Jon Holtzman - Creator/Executive Producer/Writer/Musician

Holtzman has been involved in the entertainment industry for over 40 years. As a professional vocalist and vibist, he led a 10-piece Jazz Band, called the Widespread Depression Orchestra (WDO), and later formed a sextet called Jonny Holtzman and his Swingbeans.

During that time he was crowned the name "the Bronx Nightingale", due to his fabulous baritone voice and his heritage growing up in the Bronx Eastchester Projects.

He recorded 5 albums during that period (1975-1982). Four with The WDO, and one with his sextet. Downtown Uproar, Boogie In The Barnyard, Time to Jump and Shout, Rockin' in Rhythm, and Let's Do It

His proudest moments include:

• Being invited by Count Basie to sing a number with his band at a gig they both performed at.

• Having the infamous producer, John Hammond Sr., attend the recording session and writing the liner notes for his solo album.

• Sharing the stage with Muddy Waters, Bruce Springsteen, Dizzy Gillespie, Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, Buddy Rich, Duke Ellington Orchestra, Joe Williams, Milt Jackson. David Bromberg, Madeline Kahn, and yes - The Village People.

• Performing at The Newport Jazz Festival in NYC and Newport RI, Wolftrap Jazz Festival in Virginia , the Saratoga Jazz Festival in NY, Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center - NYC, Jackie Robinson Jazz Festival, Studio 54, as well as The Village Gate, The Bottom Line and The Bitter End in the West Village, NYC, Blues ALley in Wash DC, and being hired for private events by Gloria Vanderbilt Anne Baxter, Mary Tyler Moore, and VP Walter Mondale.

He stopped performing in 1985 and built a business partnering with TV and Film art departments, helping them achieve the visions they had for their set designs.

In 2011, he created the graphic novel Life Will Be Ecstacy” and lter evoved that into the TV series “Time It Was”. TV the series bridges the gap between fictional drama and live performances from established and emerging musicians. The series is set in a small music club based n New York City's West Village, based on two iconic clubs - The Village Gate, and The Bitter End.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Widespread_Depression_Jazz_Orchestra

https://www.brandknewmag.com/apple-product-placement-6-questions-with-jon-holtzman/

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