Jon Gibson

Blue-Eyed Soul / Urban Pop
San Francisco, California, USA

Jon Robert Gibson (born January 3, 1962) is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumental musician, and record producer. Originally a blue-eyed soul singer, he switched from secular music to contemporary Christian music in the late-1980s.

Gibson scored a number of hit singles, including “Jesus Loves Ya” (which spent a then-record 11 weeks at No. 1 on the CCM charts in 1991), “Love Come Down” (1990), “Friend in You” (1988), and “God Loves a Broken Heart” (1986).

Gibson ranked No. 59 out of all Christian artists in the 1980s. His album Jesus Loves Ya was ranked No. 90 on CCM Magazine's The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music, while the title track charted at No. 52 on the Top 100 Christian AC in 1991. According to Frontline Records and Gibson's website, he has at least 22 chart-topping CCM hits with 9 No. 1 songs.

Gibson has recorded with Bill Wolfer (the keyboardist for the Jacksons), Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, M.C. Hammer, MC Peace, Crystal Lewis, Soup the Chemist, Avery Stafford, John P. Kee, Scott Blackwell, and others. He has also performed with Carman and for Prince, collaborating with Justin Timberlake, Herbie Hancock, Maroon 5, and Matthew McConaughey.

Gibson's second album featured his first rap solo, “Ain't It Pretty” (1985), from On the Run (1986). The album was co-produced by Felton Pilate of Con Funk Shun. On the Run was well received, and rendered his first No. 1 single in contemporary Christian music (CCM) to impact Christian radio. “God Loves a Broken Heart” became one of over twenty Top 10 CCM hits for Gibson. He would also experience success with the No. 1 single “Friend in You,” a ballad which is one of CCM's classic hit songs, from his next album.

Gibson wrote and produced “The Wall” as well, the first rap hit in CCM history by a blue-eyed soul singer and/or duo, featuring M.C. Hammer. Hammer and Tramaine Hawkins previously performed in concerts with Gibson's band at various venues, such as the Beverly Theatre in Beverly Hills (a live performance of “B-Boy Chill” is on YouTube). Gibson was in a gospel rap group with Hammer known as The Holy Ghost Boys, with songs later produced and released on their respective albums. Hammer released a song called “Son of the King” on his debut album, Feel My Power (1986). Gibson released “The Wall” on his third album, Change of Heart. The album included Gibson's cover version of “Yah Mo B There” (co-written by Rod Temperton and Quincy Jones), a song originally performed by James Ingram and Michael McDonald.

Gibson collaborated with Stevie Wonder on his fourth album, Body & Soul (1989). Wonder played harmonica on a remake of his own song, “Have a Talk with God,” from Songs in the Key of Life (1976). The album peaked at No. 23 on July 29, 1989 (charting for 25 weeks). Wonder's soundtrack album, Jungle Fever (1991), had Gibson singing backup on the track “I Go Sailing.” Wonder and Gibson also toured together.

Gibson's fifth album, Jesus Loves Ya (1990), featured multiple musicians including Rob Watson and Doug Webb. It produced two hit singles: the title track and “Love Come Down.” In 1991, “Jesus Loves Ya” was a top selling CCM single, spending a record eleven weeks at No. 1 on the CCM charts. However, several elements frustrated the relationship between Gibson and Frontline Records. The main issue was the fact that Gibson was receiving little if no payment for his recordings.

His sixth album, Forever Friends (1992), yielded five Top 10 hits and was voted Album of the Year by CCM Magazine. The album peaked at No. 3 on August 8, 1992 (charting for 37 weeks), but Frontline Records ran into serious financial trouble. “My contract was over when I completed the album Forever Friends… I was definitely free from Frontline,” Gibson says.

Gibson then signed with Ojo Taylor and Gene Eugene of Brainstorm Artists International (BAI). BAI released his seventh album, Love Education (1995). The album peaked at No. 19 on April 15, 1995 (charting for 5 weeks). Gibson then got married, had children, and took time off from his music again. Gibson searched for a record contract for two years, before landing with the gospel record label B-Rite Music for his eighth album, The Man Inside (1999). It was a consciously urban-sounding album made with producer Tommy Sims. It didn't fare as well as previous records.

