosemary Clooney, Jimmy Dorsey and the Tony Pastor band). Managed by Freddy Goodman, brother of big band clarinetist Benny Goodman, they became the house band at La Costa Resort & Spa for five years, which was frequented by many celebrities. John met the likes of Tony Bennett, John Belushi, Mel Brooks, Daniel Fania (Fania All Stars) and Gene Roddenberry (creator of “Star Trek.”). It was here John made the switch from bass to piano. On several occasions, composer Hoagie Carmichael stayed after the gig and gave John piano lessons on how to play “Skylark” and “Stardust.” Lessons From The Road John’s musical career spans many genres, from acid rock with “Strawberry Alarm Clock” in the 60’s, to country music with “The Hollywood Cowboys” and “Timberline” in the 70’s, to touring with “International Reggae” in the 80’s, to forming his own Latin music group, “Trio San Diego,” in the 90’s. Add to this mix stints in Las Vegas at every major casino, and finding himself in the orchestra pit in the Old Globe Theatre playing the bass in “Godspell” and other shows. He has been guest musician on other CDs, including “Comanche Moon,” Ron Bolton, Johnny Zorro, Cezar Valenzuela, and Tony Lasley. John’s world travels as a musicologist with band member Mike Flanders, and more recent collaborations with composer/singer Juan Morones and master guitarist/painter Julio de la Huerta have inspired the three CD set, “Todo Latino,” “Mas Latino,” and the soon to be released “Mundo Latino.” At Home John operates his own music publishing business, All World Music, and produces and arranges for other artists. Currently, John appears at the U.S. Grant Hotel, the Sheraton Hotel La Jolla and the Bahia Resort Hotel (see links and "more info" section). He gives music presentations at schools and is a motivational speaker. Having raised two adopted daughters and now divorced, he lives in San Diego with his cats, Baxter and Buster.