Giving Respect to the Next Thing in Music

That title will probably come back to haunt me in more ways than one. But I will go out on a limb here for a person I believe to be an extremely talented musician. Many of you will disagree, and wonder how a person who likes Death Metal could ever like Pop music. Well, all I have to say to you is that when it comes to a person whom I attended college with (though I cannot say I was buddy-buddy with him), Jon McLaughlin is the next thing in pop music.

I acknowledge that I am probably basing this off the fact that we attended the same college. But I will say it anyway. After a good debut release in Indiana, a cameo in the Disney movie Enchanted, a performance of a song from that movie ("So Close") at the Grammy's, and a stellar new release of OK Now, I think it is fitting that Jon McLaughlin gets acknowledged for his musical ability.

I have always been impressed with his musical performances and his songwriting. And I have always thought that studio recordings do not do justice to his live shows. But for better or worse, I will officially endorse Jon McLaughlin as the Next Thing in Music.

He still has a long way to go to achieve this. But, whatever you remember about him, remember that I predicted he would be the Next big thing.

BTW, I hear his new hit single "Beating My Heart" on TV shows all the time. It is crazy.