John was brought up in Ouston, Birtley, and went to Pelton Juniors and Birtley East Secondary Modern School. In his teens he started playing in a band called Infra. This band came out of a Boys Brigade Marching Band created by his brother Keith (John played the Bugle). Infra was made up of lads from around the Ouston/Pelton area; Dave Grindley, Brian Anderson, David Kay and Lead Singer Colin Franklin. John got married and moved north to live in Bedlington.

In the 80/90s, John and a friend, Henry Yorke, wrote two albums. They went to the Ted Taylor Studios, London, to record one of them with Helen Shapiro's then Musical Director Bob Cranham. Bob was a fantastic session guitarist. Ted Taylor led a well known Jazz trio and was Benny Hill's MD. In the mid 90s John joined a six piece rock & pop function band called Rewind. A few years down the line this band developed into one of the top country rock bands for line dancing events in the North East.

He developed his skills on the Mandolin and dobro style slide guitar during this period. From this band he moved onto the Jo James Band, doing pubs and functions across the North East. His neice Karen played keyboards and vocal backing in this band. As well as his involvement in Jamshak he has been playing guitar and recording with John Leslie, a harmonica player/guitarist/songwriter and well known personality on the local folk scene. John Lesley has a project called Sawdust Jacks on My Space. http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=322433965