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OJATA Nominated For A 2019 Independent Blues Award
On May 28th it was announced that Orphan Jon and The Abandoned have been nominated for Best Modern Roots CD for “Abandoned No More” for the 2019 Independent Blues Awards. We’re extremely honored to be nominated along with today’s top artists in the Blues industry; artists such as Buddy Guy, Walter Trout, Samantha Fish, Mike […]
2019 Spring Tour Big Fun! Big Success!
The Spring 2019 Tour saw OJATA perform for the first time in Las Vegas Nevada, Des Moines Iowa and Denver Colorado! And what a great time it was for the band as they revisited popular legendary clubs in Kansas City Missouri, Lincoln Nebraska, Springfield Illinois and St. Louis Missouri as well. Every show was a […]
“Abandoned No More” Makes The RMR Top 200 Blues Rock Albums of 2018
OJATA’s debut album Orphan Jon “Abandoned No More” featuring Bruce Krupnik on Rip Cat Records has landed at #84 on The Roots Music Report’s Top 200 Blues Rock Albums of 2018. This is a huge acknowledgement by the Blues industry of the album that was released on March 16, 2018. It’s also a recognition of […]
Rock and Blues Muse Has Nice Things To Say About “Abandoned No More”
By Dave Resto Abandoned No More is the killer debut album from American roots and blues band, Orphan Jon and the Abandoned, featuring Bruce Krupnik. Released on March 16, 2018 on Rip Cat Records, it was produced by Barry Levenson and features a small army of friends as guest artists. Based in Southern California and […]
“Abandoned No More” Gets High Marks From Highly Respected Music Critic
By ED KOCIELA Reviews and reviewers are usually fairly pretentious. Of course, new music can often be fairly pretentious regardless of the genre. That’s why reviewers and musicians eye each other warily. A reviewer is, for the most part, a frustrated musician. We want to be the ones in the studio, on the gig, or […]
OJATA Honored By Two Blues Blast Music Awards Nominations
Orphan Jon and The Abandoned are proud to announce they’ve been nominated in two Blues Blast Music Awards categories; New Artist Debut Album for “Abandoned No More” and the Sean Costello Rising Star for Orphan Jon. This is a tremendous honor to the band to be included as a nominee with such well established and […]
“Abandoned No More” Midwest Album Tour Is A Huge Success
Orphan Jon and The Abandoned headed out on their first Midwest Tour as headliners this past April. It was not only their first official tour as a headliner but also a tour to promote their recently released debut album Orphan Jon “Abandoned No More” featuring Bruce Krupnik that was released on Rip Cat Records on […]
CD Review from The Rocking Magpie
Dicey, Claustrophobic, Turbulent and Oh So Sexy So-Cal R&B. I have a love/hate relationship with e-mails that begin “you reviewed my friend/label mates album, so I think you will like mine.” Obviously I will be the sole judge of what music I like……..but, don’t tell anyone , I can never resist having a wee listen! […]
Title- Orphan Jon Story Part II: Abandoned No More by Peggy Stevinson Bair
Cont’d from Part One: The former orphan, Jon English, had acquired a beautiful family in his adulthood after growing up for years in the California social services system. It was enough of a success story that any man who had done the same, could have sat back and considered themselves a lucky human who need […]
Rocky Road to The Blues Roots: The Orphan Jon Story Part I by Peggy Stevinson Bair
Any musician who gets credited with being an overnight sensation knows that statement just makes for good headlines. In reality, the backstory for greatness is a road paved with more rocks than a prison quarry. Even with the rising, seemingly quick success of blues singer/songwriter Orphan Jon English, he still informs his ever-growing fan base […]
CD Review from Peter “Blewzzman” Lauro
Blues musicians are known for choosing catchy words to use as part of their name and more often than not, that’s all it is – a catchy word. That said, Jon English is not one of them. You see, having experienced abandonment as a child, the word “orphan” may very well have been tagged on […]
Debuting New Tee Styles for “Abandoned No More” Album Tour
You can purchase the tees at any and all OJATA shows!
“Orphan Jon, Abandoned No More” on Rip Cat Records is Available to Purchase!!