He decided to form his own record label called New Soul Records, which released a live album Live in '85 in 2000. Soon after that, Gibson created Imagery Records for his ninth studio album. This album was his first praise album, Soulful Hymns (2002).

In June 2010, Gibson released the single “On a Mission,” which was available for download. A portion of the funding for a tenth album was raised via Kickstarter. The planned album, The Horizons of Knowing, went unreleased in late 2010. “I'm On a Mission” eventually appeared on Gibson's tenth album, The Storyteller (2012), a tribute album to his father Stan Gibson (who led him to the Christian faith in 1981). It was released on his independent record label by Soul Scan Music, and mixed by engineer Dennis Moody.

Gibson released the single “Silent War” in March 2022, marking his first new music in a decade. The track was made public for download on Gibson's website and social media. He is currently working on his eleventh studio album.

1983 Constellation Records (96-0258-1)

1. Start It All Again
2. She Told Me So
3. Standing On the One
4. That Ain`t No Way to Liven
5. Are You Gonna Stay With Me Again
6. I Love Her Anyway
7. It's True
8. So in Love With You
9. Nation in Need

1986 Frontline Records (CD9015)

Jon Gibson - Lead vocals, backing vocals
Felton Pilate - Guitar, keyboards, drum programming, synth bass, backing vocals\\
Ben Bridges - Guitar
Greg Doty - Guitar
Joe Satriani - Guitar on “On the Run”
Mickey Free - Guitar
Sneaky Pete - Guitar
Snuffy Walden - Guitar
Bill Wolfer - Keyboards, drum programming
Tom Coster - Keyboards, drum programming
Clifford Coulter - Rhodes
Tony LuFrano - Rhodes
Gary Jackson - Bass guitar
Nathan Watts - Bass guitar
Joey Gallo - Synth bass
John Robinson - Drums
Jonathan Moffett - Drums
Tony Lewis - Drums
Cubby Ingram - Percussion
Wayne-O-Millstein - Percussion
Larry Williams - Saxophone
Chrystal Blake - Backing vocals
Phillip Ingram - Backing vocals
The Waters - Backing vocals

1. Metal Machine (4:20)
2. Ain't It Pretty (4:24)
3. On the Run (4:02)
4. God Loves a Broken Heart (4:24)
5. It's True (3:07)
6. Standing on the One (4:04)
7. Are You Gonna Stay (4:00)
8. I Love Her Anyway (3:52)
9. Nation in Need (3:48)
10. Dreams (3:52)

1988 Frontline Records (CD9032)

Jon Gibson - Lead vocals, backing vocals, keyboards, drum programming
Bob Somma - Lead guitar, guitar
Tony Patler - Guitar
Tim Heintz - Keyboards, drum programming
Tony Patler - Keyboards, drum programming
Eric Marienthal - Saxophone
Bill Baumgart - Backing vocals

M.C. Hammer - Rap on “The Wall”
Crystal Lewis - Duet on “Lost Inside of You”

1. Yah Mo B There (4:29)
2. The Wall (4:38)
3. Friend in You (3:58)
4. Change of Heart (4:28)
5. Lost Inside of You (4:39)
6. Man Overboard (4:01)
7. Child Without a Name (4:15)
8. Too Tough (4:15)
9. Technology Man (4:45)

1989 Frontline Records (CD9051)

Jon Gibson - Lead vocals, backing vocals, keyboards, guitar
Kit Charlton - Guitar
Bill Wolfer - Keyboards, drum programming, bass synth
Paul Gottschalk - Keyboards programming
Vinx - African drums, cuica, djembe

