Jonny Fritz is from Esmont, Virginia. At 17 he got on a motorcycle and left home for all over the damn place. He started writing and singing before he even knew how to play guitar. Cleft Music first spotted him performing around '03 in Nashville at Guido's, singing a cappella about things like the "Morning of Love," and "Some Badass Mother F*cker." If you've ever seen Fritz perform, it's easy to see he's the real deal. Think Southern pride with cosmopolitan curiosity. Jonny's travels have taken him all over the United States, to Europe, South America, as well as a couple trips to India where he found his GiVson Guitar. Yes, a country boy CAN survive with a little outsourcing. While having a home base in Philadelphia for a number of years, Fritz has made frequent visits to and even lived at times in Nashville where Cleft has helped with shows as well as production on his fourth album, "The Corndawg Live and In Person," recorded at The Sutler in '04. As a limited pressing, it is now a rare album to come by with some of his most pointed wit. Of course, Fritz is not the type of guy to stay in the same place for too long. He's developed into a bona fide songwriter. A tongue in cheek gave way to homage and then turned into a sincere voice as evidenced on his most recent album, "I'm Not Ready To Be a Daddy," a split release with Cleft Music, Natrix Natrix, Ozonokids and Trd/wd. Songs like "Oversteppin'" or "Trashday" suggest a more contemplative Corndawg, musically and lyrically, without losing the razor wit he's always employed. Do we even have to mention this guy lives, breaths, bleeds country music?? A tireless performer, air brush artist, marathon runner, world traveler, and by now, even a decent guitar picker, Jonny Fritz has become a walking encyclopedia of country, folk, bluegrass, traditional, and more. Still but a young voice, Fritz is just getting started. Due next year, his 8th (yes, 8th) album is set to be a collection of "Nashville Sound" (baseball team not recording style) versions of some of his most popular songs. Stay tuned! Listen.
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