We’re excited to announce that our debut album Orphan Jon “Abandoned No More” featuring Bruce Krupnik is NOW available to purchase online at the following locations. Personalized signed copy by OJATA and the Producer Mr. Barry Levenson can be purchased at ripcatrecords.com. You can purchase a download of the album at iTunes. And you can […]
Orphan Jon Is Signed To Rip Cat Records
We’re excited and honored to announce, that after long discussions with interested record labels, Orphan Jon has decided to sign with one of the most highly respected and leading blues labels in Southern California, Rip Cat Records. This was a decision not taken lightly, and was given much thought and consideration concerning the future direction […]
Featured Artist On “Nothin” But The Blues” Radio Show KJAZZ 88.1 FM Los Angeles, Ca. on Sunday 10/28/2017
On Sunday Oct. 28th OJATA had the tremendous honor of being once again the featured Indie Artist of the Week on “Nothin’ But The Blues” hosted by Gary “The Wagman” Wagner. This time around the soon to be released album “Orphan Jon; Abandoned No More, featuring Bruce Krupnik” was given the airplay. Starting off from […]
OJATA Opens For Tommy Castro 1/27/2018
Orphan Jon & The Abandoned have been invited by the SLO Blues Society of San Luis Obispo, Ca. to open for international and national touring artist Alligator Records Tommy Castro and The Painkillers. This is a another opportunity given to the band to showcase their music before a large and enthusiastic blues fanbase.
OJATA At The 7th Annual Kern River Rock N Blues Fest 9-23-17
Orphan Jon and The Abandoned were invited to perform at the 7th Annual Kern River Rock N Blues Fest in beautiful picturesque Kernville, Ca. Saturday September 23rd. The weather was in the mid 70’s, but the music was scorching hot, as several well established bands of Southern and the Central San Joaquin Valley of California […]
OJATA Debut LP In The Making
The week of June 26th seen the band arrive at Pacifica Recording Studio’s in Los Angeles, Ca. to begin the long awaited process of recording their debut album “Abandoned No More”. With well respected recording artist and record producer Barry Levenson (Storyville, Canned Heat etc.) and engineer Glenn Nishida(Mavis Staples, Jackson Brown etc.) at the […]
OJATA Turns Heads While Opening For The 44’s on Their Midwest Tour 2017
OJATA opened for one of today’s top blues rock bands; The 44’s, on their Midwest Summer Tour. The 44’s have been touring both state side and across the pond for over 10 years now. And during this time, they have acquired a huge following of enthusiastic blues loving fans. They’re unique in both their style […]
OJATA On Midwest Tour: Opens For West Coast Blues Heavy The 44’s
Orphan Jon & the Abandoned have been invited by Johnny Main and JR Lozano of The 44’s to join them on their Midwest Summer Tour through Nebraska, Illinois, Missouri and Kansas as they perform at several top shelf Blues Clubs that many legendary Blues, Rock and Country artists have been performing at. This is a […]
OJATA Wins There Round At The Battle Of The Blues Bands in SoCal, Make the Finals
Orphan Jon & The Abandoned were invited by Five Star Talent in affiliation with Omega Events and in association with the Orange County Market Place to perform at the 2017 SoCal Battle of the Blues Bands “Six String Shootout” at the O.C. Market Place in Costa Mesa, Ca. The event is a 12 band competition, […]
Evelyn Hays; Respected Music Critic, Has This To Say About OJATA
A minuscule obscure amusement park in Anaheim boasts that they are the “Happiest Place on Earth,” which could possibly be true on every day and night with the exception of one night. Monday night in Tarzana, from the hours of 8:00 pm and 1:30 am boasts that honor. If you are lucky enough to live […]
OJATA Plays Legendary L.A. Club The Mint
Friday Feb. 24, 2017 OJATA played the legendary club The Mint in Los Angeles, Ca. The club has hosted many up and coming artists, as well as legendary performers over the years since it’s doors opened in 1937. Artists such as Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Jackson Brown, George Clinton, Ivan Neville, BB King, Willie Dixon, […]
OJATA Performs at L.A.’s Legendary Club, The Mint on Friday 2/24/17
It was a great night for OJATA as they performed at The Mint in Los Angeles, Ca. before a packed house of Roots & Blues fans. The show was professionally shot by Mathias Fau as well as being recorded for future release by Liberated Media. Here’s the many moments captured by Mr. Fau.
