John Popper

John Popper (born March 29, 1967) is an American musician and songwriter, known as the co-founder, lead vocalist, and frontman of the rock band Blues Traveler.

Early life

Popper was born on March 29, 1967, in Cleveland, Ohio.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> His father was a Hungarian immigrant who left Budapest in 1948.<ref>Blues Traveler brings part of U.S. to Pacific forces Cindy York. Air Force Print News. January 19, 1999</ref> Popper has stated that he is a distant relative of David Popper, a 19th-century Bohemian cellist.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>John Popper interview Template:Webarchive Toni Brown.</ref>

Popper was raised in Stamford, Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey. He attended Davenport Ridge School, Stamford Catholic High School (now Trinity Catholic High School), and Princeton High School, from which he graduated in 1986.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> He took lessons on the piano, the cello, and the guitar, but none of those instruments appealed to him, and he hated being forced to practice.<ref name="StamfordAdvocate">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} Template:Dead link</ref>

He originally wanted to become a comedian, finding he could use humor to make friends and avoid bullies,<ref name="AustinDaze">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> but when he and a friend performed a routine as the Blues Brothers, he found that he enjoyed musical performance. From there, he took up the harmonica. Popper played trumpet in the Princeton High School Studio Jazz Band and convinced the teacher to let him play harmonica instead, after an in-class solo on the song "She Blinded Me with Science."<ref name="HuffPo">Ragogna, Mike (March 1, 2011). "The Patagonia Music Collective Launches – Plus a Conversation With John Popper". Huffington Post. Accessed July 2013.</ref>

He formed several garage bands with friends in Princeton, New Jersey, one of which evolved into Blues Traveler in 1987. After graduating from high school, the group's members all moved to New York City, where Popper enrolled in the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, along with two of his bandmates as well as high school friend Chris Barron. Popper attended for three years but devoted himself to the band full-time once they signed a record contract, in 1990.<ref name="HuffPo" />

Career

Blues Traveler

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}

Popper is a founding member of Blues Traveler, serving as the band's frontman with lead vocals and harmonica. For some songs, he forgoes the harmonica in favor of guitar, most often a 12-string acoustic. In addition, Popper has played the tin whistle on some recordings.

A prolific songwriter, he has composed the majority of the lyrics and music of Blues Traveler's songs.

The band grew a following with its extensive touring, sometimes with over 300 dates a year, and gained a reputation in the jam band scene of the 1990s. Blues Traveler crossed over into mainstream pop/rock radio success with their 1994 album, four, which garnered the group extensive media exposure. The Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1996 was awarded to "Run-Around", a song that Popper composed. In 2021, Blues Traveler's album "Traveler's Blues" was nominated by the Recording Academy for "Best Traditional Blues Album" for the 2022 GRAMMY Awards.

Solo work

In 1990, Popper began to perform occasional solo concerts in addition to touring with Blues Traveler. Several songs that originated as Popper's solo pieces have become part of Blues Traveler's repertoire, and vice versa.

Bolstered by Blues Traveler's mainstream success, Popper released a solo album, Zygote, in 1999, and toured in support of it with his own John Popper Band. The album was produced by Terry Manning, and the backing band consisted of longtime friends<ref name="HuffPo" /> Dave Ares, Crugie Riccio, and Rob Clores of Cycomotogoat, with drummer Carter Beauford of Dave Matthews Band. The album's release came less than three months after Popper's heart surgery, and only days after the death of Bobby Sheehan, Popper's bandmate and best friend. The subsequent tour was canceled midway due to poor ticket sales, and Popper instead took the time to focus on his health.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2017 and 2018, Popper began to play solo acoustic performances across the United States. He is often accompanied by Blues Traveler keyboardist Ben Wilson and performs songs that span both Blues Traveler and his solo catalog.Template:Citation needed

Side projects

In 1992, Popper conceived the HORDE Festival as a venue to gain exposure for up-and-coming independent musicians. It ran until 1998.

Popper was a part of a one-time studio band brought together in 1997 by New York drummer/songwriter Solomon Deniro. Other players included Trey Gunn, Bernie Worrell, Marc Ribot, and Vernon Reid. The group's only recordings were released as the album Gimme Gimme, under the name the Devotees.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The same recording was re-released by Deniro in 2001, under the title Solomon.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Popper took over in 1998 as frontman of jam-band supergroup Frogwings, which then released the live album Croakin' at Toad's.

