Jona Lewie, born John Lewis, is an English songwriter who joined his first group called "City Jazz Band" at the age of 16 and later became a blues singer at the age of 21.
From 1969 he joined the blues group "Brett Marvin and the Thunderbolts".
He had his first success in 1972 with the title "Seaside shuffle" which came out under the group name of "Terry Dactyl and The Dinosaurs". Still under the same name, the title “On a Saturday night” came out a year later in 1973. Single with great success.
He released his first solo titles from 1974, notably "Piggy back sue" and "The swan" which were broadcast regularly on the BBC.
It took him 6 years to see his career suddenly take off when he released the Single "You’ll always find me in the kitchen at parties". Single which enters the English Top20. Followed by little "Big shot - momentarily" which works little across the Channel but very well in Germany.
The consecration always comes the same year with the enormous title "Stop the cavalry" which this time ensures him a planetary success.
New success in 1981 with the title "Louise (We get it right)" which caused real success in Australia.
Big success which will unfortunately be his last.
To discover or rediscover...
Discography (among others ...) :
70s Decade :
Sea side shuffle (Terry Dactil And The Dinosaurs) 1972
On a saturday night (Terry Dactil And The Dinosaurs) 1973
Piggy back sue 1974
The Swan 1974
Cherry ring 1976
The baby, she’s on the street 1978
Hallelujah Europa 1978
God bless whoever made you 1979
80s Decade :
You'll always find me in the kitchen at parties 1980
Big Shot – Momentarily 1980
Stop the cavalry 1980
Louise (We Get It Right) 1981
I Think I'll Get my Hair Cut 1981
The seed that always died 1982
What have I done 1982
Yo-Go 1982
Love detonator 1983
Tracks :
1972...a very early career which began in grouped mode. What better way to learn the basics of the profession as they say...
1973...year after year young Jona does his skills and learns the trade slowly but surely. A rise in power that will end up paying off at one point or another...
1974...the first solo steps are certainly nice but which still show that there is still a little work to be done...
1974...this at least has the merit of starting to make talking about him even if for the moment its level of influence remains very limited...
1976 ... very 70s beginnings and very typical across the Channel. Well, it's nice but are the foundations solid enough to make a career worthy of the name ? It is the future that will tell us ...
1978...the level rises slowly but surely. There is therefore good reason to hope that at one point or another this young artist will manage to produce something out of the ordinary...
1978...at first glance we'll have to wait a little longer. Afterwards you have to know how to give time to time as they say...
1979...rare are those who manage to smash everything from the first titles. A career is built year after year, nothing should be done in haste...
1980 ... the efforts finally pay off. Now is the time for success. So much so that this title will go around the world and smash everything in its path. Yes Yes !
1980 ... and always this unique style, which mixes festive and stripped down and which will remain forever its trademark. A, these English ...
1980 ... but it is THIS title which will make him definitively fit into the musical legend of the 80s. A HUGE title, once again with a completely offbeat style, and which will also spread over the planet like a trail of powder...
1981 ... after an absolutely incredible 1980, it is almost impossible to compete. And yet, the artist delivers this title that will get away with it
1981 ... one last tiny hit and then he goes. We suspected that his career would not last decades, it's obvious ...
1982...of course he will disappear from the Charts but that does not mean the end of his career because he still has things to offer at first glance...
1982...and it's not the core fans who are going to complain about it, far from it. Certainly the best years are now behind but still...
1982...it would have been a shame to hide some of these titles which are still part of his discography. Here they are brought back to light...
1983...this time it could well and truly be the end. But as in music nothing is ever finished, who knows...
Wiki :
Official Website :
Greatest Hits :
Discography :