Cubby Ingram - Lead vocals on “Us Now”
Stevie Wonder - Harmonica on “Have a Talk With God”
Belinda Stewart - Backing vocals on “In the Name of the Lord” and “Have a Talk With God”
Beverly Williams - Backing vocals on “In the Name of the Lord” and “Have a Talk With God”
Francine Williams - Backing vocals on “In the Name of the Lord” and “Have a Talk With God”
Lisa Russo Judd - Backing vocals on “In the Name of the Lord” and “Have a Talk With God”
Crystal Blake - Backing vocals on “Merry-Go-Round”

1. Heart of Gold (3:02)
2. In the Name of the Lord (4:38)
3. Merry-Go-Round (4:46)
4. God Will Find Ya (4:36)
5. Father, Father (3:52)
6. Have a Talk With God (3:28)
7. Long Ago (4:32)
8. Us Now (3:07)
9. Everyone Needs the Lord (3:56)

1990 Frontline Records (FLD9095)

Jon Gibson - Lead vocals, backing vocals, Akai-linn, D-70 Sequencing, scat guitars, scat sax solo, acoustic guitar, rhythm guitar, rap on “Enough is Enough”
Dave Koval - Rhythm guitar, lead guitar, acoustic guitar
Rick Zunigar - Rhythm guitar
Myron Dove 0 5-string bass
Rob Watson - B-3, strings, synthesizer horns
Cubby Ingram - Congas, drums
Doug Webb - Saxophones Vivian Lewis - Backing vocals, vocals “Jesus Loves Ya, Intro”
Ray Sidney - Backing vocals
Shelly Penir - Backing vocals

M.C. Peace - Rap on “Enough is Enough”
Gene Eugene - Clavinet on “Enough is Enough” and “Straight On,” B-3 organ solo on “His Love is Strong”
Kumari Lewis - Vocals “Jesus Loves Ya, Intro”
Tony Palacios - Lead guitar on “Straight On,” “In Too Deep,” and “Watching All My Days Go By”
Angel Smithe - Backing vocals on “Preacher Man” and “His Love is Strong”
Riki Michele - Backing vocals on “Preacher Man”
Jeffrey Lewis - Backing vocals and timbales on “Preacher Man”

1. Enough is Enough (4:32)
2. Love Come Down (5:45)
3. Jesus Loves Ya, Intro (0:10)
4. Jesus Loves Ya (6:26)
5. From Heaven (5:34)
6. Call On My Love (4:59)
7. Everlasting (6:08)
8. Straight On (3:09)
9. Preacher Man (3:26)
10. In Too Deep (4:25)
11. Forever Now (4:32)
12. His Love is Strong (5:08)
13. Watching All My Days Go By (6:51)

1991 Frontline Records (FLD9241)

1. Friend in You (from Change of Heart)
2. Lost Inside of You (from Change of Heart)
3. The Wall (from Change of Heart)
4. Change of Heart (from Change of Heart)
5. Father, Father (from Body & Soul)
6. Have a Talk With God (from Body & Soul)
7. In the Name of the Lord (from Body & Soul)
8. Everyone Needs the Lord (from Body & Soul)
9. Jesus Loves Ya (from Jesus Loves Ya)
10. Love Come Down (from Jesus Loves Ya)
11. Everybody Sing a Christmas Song
12. Jesus Loves Ya (Blackwell remix)

1992 Frontline Records (FLD9285)

Jon Gibson - Lead vocals, backing vocals, Akai Linn programming, synth sequencing and sampling
Brian Price - Guitar, acoustic guitar, backing vocals
Rob Mullins - Grand piano, synth strings, synthesizer
Larry Kimpel - Bass
Ndugu Chancler - Drums
Lenny Castro - Percussion
Doug Webb - Saxophones
Allegra Parks - Backing vocals, lead vocals on “Happy to Know Jesus,” choir vocals on “To My Father's House”
Sandra Stephens - Backing vocals, lead vocals on “Happy to Know Jesus,” choir vocals on “To My Father's House”
Wayne Williams - Backing vocals, choir vocals on “To My Father's House”