Popper later formed a rock/jazz/hip hop fusion group called the John Popper Project with DJ Logic, which released an album in 2006 and performs occasionally. He also performs on the 2008 album Jason Miles: Global Noize: A Prayer for the Planet.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Popper's latest side project is John Popper & the Duskray Troubadours, which plays Americana roots music.<ref name="HuffPo"/> The group's self-titled debut from 429 Records was released in March 2011 and was produced by band member Jono Manson, who co-wrote much of the material.Template:Citation needed The first single, "Something Sweet", written by Manson and Bruce Donnola, was released February 7, 2011, on iTunes. Mason and Popper conceived the project after Popper says he was "running out of ideas" for Blues Traveler before they took a short break.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Acting and media appearances

Popper has provided narration for art projects produced by his friends, including Das Clown, an award-winning short film in slideshow style that was screened at the Sundance Film Festival.<ref>John Popper, Others, All Over Sundance Template:Webarchive Craig Rosen. Yahoo! Music.</ref>

In 2016, Popper, along with the rest of Blues Traveler, made a cameo appearance in The Meddler.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2018, Popper appeared in the "Fully Vested" episode of Pawn Stars.<ref>"Pawn Stars: John Popper's Harmonica Vest (Season 15, Episode 20)." YouTube. Retrieved on June 30, 2022.</ref>

Personal life

On November 23, 2015, Popper and his then-wife Jordan Auleb had their first child, a daughter;<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> the couple divorced in 2018.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 1999, he suffered a near-fatal heart attack brought on by years of compulsive overeating (he had been diagnosed with diabetes a few years earlier). Doctors at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> performed an emergency angioplasty, which saved Popper's life; he had 95% arterial blockage.<ref>Skanse, Richard. "Popper's Inferno", Rolling Stone, September 7, 1999.</ref> Popper later underwent gastric bypass surgery and lost a significant amount of weight.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Popper has a tattoo across his chest that says "I WANT TO BE BRAVE", written backwards.<ref name="AustinDaze" /><ref name="Schatz" /><ref name="Stern">The Howard Stern Show. September 19, 2005. [1] Template:Webarchive</ref>

In August 2016, he announced a pending surgical procedure to repair collapsed vertebrae in his neck, necessitating the postponement and cancellation of some Blues Traveler shows.<ref name="neck">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Weapons collecting

Popper is an avid collector of weaponry, including firearms, swords, and a working $10,000 American Civil War cannon.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He cites a fascination with their aesthetic of being "life-savingly efficient" machines.<ref name="Advocates" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Popper is an advocate of Second Amendment rights and once appeared on an MTV-sponsored roundtable discussion on gun control, which included panelists from the Law Enforcement Alliance of America and Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He carries weapons in any state where it is allowed, even when onstage.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On his 2003 Daily Show appearance, he stated that he decided to move away from New Jersey because of the state's restrictive gun laws.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Politics

Popper endorsed George W. Bush in the 2004 U.S. presidential election.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In November 2008, Popper said, regarding Barack Obama, "this is the first time I've voted for a Democrat, ever."<ref>The Adam Carolla Show, November 12, 2008</ref> Popper was a supporter of Ron Paul during the 2012 U.S. presidential election and participated in phone-banking at Paul's New Hampshire campaign headquarters.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Cbignore</ref> He also played a short set during Paul's "We are the Future Rally", an alternative convention for Paul supporters that was held in Tampa the day before the 2012 Republican National Convention.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Popper (with and without Blues Traveler) has played at conventions, fundraisers, and ceremonies for both Republican and Democratic politicians.<ref name="7-10-2000 news">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

He has said, "I was a bleeding-heart liberal, until I got a job,"<ref name="7-10-2000 news" /> and describes himself as "a libertarian who is a Republican when pushed".<ref name="Advocates">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The singer summed up his political position by saying, "I believe in freedom for markets and freedom for individuals, so I guess that makes me a libertarian."<ref name="Advocates" />

Popper did not vote for either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump in 2016.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

He has toured with the USO, both with Blues Traveler and solo.<ref name="Schatz">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Religion

Popper was raised Catholic, and for a time attended Stamford Catholic High School in Connecticut. However, he does not actively practice in his adult life. He has described himself as a "recovering Catholic". He wrote the song "Trina Magna" as an exploration of his religious views.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Legal trouble

In 2003, Popper was arrested for possession of marijuana.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He was arrested again on March 6, 2007, near Ritzville, Washington, by the Washington State Patrol.<ref>Associated Press. "Singer Busted with Arsenal of Weapons in Car" Template:Webarchive, March 8, 2007.</ref> He was the passenger in his own vehicle, which was stopped for speeding, and was found to be in the possession of a small amount of marijuana and weapons. Popper was released the same night. The vehicle had a stash of hidden compartments, which contained four rifles, nine handguns, a switchblade knife, a Taser, a set of brass knuckles, and night vision goggles. The vehicle was temporarily seized.<ref>Geranios, Nicholas K. "Manager says Blues Traveler's Popper legally had weapons"Template:Dead link, Associated Press. March 9, 2007.</ref><ref>"Blues Traveler rocker arrested on gun, drug charges", The Times of Trenton, March 9, 2007.</ref>

