Born Jonathan Whittington in London, Jont was always destined for a life less ordinary. He began writing verse at 14 and while still a teen, travelled the US to interview the giants of American poetry, concluding his trip dining with Allen Ginsberg in his New York apartment where he was taught that the purpose of art was “to relieve human suffering.”
After a stint as a professional cricketer, he embraced music, releasing his first album, Life is Fine, in 1998. His passion for songwriting and performing saw him attract Tom Petty’s manager and move to Los Angeles. Making records there and upon his return to London, Jont, “a true innovator,” created a music event (half house party, half gig) and took advantage of the rise of YouTube to take millions on a trip into people’s living rooms across America and the UK with his groundbreaking Unlit tours, setting the stage for the rise of Sofar Sounds the following decade.
Jont’s career quickly took him from London to New York and Los Angeles. He released six albums and EPs that earned four-star reviews in Q and Uncut, with songs appearing on the popular US television series Grey’s Anatomy, Parenthood, Without a Trace and the 2005 movie, Wedding Crashers.
Inspired by a trip to Sicily to sing his song “Supernatural” at a fan’s wedding, Jont decided life was too short to struggle to be noticed among London’s million bands, setting out instead as a real-life troubadour, letting his songs “organically lead him ‘round the world.”
His idealism and bravery paid off. The journey led to a new-found peace (through meditation) and the most profound discovery of his life – his daughter. An extraordinary tale, Jont became aware in 2012 that he was the father of an 8 year old girl living in Nova Scotia, Canada. He moved there straight away.
The last decade has found Jont living in the monastic hinterland of Nova Scotia learning the art of surrender and fatherhood. Time in reflection and meditation continues to inspire an abundance of new songs, videos, collaborative musical experiences and the writing of a memoir. He has produced eight albums since coming to Canada which display the true depth of his art – Hello Halifax (2012), An Old Innocence (2017), the solo acoustic Gentle Warrior (2018), the bristling, unclassifiable, absurdly joyful Thank You for the Medicine (2020) and an album of original medicine songs, Old Traveller (2024).
2025 sees the release of new music that Jont has been working on for four years, as a solo artist and with his band, The Fish. Ambitious and sublime, unexpected, breathtaking in the vulnerability of the material, innovative yet classic and familiar sounding – this is the work of an experienced artist working at the height of their powers. It’s music that makes people’s lives better. One feels mentor Ginsberg would be looking on favourably.