M.C. Peace - Rap on “You Are the One” and “Happy To Know Jesus”
Glenn Pearce - Backing vocals on “Can't Live Without Jesus,” acoustic and electric guitar on “Found a Home”
Gordon Hannon - Backing vocals on “Can't Live Without Jesus”
James Jamerson Jr. - Bass on “Can't Live Without Jesus”
Lanny Cordola - Guitar on “Found a Home” and “To My Father's House,” acoustic guitar on “Forever Friends,” sitar on “Happier Than the Morning Sun”
Milton Comeaux - Percussion on “On My Way to Heaven”
Kathy Brandelino - Lead and backing vocals on “Happy to Know Jesus”
Greg Vail - Saxophone solo on “Happy to Know Jesus”
Wilton Felder - Saxophone on “You've Gotta Love Somebody”
Ahmad Beik - Der-bek on “Happier Than the Morning Sun”
Suzanne Dewey - Tambourine and choir vocals on “To My Father's House”
Curtis Matovich - Choir vocals on “To My Father's House”
Drew Baca - Choir vocals on “To My Father's House”
Gina Edwards - Choir vocals on “To My Father's House”
Lori Campbell - Choir vocals on “To My Father's House”
Michael Sewell - Choir vocals on “To My Father's House”

1. You Are the One (3:47)
2. Can't Live Without Jesus (3:00)
3. Found a Home (4:38)
4. On My Way to Heaven 4:09)
5. Forever Friends (4:52)
6. Happy to Know Jesus (3:31)
7. You've Gotta Love Somebody (5:47)
8. Happier Than the Morning Sun (6:00)
9. To My Father's House (5:31)

1994 Frontline Records (FLD9548)

1. God Loves a Broken Heart (4:26) (from On the Run)
2. In The Name of the Lord (4:42) (from Body & Soul)
3. Can't Live Without Jesus (3:00) (from Forever Friends)
4. Everlasting (6:11) (from Jesus Loves Ya)
5. Found a Home ( (4:37) (from Forever Friends)
6. Happy to Know Jesus (3:33) (from Forever Friends)
7. Friend in You (4:01) (from Change of Heart)
8. Jesus Loves Ya (6:36) (from Jesus Loves Ya)
9. Father, Father (3:53) (from Body & Soul)
10. Everyone Needs the Lord (3:59) (from Body & Soul)
11. God Will Find Ya (4:38) (from Jesus Loves Ya)
12. Lost Inside of You (4:39) (from Change of Heart)
13. Love Come Down (5:48) (from Jesus Loves Ya)
14. Forever Friends (4:49) (from Forever Friends)

1995 Brainstorm Artists International (BRD4006)

Jon Gibson - All vocals and instruments, except:

Gannin Arnold - Guitar solo on “Possessed by Love,” acoustic guitar on “So Blue”
Kirk Tracey - Saxophone solo on “Someday Paradise”
Rob Mullins - Piano solo on “Love Education,” B-3 solo on “Stand My Ground”
Allegra Parks - Backing vocals on “Love Education” and “Stand My Ground”
Cathy Brandelino - Backing vocals on “Love Education” and “Stand My Ground”
Steve Beckham - Drum sounds and drum sampling on “Stand My Ground”
Vince Brooks - Percussion on “The Narrow Road”

1. Possessed by Love (4:47)
2. Someday Paradise (4:56)
3. Jesus (3:06)
4. So Blue (3:42)
5. Love Education (5:35)
6. Stand My Ground (3:55)
7. The Narrow Road (3:40)
8. Trust in Me (3:38)
9. The Days Gone By (4:43)
10. The End (4:02)

1999 B-Rite Music (606949009521)

1. The Man Inside
2. Get It Together
3. The Best in Me
4. Interlude: The Prayer
5. Don't Ever
6. Fly With the Wind
7. There For You
8. God Will Find Ya
9. Layin' in the Street
10. Interlude: Coming Home
11. Your Love is Like That
12. Interlude: The Call
13. Gone With You
14. Who Are You Fooling?
15. Let It Be Done

(…to be continued…)