Today we’d like to introduce you to Jonny Hughes.
Hi Jonny, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I began my journey as a musician when I inherited my great-grandmother’s upright Schillings piano at 9 years old. I began taking classical piano lessons, but although I would spend hours on my piano (picking out the songs I liked by ear), I would never practice what my teacher assigned.
About 3 years later, a young man named Stu Bryant came and played special music at our church, and my dad approached him after worship to see if he would be willing to work with me. At the time, I was 12 years old, and Stu was this cool, relatable 24-year-old guy, so I saw a mentor in him. He helped train my ear and instilled a love of music in my heart that I will always be thankful for.
When I graduated high school, I moved to Levelland, Texas to study commercial music at South Plains College with Cary Banks, Wade McNutt, and many other incredible instructors. My time there prepared me for all of the nuances of the music industry as a singer/songwriter/keys player, and I was immediately connected to a network of West Texas musicians.
As I began gigging around Lubbock, Texas, I fell in love with my church, First Baptist of Lubbock. The lead worship pastor there, Ken Draughon, recruited me to play on the worship team, and after much prayer and further education, I joined the staff there as a worship pastor. I view the local church as home base, but all of the music I write, record, and perform is ultimately an extension of my vocation as a follower of Jesus Christ.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
In some ways, the journey has been very smooth. Ever since music captured my heart and my imagination at 12 years old, I’ve never wondered what I want to do, and I’ve never really questioned my ability to do it. God has opened many doors and simply said, “Go ahead. Walk on through and use your gifts to love people.”
There certainly have been struggles. Since I was a little boy, I dreamed about who I would spend the rest of my life with, and for the entirety of my 20s, I dealt with loneliness as I searched for a companion who could understand and appreciate the work I love to do. Thankfully, I met a beautiful and ridiculously talented violinist named Megan Poppe on a gig, and we got married in April of 2022. Now, we get to enjoy life and make music together.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
When you ask, “What do you do?” My answer depends on the day of the week, but to make a short answer long, I write, record, perform, and teach music primarily with a piano and my voice. As a worship pastor, I lead Jesus-centered worship gatherings for my local church and for churches across Texas for special events and retreats. As I writer, I create new songs for our church to sing, and I produce original songs for my own personal interests. As a studio musician, I have the pleasure of learning and arranging other artists’ music. As a performing artist, I play my music and cover songs for patrons in restaurants, theaters, and homes. And lastly, as a teacher, I help my students articulate their own ideas through the keys of piano using music theory as a loose foundation for personal expression.
My style on the piano has pretty deep country roots. I learned many Floyd Cramer songs growing up, so I mastered his slip-note technique and incorporate it almost any time I play.
Growing up, my dad taught me to be adaptable to see a new challenge not as an obstacle but as an opportunity to grow. I like to think that when people think of me, they think of me as the guy who will find a way to make this or that happen with a smile on his face.
Any time I get the chance to play my own songs live at church or in a dive, and I hear people singing my words with me… those are the moments I am most proud of. It is incredible knowing that songs I’ve written out of my personal experiences have had a positive influence on someone else’s life.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I read the Bible daily. I read it to learn more about who Jesus is and who I ought to be as a result. Scripture has more influence on me than anything else.
Other resources vary from season to season, but lately, I’ve been digging Cory Wong’s “Wong Notes” podcast. He has a lot of great guests on who talk about their lives and insights as a musician, and that always stretches me. I read Victor Wooten’s book, “The Music Lesson,” a few years ago, and I still refer back to his interpretation of music. Andrea Stolpe is a songwriter on Instagram who frequently shares helpful tips and tricks to help get the creative process rolling; I thoroughly enjoy her content.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/jonnykeyshughes
- Instagram: @jonnykeyshughes
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@Jonny88sHughes?si=1uAeWhRp2N9Jq5k9
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/jonny-keys?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2WKIi59qggps2dAIC5ImeT?si=2DIRjUU_SVqKmZ_J4QkBDg