No charges were filed for the firearms and Taser, as they were all registered and securely locked away, and Popper was licensed to carry them. He agreed to surrender the brass knuckles and switchblade knife. A deal was reached that allowed the marijuana charge to be dropped if Popper remained free of further drug infractions for one year and attended eight hours of drug counseling.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Popper and the driver had been driving back to Washington from Austin, Texas, and Popper likes to visit gun ranges during long trips.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Online controversy

Popper is also known as an avid Twitter user and has caused some controversy on the platform.<ref name="controversy">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He also has publicly posted the home address and information of a particular Twitter user<ref name="twitteruser">Template:Cite news</ref> who often made jokes at his expense.<ref name="tweet1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Popper also drew attention for arguing with a bot<ref name="bot">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> named "assbott", which had become well-known during the 2016 presidential campaign of Donald Trump;<ref name="assbott">Template:Cite news</ref> it was the co-creator of this bot that Popper doxxed in July 2017.

Autobiography

On March 29, 2016, Da Capo Press released Popper's autobiography, Suck and Blow: And Other Stories I'm Not Supposed to Tell, written by Popper with the help of Relix co-editor-in-chief Dean Budnick. In the book, among band exploits and a variety of topics, Popper discusses the group's rebound from the death of bassist Bobby Sheehan, the creation of the H.O.R.D.E. tour, his relationship with Bill Graham, and his personal battle with being overweight.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Equipment

File:New Orleans Jazz Fest 2010 John Popper Blues Traveler.jpg

Popper's trademark hat and custom modified harmonica microphone

Popper has expressed a preference for the Hohner Special 20 diatonic harmonica, calling it "the Porsche of harmonicas."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

He has developed some equipment innovations to accommodate his use of harmonicas during performances. Because each individual diatonic harmonica is tuned to one particular key, he fashioned belts with enough pockets to hold harmonicas in all twelve keys (plus extras) and wore them as a bandolier, or slung over his neck. He switches keys multiple times within one song, and this arrangement has allowed him to quickly trade one harmonica for another without looking. In 2002, he stopped using the belts, as they no longer fit him properly due to his weight loss. One such belt later sold for $2,700 on the History Channel series Pawn Stars.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He now carries his harmonicas in a small black attaché case. He uses a special microphone with switches that change the audio effect of the harmonica as it is played through an amplifier, similar to a guitar effects pedal. Popper was inspired by Jimi Hendrix's guitar playing to make his instrument sound however he wanted.<ref name="HuffPo" />

Discography

Solo

• Zygote (1999)
• Go Outside and Drive (The Vestal Version) single (1999)

with Blues Traveler

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} with The Devotees

• Gimme Gimme (1997)

with Frogwings

• Croakin' at Toad's (2000)

with The John Popper Project

• The John Popper Project with DJ Logic (2006)

with The Duskray Troubadours

• John Popper & the Duskray Troubadours (2011)
• Something Sweet single (2011)

Featured music appearances

• Solo instrumental track "Harmonica Musings" from the soundtrack of Blues Brothers 2000 (1998)
• "The Preamble" from Schoolhouse Rocks the Vote! (1998)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• "Northbound Train" from the Broadway musical soundtrack of The Civil War: The Complete Work (1999)
• Duet with Eric Clapton on "Christmas Blues" from A Very Special Christmas Live (1999)
• "Regarding Steven" from the 2000 compilation VH1 Storytellers Live (2000)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Duet with B.B. King on "Back Door Santa" from A Very Special Christmas Vol. 5 (2001)
• Several tracks from Warren Haynes Presents: The Benefit Concert, Volume 2 (2007)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Several tracks from Warren Haynes Presents: The Benefit Concert, Volume 3 (2010)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Guest music appearances

