Jack
Ponti already played guitar at the age of six. He studied classical music
in Berlin at the 'Hochschule Für Musik'. In 1980 He started a band
with JON BON JOVI called 'THE REST' it was here that the classic BON JOVI
sound was created. Jack and Jon went their separate ways, Jon to form Bon
Jovi and Jack to form a new band 'SURGIN' and released one LP for EMI.
Surgin didn't turn out the way Jack wanted and he decided to split the
band shortly after the release of the bands debut to concentrate on song
writing and producing. Something that has kept Jack busy ever since.
He
had been writing songs for his friends in Bon Jovi as well as for ALICE
COOPER, GLEN BURTNICK, NELSON, DORO, JOHN FARNHAM, STAN Harry Chapin, BONFIRE...
just to name a few.
At
one time Jack Ponti received a demo tape by a young singer named Kelly
Keeling and his band 'MERIDIAN". Jack was so impressed that
he decided to get involved with Kelly and his band, and not long after
the band renamed BATON ROUGE and signed to Atlantic.
After
two albums for Atlantic the band decided to go their separate ways.
Kelly joined up with JOHN SYKES BLUE MURDER for a while and did also did
two albums with former EUROPE guitar player JOHN NORUM. He has also been
involved with Carmine Appice GUITAR ZEUS project...
In
early 1997 MTM Music and Jack Ponti started to talk and both sides got
real excited about the possibility of a third BATON ROUGE album. Jack got
in touch with Kelly who got all fired up over the possibility of hooking
up with Jack and creating another magic piece of the finest quality
melodic hardrock.
The
self titled 1997 album is a Melodic Rock Hammer. It was recorded with lots
of enthusiasm and features a set of the best songs ever from Jack Ponti.
