History...

(When it comes to an artist as diverse in style and taste as Jonathan Sarty it can be a problem for audiences and fans to know just what Jonathan is up to. So here is a brief history which will get you up to speed and help clear up any confusion when you ask yourself “just who is this guy and what is he all about?”)

Jonathan was raised on Elvis Presley and educated by Bob Dylan. He began writing his own music as soon as he picked up a guitar at the age of 15. Even as a young adult Jonathan knew he wanted to write songs and entertain and he has been doing so for over twenty years. “I realized pretty quickly if I wanted to have something to write about I was going to have to get out there and live life to the fullest.” JS.

In his early development Jonathan played almost exclusively his own original “Americana” music. After traveling the continent from Canada to S. America Jonathan settled in LA, CA. in 1996 where he formed the original folk rock group “Dwell”. Dwell played several venues throughout Hollywood in the late 90’s. In 1999 Jonathan was signed to an Indy label Cedar Glen Music Group out of California and Nashville and recorded his first professional CD “American Destiny” in Nashville at the historic RCA Studio B with a handful of Nashville’s session players and under the auspices of Chrome Records engineer Fred Bogert. During these Nashville Sessions Jonathan rubbed elbows with renowned fiddler Vasser Clements and guitar virtuoso Johnny Highland who worked with engineer Bogert in a project then called “The Little Big Band”.

With Dwell’s drummer Pinkerton Jonathan then returned to New England and joining forces with guitarist and friend Josh Ramsey and 5Day40 Bassist Mark Juhas, Jonathan formed the all original rock band known as “The Jonathan Sarty Band” The RCA “American Destiny” recordings have never been released and due to Jonathan’s commitment to his new group the label dropped Sarty in 2000 and shelved the project. The contract was terminated and Jonathan maintained a solid friendship with label CEO Steve Roberts.

Again without representation Jonathan took on the task of self managing. He had stood by his band of brothers and continued to play original rock throughout the White Mountains and Lakes Region for the following years until 2002 when difficulties keeping a stable fourth member in the project prompted Jonathan to reevaluate and, with sound advice from Roberts, Jonathan decided the group should turn the corner and switch gears. Drummer Pink would pick up a stand up bass, while guitarist Joshua would pick up a mandolin. The group began to play their countrified renditions of classic American roots music. It wasn't long before a good friend and owner of the Folk and Blues Club the Big Kahuna pinned the name “White Mountain Boys” on the group, and the Boys blend of roots country and boogie woogie caught on. Sarty was pleased as the gigs began to mount up for his new working band, but in the back of his mind he and his group wondered when he would get back to his own original Americana folk/rock style.
In 2006 Jonathan hammered out an albums worth of original country songs with the White Mountain Boys featuring the band’s then harmonica player Bear and additional guitar-work by Jim Hardin. The group had recorded multiple CD’s of country covers but this was Jonathan’s first formal original recording since the unreleased RCA 1999 tracks.

In the fall of 2009 tensions had mounted and Sarty felt that things weren’t happening fast enough. Though the Boys were hosting much larger events and had been invited to perform several showcases in Nashville, Sarty felt the group had begun to stagnate. He determined that drastic measures were critical if the band really wanted to rise to another level. Sarty’s “nose to the grindstone” mentality was too much. The pressure was too great for the three longtime friends and the band broke up after their decade long legacy. It was then up to Sarty whether to drop the name which had brought him a fair amount of success or find some new players and keep the group alive. It was at this point he teamed up with veteran players Al Hospers and Chuck O’Connor and with blessings from the original group, continued performing as the White Mountain Boys. The music was great but in essence the dream the three young men had shared was over and it was strictly business from then on out. In the next two years Sarty mellowed considerably and began to play a more sophisticated blend of his roots repertoire and classic American ballads and love songs. All the while Sarty had been writing his own music and contemplating his musical identity. His White Mountain Boys had evolved for over a decade and through approximately 15 different forms. In the end the group sadly fell apart and though Sarty continues to carry the White Mountain Boys torch things could never be the same. He had played gigs from Nashville to Greenville and now in his mid thirties and having delved into American Roots for over a decade Sarty was beginning to feel the call of his own songs wanting to be heard…

Currently...

In the fall of 2010 Sarty set to work on his first original rock CD in over a decade. Forming his own label and publishing company “White Mountain Music Group” and working with Harrison Maine’s top of the line Baked Beans Recording, Sarty put on his producer’s hat to create his newest epic rock Americana CD entitled “This Road”

To produce this CD Sarty employed the very best players New England has to offer and in the process formed some lasting friendships.

“This Road” features...

Guitarist... Duke Levine
Pianist... Joe Barbato
Violinist... Joyce Andersen
Bassist... Don Walden
Drummer... Dave Mattacks

"This Road "  is currently available on iTunes

To release the new CD Jonathan formed the new Jonathan Sarty Band with drummer Mattacks, bassist Walden, pianist Barbato, and guitarist Ray Ryan and is currently performing his original Americana throughout New England. His new band has performed on some of the Tri State Areas most well known stages such as the Stone Mountain Arts Center, the Leura Eastman Performing Arts Center, and Jonathan’s in Ogunquit.

Though Jonathan may be found playing some of the old White Mountain Music he loves in pubs and clubs throughout the countryside, or even with some configuration of the White Mountain Boys his heart and focus is dedicated to his own music and to hear that you should look to find the new Jonathan Sarty Band at their next major show.

And that is the whole story… most of it anyway.