John Lefler

John Lefler
John Lefler performing solo at The Saint in Asbury Park, NJ, May 2011.
Background information
Birth name	John C. Lefler
Born	(1975-03-18) March 18, 1975 Houston, Texas, United States
Genres	Power pop
Occupation	Singer-Songwriter
Instrument(s)	Vocals Guitar Piano Percussions
Years active	1993–present
Labels	Good Hang
Website	myspace.com/johnlefler

John C. Lefler (born March 18, 1975) is an American songwriter, singer, guitarist, and pianist, who was formerly with Dashboard Confessional.

Early history

Lefler was born in Houston, Texas, moved to Amarillo, Texas, for a year when he was 4, went to elementary school in Edmond, Oklahoma, and then moved to Sugar Land, Texas, where he grew up and went to junior high and high school. He went to the University of Texas at Austin, where he graduated with a degree in art; however, most of his time in college was as a chemistry major. He has two brothers, Bill and Kevin.

Lefler started playing guitar in 1989, and piano shortly thereafter. He had only one guitar lesson in his life, and the first song he learned was Bon Jovi's "Wanted Dead Or Alive". His older brother Bill helped him by teaching some chords as well. He still has his first guitar, a Peavey T-60 (that he keeps under his bed), which his dad got at a pawn shop for $50. He started writing songs when he about 18 years old, after seeing the John Lennon bio-pic, Imagine. One of the first songs he wrote is called "Liberace's Christmas". Lefler had piano lessons for a few months while in high school. “My recital piece was Bruce Hornsby's "The Way It Is". It was terrible. I've never had another lesson (or recital) of any kind since.” Another significant event also happened in 1996. “I severed the tendon of my right pinky on a glass of milk. Thus, I play the piano with seven fingers and two thumbs.”

Career

Dashboard Confessional

Lefler joined Dashboard Confessional in 2002, having flown out to meet the rest of the band in Florida. Lefler and Chris Carrabba "clicked" when Carrabba sighted Lefler wearing the same Gap jacket that he was also wearing. After a week of quick study on the albums, Lefler made his first official appearance as a Dashboard Confessional member on the MTV Unplugged recording. Thereafter, he was an integral member, as lead guitarist and keyboardist. He went on tour with Dashboard Confessional from February to April, 2012.

The Wimbledons

In 2005, Lefler and his brothers Bill and Kevin formed an alternative-country band called The Wimbledons in Los Angeles, California. After much infighting between the brothers, the band completed an EP, with Lefler contributing vocals and guitars and Kevin contributing vocals on "Apologies" and "Long Way from Home". After the release of the album and with Lefler's moving to Dallas, Texas, The Wimbledons have no plans for a forthcoming second EP.

Solo career

Being influenced by bands like Jellyfish, Ben Folds, Crowded House, The Police, The Beatles, and U2, Lefler released on his own label Good Hang his first solo album, Better By Design in June 2009. Better By Design was co-produced by Lefler, along with friends Salim Nourallah and Rip Rowan and has been referred by people as power pop. He has received good feedback from power pop websites and Dashboard Confessional fans have been very supportive of his solo project. Lefler can often be seen playing with his band in the Dallas area. He also stated via Facebook that he would be booking an East Coast solo tour for the summer of 2012.

Discography

• Dashboard Confessional - MTV Unplugged (2002)
• Dashboard Confessional - A Mark, a Mission, a Brand, a Scar (2003)
• Dashboard Confessional - Dusk and Summer (2006)
• Dashboard Confessional - Shade of Poison Trees (2007)
• Dashboard Confessional - Alter the Ending (2009)
• John Lefler - Better by Design (2009)
• John Lefler - Shout Fire EP (2012)
• The Disappearing Act - The Disappearing Act (2010)

EP releases

• The Wizerds (2003)
• The Wimbledons (2005)

Featured guest appearances

• Rhett Miller - Rhett Miller
• John Ralston - Sorry Vampire
• Salim Nourallah - Beautiful Noise and Snowing In My Heart

External links

• Dashboard Confessional Official Website