John Grappone is a talented voice-over professional, host, interviewer, narrator and MC. He got his first break at WKAJ in Saratoga Springs, New York and honed his craft at major market radio stations in San Francisco, New York and Philadelphia.

On camera he's hosted the "Private Concert Series" on UPN and anchored the Westwood One Entertainment Nationwide Broadcast of Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers Live at The Fillmore in San Francisco.

His repertoire also includes a wide range of voice over work for clients including Fetzer Vineyards, Supercuts and Music Net.

Check out John's resume and Q & A for details. Call or e-mail for more information, availability and rates. We look forward to working with you!

 

What is it that you like most about radio?
Radio is a very personal medium for listeners. It impacts them. They connect with their station of choice and make it an important part of their day. I enjoy the spontaneity the medium offers so your audience is always surprised. I remember listening to AM/FM radio while growing up and the thrill I got from hearing new songs for the first time.

Who are your favorite artists?
There isn't anything I don’t like. I have always been very open-minded about music, having grown up in New York City, with one of the leading progressive stations in the country at the time. It all started with the Beatles and took off from there.

But to answer the question, I still hold a lot of the British invasion bands dear to my heart, like the Beatles, the Kinks, the Stones and the Who (long live John Entwhistle). But let’s not forget Bob Marley, John Lee Hooker, Santana, China Crisis, David Bowie, The Jam, The Clash, Blur, all that Motown stuff ... I could go on forever.

Any favorite interviews come to mind?
I've been very lucky in getting the opportunity to speak with some of the greats in the entertainment world. But, I would have to say the late John Lee Hooker. The Boogie Man! I'll always remember his warmth and down to earth attitude. He will be missed. I like interviewing artists with a very casual, non-journalistic approach. I try and avoid the traditional who-what-when-where and why style. I try and make my guests feel as relaxed as possible.

The key to a good interview is to listen to your guest. I’ve always felt with that approach you can be flexible yet focused…you just roll with it. My goal is to get people to open up on the air, and get an answer to the questions that listeners would ask if they were in the studio.

I remember Melissa Etheridge telling me after her interview that she felt very comfortable. Quite honestly, I chatted with a homeless man for an hour one day and realized how fortunate I have been. I don't take anything for granted.

You're involved in public service, right?
I'll help out in any way I can, by participating, making a donation or acting as MC. I've been involved in several events with Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the American Cancer Society.

What can clients expect from you?
I can do a number of things from voice-overs for commercials to narration, music/interview host and MC work. My style is unique, casual, effective and professional with lots of humor and fun thrown in!

Past Interviewees:

Art Alexakis (Everclear)
Tori Amos
Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull)
Jon Anderson (Yes)
Fiona Apple
The B-52's
The Band (Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko)
Jeff Beck
The Bee Gees
Big Head Todd and the Monsters
Linda Blair
Michael Bolton
Bon Jovi
Gary U.S. Bonds
Boneshakers
David Bowie
David Brenner
Lonnie Brooks
Charles Brown
Jackson Browne
Candace Bushnell (Sex and the City)
Larry Carlton
Carrot Top
Tommy Castro
Dominick Chianese (The Sopranos)
Clarence Clemons
Shawn Colvin
Cowboy Junkies
Bryan Cranston (Malcolm in the Middle)
Robert Cray
Deep Purple (Glen Hughes, Ian Pace)
Del Amitri
Pat Dinizio (The Smithereens)
The Doors (Robbie Krieger, Ray Manzarek)
Dr. Demento
Dr. Elmo
Dr. John
Adam Duritz (Counting Crows)
Jakob Dylan
Tinsley Ellis
Elvira
Melissa Etheridge
Neil Finn (Crowded House)
Fleetwood Mac (Peter Green, Mick Fleetwood, Lindsey Buckingham)
John Fogerty
Robben Ford
Michael Franti (Spearhead)
Gallagher
Paul Michael Glaser
Tom Green
Buddy Guy
Hall and Oates
Ben Harper
Colin Hay (Men at Work)
Jeff Healey
Heart (Ann and Nancy Wilson)
John Hiatt
Hiroshima
Steve Holly (Wings)
John Lee Hooker
Bruce Hornsby
Deep Purple (Glen Hughes, Ian Paice)
Genesis (Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford)
Peter Himmelman
Billy Idol
Indigo Girls
INXS
Iron Maiden
Chris Isaak
Joan Jett
Billy Joel
Tom Johnston (Doobie Brothers)
Howard Jones
Journey
B.B. King
The Kinks (Ray Davies, Dave Davies)
Jack Klugman
David Knopfler (Dire Straits)
Jonny Lang
Kelly Leonard (Producer, Second City)
Phil Lesh
Richard Lewis
Nils Lofgren
Howie Mandel
Dave Matthews
Roger McGuinn
Ed McMahon
Meat Loaf
Keb Mo'
Eddie Money
Moody Blues (Justin Hayward/John Lodge)
Ian Moore
Motley Crue
Sue Murphy
Charlie Musselwhite
Night Ranger
Deborah Norville
Ted Nugent
Fiachna O’Braondin (Hothouse Flowers)
John O'Hurley
Yoko Ono
Wally Palmar (Romantics)
John Phillips
Wilson Pickett
John Popper
Jason Priestly
Greg Proops
Bonnie Raitt
Chris Robinson (The Black Crows)
Brande Roderick (Playmate of the Year)
Nile Rodgers
Dennis Rodman
Roy Rogers
The Rolling Stones (Mick Taylor, Ron Wood)
Bruno Samartino
Carlos Santana
Joe Satriani
Rob Schnieder
Mike Scully (Exectuive Producer, The Simpsons)
Brian Setzer
Michelle Shocked
Slash
Bobby Slayton
Patti Smith
Patty Smyth
David Spade
Rick Springfield
Squeeze
Ken Stabler
Ringo Starr
Tesla
Judy Tenuta
Michael Timmins (Cowboy Junkies)
Dougie Thompson (Supertramp)
Ben Fong-Torres
The Toyes
Pat Travers
Joe Lynn Turner (Rainbow)
Tina Turner
Van Halen (w/ Sammy Hagar)
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Andreas Vollenweider
James Van Praagh
John Waite
Karl Wallinger (World Party)
Joe Louis Walker
Joe Walsh
Raquel Welch
Dawn Wells (Gilligan's Island)
Leslie West (Mountain)
Paul Westerberg (Replacements)
The Who (Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend)
Wilco
Kim Wilson (Fabulous Thunderbirds)
Lucinda Williams
Mary Wilson (Supremes)
Chris Whitley
Peter Wolf (The J. Geils Band)
Neil Young
Paul Young (Mike & The Mechanics)
Young Rascals (Felix Cavaliere, Gene Cornish)
Zebra (Randy Jackson, Felix Hanemann