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Year	Role	Song	Artist	Album	Notes
1989	Harmonica	"Just One of Those Things"	Gutterboy	Gutterboy
		"Growing Up Under the RR"			Extra track on 1992 re-release
1991	Harmonica	"More Than She Knows"	Spin Doctors	Pocket Full of Kryptonite	Album reached #3 on Billboard 200
	Backing vocals	"Two Princes"			Reached #1 on Mainstream Rock; #7 on the Billboard Hot 100
	Harmonica	"Off My Line"
1992	Harmonica	"You Can Leave Your Hat On"	Merl Saunders	Save the Planet so We'll Have Someplace to Boogie	Randy Newman cover
		"My Problems Got Problems"
	Harmonica	"You're So Fine"	Cycomotogoat	Cycomotogoat (EP)
1993	Harmonica	"I Lost My Mule in Texas"	Col. Bruce Hampton and the Aquarium Rescue Unit	Mirrors of Embarrassment
	Harmonica	"Built for Comfort"	Merl Saunders	It's in the Air
	Harmonica	"I Was Made to Love Her"	Paul Shaffer and the Party Boys of Rock 'n' Roll	The World's Most Dangerous Party	Stevie Wonder cover
		"Middle of the Road"			The Pretenders cover
	Harmonica and vocals (background and duet)	"Sip of Your Wine"	The Hatters	LIVE Thunderchicken	Studio recording
1994				Madcap Adventures of the Avocado Overlord
	Harmonica	"What Would You Say"	Dave Matthews Band	Under the Table and Dreaming	Reached #9 Top 40 Mainstream; #11 Modern Rock Tracks
	Harmonica	"Louisiana Blues"	Foghat	Return of the Boogie Men
	Harmonica	"Communication Breakdown"	Jeff Healey	Cover to Cover	Led Zeppelin cover
1995	Harmonica	"Mule"	Gov't Mule	Gov't Mule
	Harmonica	"Man of Peace" et al.	Jamie Notarthomas	Heads or Tails	Bob Dylan cover
1996	Harmonica and vocal duet	"Today I Started Loving You Again"	Dolly Parton	Treasures	Merle Haggard cover
	Harmonica	"Harmonica"	Cycomotogoat	Braille
1997	Harmonica	"Feather"	God Street Wine	God Street Wine
		"She Comes Up Softly"
	Harmonica	"Walk not Run"	Solomon Deniro	Dot Calm, Not Calm
		"Smile"
		"The Emperor"
		"King Solomon"
		"I"
1998	Harmonica	"Tuesday's Gone"	Metallica Pepper Keenan Jerry Cantrell Sean Kinney "Big" Jim Martin Gary Rossington Les Claypool	Garage Inc. by Metallica	Live Lynyrd Skynyrd cover; album reached #2 on the Billboard 200 and #3 on Top Canadian Albums
1999	Harmonica	"She Caught the Katy"	Taj Mahal	Blue Light Boogie	Live
	Harmonica	"On the Other Side"	Leftover Salmon	The Nashville Sessions
	Harmonica	"Leave Me Alone"	Tino Gonzales	Two Sides of a Heart
		"Twine Time"
2000	Harmonica	"If Only"	Hanson	This Time Around	Album reached #19 on the Billboard 200
		"In the City"
	Harmonica	"Diana"	God Street Wine	The Last of the Wine
	Harmonica	"Scarred but Smarter"	Kevn Kinney	The Flower and The Knife
2001	Harmonica	"I'm Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town"	Chico Hamilton	Foreststorn
2002	Harmonica	"Country Love"	Cee-Lo Green	Cee-Lo Green and His Perfect Imperfections
	Harmonica	"Our Greatest Year"	Bad Astronaut	Houston: We Have a Drinking Problem
	Harmonica	"On the Run"	Todd Wolfe	Wolfe
2003	Harmonica and vocals	"I Saw a Bird Fly Away"	Dar Williams	The Beauty of the Rain
2004	Harmonica	"Curbside Prophet"	Jason Mraz	Tonight, Not Again	Live; album reached #49 on the Billboard 200 and Top Internet Albums
		"Too Much Food"
	Harmonica and vocals	"Invisible"	Buddahead	Crossing the Invisible Line
	Harmonica	"Stranger Blues"	Wolfe	Delaware Crossing
		"Tumblin' Down"
2005	Harmonica		Tom "Bones" Malone	Soul Bones
2007	Harmonica	"Tequila Mockingbird"	Stolen Ogre	Tequila Mockingbird EP
2008	Harmonica	"The Souk"	Global Noize	Global Noize
	Harmonica	"Purifier"	Live	Live at the Paradiso – Amsterdam	Studio recording
	Harmonica	"Ghost Town"	John Oates	1000 Miles of Life
2009	Background vocals	"No Way Out"	ZO2	Casino Logic
2010	Harmonica	"Only the Tequila Talkin'"	Lisa Bouchelle	Blue Room with a Red Vase
	Harmonica	"Last to Know"	Ron Noyes Band	Dust Bowl Diary
	Harmonica	"There Ya Go"	Beats Antique	Blind Threshold
2011	Harmonica	"Burn That Bridge When We Get to It"	Joey Cape	Lagwagon's Let's Talk About Feelings reissue bonus disc	Acoustic; originally recorded for Acoustic (2004)
	Harmonica	"Last Night"	Johnny Winter	Roots
2012	Harmonica	"Closer I Get"	Rebelution	Peace of Mind
2015	Harmonica	"What Would You Say"	Dave Matthews Band	Live; DTE Energy Music Theatre Clarkston, MI	Electric set; Reprise of the original recording from Under the Table and Dreaming (1994)
2022	Harmonica	"The Devil"	Twiddle	Every Last Leaf

External links

• [https://www.imdb.com/{{#if: 0691580

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• John Popper's biography at BluesTraveler.com (archived)
• John Popper collection at the Internet Archive's live music archive