John Romanelli Jr.

Other Various Movements Other Various Movements Baby Blue Suit

Johnny is a member of SOCAN

"People have compared some of Romanelli's work with the early sound of the Police and he counts Dire Straits as one of his earlier influences."

"From the album Baby Blue Suit, "Fly", "Nice Big T.V.", and "Baby Blue Suit" are especially good."

-Pulse Niagara / Mar 02


I started playing guitar around 1983 and writing and 1989. I could probably sit here and write a book about those years and the ones that followed, but I'II keep it short.

I can't say enough about how influencial my guitar teachers were (and still are). I think it's important to start with a solid foundation, get as much information as possible and make it your own.

There was a time, I think around 1990 or 1991 when I quit playing altogether for years. I really don't know why it happened, but it did. Anyway, I picked it up again around 1995/96 and started writing with the guitar, doing different chords and trying out different words. When my friends would hear it they thought it was really cool and gave me tonnes of encouragement. I kept pursuing it and finally got the courage to go to a recording studio. Boy was I nervous! I think I did 4 or 5 songs with just me and the guitar. The quality wasn't that great and my guitar sounded terrible. My speaker was broken and it would distort like crazy if I would put the volume past two - I still write with it today!

In early 1997 I got all the musicians lined up to record the album "Baby Blue Suit." It took about a year and a half to record, but it felt like one day! We recorded nine tracks but I only put seven on the album. I couldn't wait to hear it done!

I immediately started working on my next album "Other Various Movements". By this time Baby Blue was being played on a few radio stations in the U.S. The first song I recorded for OVM was "Strani Sogni", thats Italian for "strange dreams." Every verse in the song explains a different dream. I initialy worked it in Italian for my grandparents who only speak Italian. Then I began to realize it was not only for the Italian speaking culture but for everyone. I think the kids strike a chord in everyones hearts that goes beyond any color or race.

Upon completion of that song I was invited to do a Christmas special, once again in the U.S. and they also mentioned I needed a video. So I put the album on hold and started shooting the video. It took about six months with a crew so dedicated we could of shot a full length movie! Essentially this move opened up a few doors here in Canada as well. I was invited to perform three songs at the TLN television network in Toronto, it was a great experience and a lot of fun.

Now with that all out of the way, it was back to recording! Other Various Movements is now finished and I couldn't be happier!

-John