Born in Cambridge, Jonny moved to Norfolk at the age of seven and, as the Norfolk Cowboy, has been East Anglia based ever since.
Even as a lad he knew he had to be involved with music in some way and at the age of 14 joined a trio that worked the clubs and pubs playing jazz and dance music. With Jack Kingston on clarinet and sax, Bob Scott on drums, Jonny played rhythm guitar. Being a 'lefty', he played a turned around miked up acoustic guiter. As the baby of the band he was known as 'Young Davey'.
He was only with them for about a year but the die was cast.
Jonny started listening to country music and after hearing Merle Haggard he saw the light. He founded a four piece band called 'Country Invasion'. Vocals were shared throughout the band with Jonny playing lead guitar and singing harmonies.
The very first country song Jonny ever sang was the Kris Kristofferson classic, 'Me and Bobby McGee"
The Country Invasion combo lasted eight years was bought to an end by a motor bike. Jonny was a bit of a Hells Angel in those days (yes, I know - but it was a long time ago!) and three long months in hospital after an accident was the end of 'the Invasion'
Back home at last from hospital, Jonny got his first electric guitar - a 'turned-around' Hofner.
Jonny played with a number of different country bands and performed with Budgie Coleman and the Country Gentleman, playing rhythm and lead guitar. Budgie and the band topped the bill at the Gaumont Theatre Ipswich.
In 1980, after watching and listening to his old mate Les Chambers of 'Clem Country', sadly no longer with us, Les convinced Jonny he should go solo. Jonny's first solo gig was at The Swan in Gooderstone, Norfolk.
Les also fixed Jonny up at the Old Windmill pub at Great Cressingham where he still plays every other week. Jonny feels he owes a lot to the Old Windmill - it's some booking, still going after 28 years! It's also part of the Windmill tradition that the local country fans can take Jonny's second microphone and join in with a good old sing song.
Jonny also runs a jam session every second Sunday of each month - apart from July and September - at Runcton Holme near Kings Lynn, Norfolk, helping to keep country music alive and well.
About 15 years ago, Jonny formed a band called 'Rondo and the Billyjack Band' and it is still going strong playing the old country songs. The audience and dancers are always sent home tired and happy, still wanting more
At every Kings Lynn and Norfolk Festival, Jonny Rondo is the 'midnight cowboy' playing from midnight 'til very late for the listeners and dancers who haven't got a home to go to.
Jonny has an amazing vocal range and an enormous repertoire. He has an infectious, permanently happy personality and is never happier than singing and playing, or as acting as compere.
Country ballads are Jonny's favourites and he picks a mean guitar. In between the country standards, Jonny includes many of The Shadows Hank Marvin guitar classics such as 'Wonderful Land' and 'Apache'
From the age of 10 Jonny has always loved the sound of the pedal steel guitar. In those days, Jonny's mum and could not afford to buy one but five years ago Jonny bought his first pedal steel. It took him all those years to realise that ambition.
His other ambition in life is to sit down and jam with his hero, Merle Haggard.
Jonny has his own recording studio and teaches guitar.
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