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bio

Jonathan Cour is a 21-year old young singer/songwriter based in St. Louis, Missouri.  The son of a music teacher, Jonathan’s first musical endeavors were in high school as a drummer for various local bands.  In college, Jonathan stepped out from behind the drums, picked up a guitar, and started writing his own songs.  Based on the buzz created by his early demos, Jonathan soon found himself traveling across the country to Los Angeles, Nashville, and Tulsa to write and record with some of the music industry’s hottest producers and most decorated songwriters, including Desmond Child (“Livin’ on a Prayer,” “Dude Looks Like a Lady,” “Kiss the Rain”), Annie Roboff (“This Kiss”), and Zac Maloy of The Nixons (“Sister”).

Jonathan’s debut EP, A Motion Picture Scene, is the impressive first result of his travels and efforts, as well as a testament to Jonathan’s natural strengths as a songwriter, singer, musician, and producer.  In addition to writing or co-writing five of the six songs on the EP, Jonathan sings all the lead and background vocals himself and plays almost all of the multi-layered guitars and other instrumentation.  Whether on the ethereal, yet explosive “Never Come Around,” the heavy groove layered “Softer,” or the driving title track, Jonathan demonstrates throughout A Motion Picture Scene an ability to play just the right part, with just the right tone, to capture and complement the diverse moods and rhythms of each of his different songs.    

Jonathan’s talents extend beyond the recording studio.  Backed by a who’s who of St. Louis’ best independent musicians, Jonathan’s live performances are quickly becoming the talk of the town.  Each member of Jonathan’s band – Grant Essig of Sevenstar (guitar, keyboards, vocals), Matt Hickenbotham of Colony (drums, vocals), Mike Steimel of Just Add Water (bass, vocals), and Dave Alans of Lord Baltimore (lead guitar, vocals) – was handpicked to help Jonathan match live the lush and full production he created for A Motion Picture Scene.  Assisted by their talents and experience, Jonathan not only meets this daunting challenge, but takes it up a notch – offering each night an exciting and emotional interpretation of his songs without taking away from the melodies and structure that make them so accessible to the general public. 

Jonathan is managed by Richard LaBonté for LaBonté Music Management.

Contact: 314.239.9433 or Richard@labontemusic.net for more information.

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the band
grant essig / guitar, keyboards, vocals
former lead singer of seven star and door-to-door ham salesman on the weekends. grant has shared the stage with a number of great names such as jason mraz, gavin degraw and chicago, and would never in a million years be remembered by any of them. outside of rock music, grant spends his time composing soundtracks for indie films, mowing strangers' lawns and drinking alcoholic energy drinks. "dave says it's all about the 6%!"
matt hickenbotham / drums, vocals
I like to bang the drums…played in a band called Colony that was signed to MCA Records, then an indie label.  Got to trapse around the country and beyond playing little dives and cool clubs.  Had some songs featured on Dawson’s creek but I’m still sore that I never got to meet him... He’s pretty hot.  I snore like a train, I lose my keys everywhere I go, I’m a state champion racquetball player, I practice martial arts, twice I’ve pulled away from a gas station with the pump still hanging from my tank (thank God those hoses are break-away), I got straight A’s in college, last week I walked into a metal railing and bruised my ribs, I sequence DNA by day...
mike steimel / bass, vocals
Former professional shipwreck diver in Florida and Mexico, turned guitar and bass player. Spent 5 years playing with Just Add Water, with highlights including opening for the Goo Goo Dolls and the Donnas on VH1 in Las Vegas, often headlining Mississippi Nights, the first band to play Riversplash, and a True Music Sponsorship from Budweiser. Loves kittens and free beer!
dave alans / lead guitar, vocals
First came the Dinosaurs..........then they all died out because of a comet or something......and a little evolution and a few million years later a small baby boy was born. The Parents had no idea what they were in for, and as I grew and they grasped less and less how to deal with me, I convinced myself that I had been adopted--the fact that we all resembled each other had to be just a strange cooincidence. ..........one day I found a guitar, shut the door to my room, and taught myself to play. When I came out, I had almost flunked out of school, so I did what anyone would do..........I booked a gig. Bands and people I've played with: Social Blunder, Early Grayce, Dave AlanS Band, Tripstar, Maxtone 4, Shine or Lost Parade (whichever), Lord Baltimore, and most recently "Jonathan Cour". I write songs, I play songs, I sing songs, songs, songs, songs.............
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press photos

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