OJATA Bringing’ Their Roots & Blues to Long Beach at Shenanigans 2/26/17
Sunday Feb 26th Orphan Jon & The Abandoned put on a show at Shenanigans Irish Pub & Grille in Long Beach, Ca. Full house of enthusiastic fans greeted them and enjoyed the evening of “Roots & Blues Like No Other” The evening was captured by our good friend and outstanding blues authoritarian Greg “Rev. G” […]
OJATA Lands Highly Respected Record Producer To Produce Debut LP
At most times Friday the 13th would be considered a day to cautiously proceed through; avoiding any pitfalls or obstacles that could bring a negative outcome to the day. For OJATA there was no such omens to deal with, but the complete opposite took place when they could acquire the services of highly respected producer […]
OJATA Debuting in Oregon in June 2016
We’re excited to be performing at two of Oregon’s finest and highly sought after venues to enjoy live Blues and Roots music in the upper northwest. We’ll be at Duff’s Garage on Thursday June 16th at 9pm and The Birk Saturday June 18th at 7pm. Many top touring blues artists have graced their stages and […]
OJATA at The Pour House in Paso Robles, Ca. 5/20/2016
We had the honor of performing at The Pour House in Paso Robles, Ca. on Friday May 20th. This is one happening place to be at if you want to enjoy a vast selection of micro-brews along with live entertainment. Shawn and his staff are top shelf and very accommodating to your tasteful needs. They […]
OJATA Opens For Texas Blues Guitarist Zack Bramhall at Maui Sugar Mill Saloon in Tarzana, Ca. 4/18/16
Orphan Jon & The Abandoned had the honor of opening for Blues guitarist and singer Zack Bramhall; with Special Guest harmonica virtuoso Rj Mischo, at the invitation of Cadillac Zack before another packed house at his Cadillac Zack Presents show at The Maui Sugar Mill Saloon in Tarzana, Ca. on Monday April 18 th. Photo’s […]
OJATA Opens For Texas Blues Guitarist Zack Bramhall in Long Beach, Ca. 4/17/16
Orphan Jon & The Abandoned had the honor of opening for Blues guitarist and singer Zack Bramhall; with Special Guest harmonica virtuoso Rj Mischo, at the invitation of Cadillac Zack before a packed house at his Cadillac Zack Presents show at Malarkey’s Grill and One Hell of an Irish Bar in Long Beach, Ca. on […]
Featured Artist On “Nothin” But The Blues” Radio Show KJAZZ 88.1 FM Los Angeles, Ca. on Sunday 2/28/2016
On Sunday Feb. 28th OJATA had the tremendous honor of being the featured Indie Artist of the Week on “Nothin’ But The Blues” hosted by Gary “The Wagman” Wagner. The KJAZZ 88.1 FM program is highly respected by many in the SoCal Blues industry as the leader in both Jazz and Blues genres and for […]
KJAZZ 88.1 Donation Drive Indie Blues Shuffle Vol 4
Please support those that support us Indie Artists. The Wagman is a treasure and a huge supporter of OJATA. We seriously couldn’t ask for a better friend in the biz. To listen to The Wagman go to KJAZZ 88.1 FM on your Southern California radio dial orhttp://www.jazzandblues.org/ to listen online. And while you’re online would […]
One Of The Most Respected SoCal Blues Artists Gives His Thoughts On OJATA and Over The Pain
“One of the things about living in LA, is you have the fortune (or misfortune) of doing a lot of driving. This gives me a lot of time to listen to music. A CD that I can’t stop listening to lately is Orphan Jon and the Abandoned, Over the Pain. This is no cookie-cutter blues […]
American Blues Scene Magazine Review of Over The Pain
“From the very roots comes a stomp blues album filled with power, emotion, and guitar work like sandpaper to the heart. From Orphan Jon and the Abandoned comes the debut EP “Over The Pain”, five tracks of blues from the heart. With Stan Whiting providing outstanding drum work, and Wil Anderson on bass, Bruce Krupnik […]
New EP “Over The Pain” Review From Europe
Oct. 7, 2015 6:42am EST “A day just like every other day, after my morning coffee, I go out to get the mail; bills, coupons AND of course the album(s) of the day. Now I have to be honest with you, I’ve heard some great one’s this year (2015). So far it’s been a great […]
2015 Kern River Rock N’ Blues Festival Friday Night at The Sportsman Photo’s by Billy Folsom of Dumb Biker Visions Photography
On Friday night Sept. 25, 2015 Orphan Jon & The Abandoned had the pleasure of entertaining the crowd at the Sportsman Bar in Kernville, Ca. as part of the festivities of the weekend. At the annual festival, the bands are booked to play a 4 hour show in an up close and personal setting where […]
Pacifica Recording Studios in Las Angeles, Ca. 7-13/14-15
On Monday and Tuesday July 13th and 14th of 2015 we had the pleasure of going into one of the legendary recording studios of the SoCal Blues scene; The Pacifica Recording Studio in Culver City, Ca. Our goal? Was to produce a 5 track ep of all originals; originals covering our various styles of American […]
