Jon Karel

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Jon Karel was born May 24, 1983 in Rockland County, NY, an eclectic suburb of New York City bordering the Hudson River. Surrounded by art and music, his drumming obsession began almost at infancy. Ave Karel, Jon’s father, spent his professional music career as a drummer and band leader for Avenue K. Orchestras from 1975 to 1998, while Jon's mother Deborah, a singer, pushed hard to expose Jon to the joy and inspiration that is music and drumming. Jon spent most of his early childhood tinkering in his father’s drum room trying to stick all the wire brush pairs into each other, and of course, making quite a racket behind the kit. Under the instruction of Ed Zacko in 1992, Jon began studying music/rhythmic theory, and drumming fundamentals at the age of nine. Since then Jon has advanced his studies independently and with the volunteered guidance and advice of several wonderful teachers including: Frank Marino (co-founder of the Long Island Drum Center), Seth Mutal (renowned up and coming NYC session musician), Frank Colinato (veteran teacher and published author), Bob W. Minton (rhythmic mastermind, and master educator), and more. In 1996, Jon started writing and performing compositions with a wide variety of local musicians. Most were centered around the up and coming heavy metal scene emerging in the New York area during the late 90's. This included performing and composing with bands such as Close My Eyes, The Sawtooth Grin, Negativehate, and The Heatherton Heatwave. Shortly after being accepted into Berklee College of Music in 2004, Jon got the offer to join national touring act The Number 12 Looks Like You. This troupe is known for their incredibly diverse and technical sound. Even with Berklee as an option, Jon decided to go pro as a drummer. Since joining #12, Jon has performed countless showcases and toured with dozens of wonderful and diverse bands. Some tours include: "Shirts For a Cure" Tour with Thursday and Minus The Bear, Sounds Of The Underground ‘07, several national headlining tours, and many national runs with respected bands like The Dillinger Escape Plan and the Fall Of Troy. Jon can also add songwriting credits to his resume. He co-wrote The Number 12’s second AND third full length album. Mongrel and Worse Than Alone; Eyeball Records 07', 09'. In winter of 2008, Jon was hired by Los Angeles heavy music pioneers "HORSE The Band" for their independently booked Earth Tour’08. The band played 90 shows over 100 days in 45 different countries throughout Asia and Europe. The tour also hit places like Turkey, Russia and Israel. Jon is now touring full time with The Number 12 Looks Like You in support of their new full length album, "WORSE THAN ALONE" eyeball records march 09', which is going to Europe this fall with Misery Signals. He is also writing a new full length album with "The Sawtooth Grin", as well as being involved in several recording projects and educational work, clinics, lessons, and such. But you can still catch him performing at the local bars when he's home from tour, sitting in with the local funk, R&B, soul, blues, rock and jazz acts that make the Hudson Valley so rich with culture and expression. Jon Karel would like to gratefully thank Vic Firth Drum Sticks, Zildjian Cymbals, Tama Drums and Hardware, and Aquarian Drum Heads for their endorsements and support.