JOHN HARDIE BIOGRAPHY

"From the first time I sat down at the keyboard, it all made perfect sense to me," John Hardie says.

Born in London, Hardie began his life-long passion for music when he was four years old and began playing piano. Jazz is Hardie’s first love and it was after studying it at England's progressive Leeds University for three years that he made a professional commitment to music, beginning his career as an arranger and pianist with the Andy Ross Orchestra on the British television series "Come Dancing" and then formed the John Hardie quartet, which enjoyed multiple live London appearances as well as radio and television broadcasts.

Extensive international touring allowed him to develop his talent as a vocalist and guitarist as well and Hardie has entertained audiences at several local venues over the years, both as a soloist and in concert with many of the desert’s best-known musicians.

John quickly became one of the busiest entertainers in the desert during the ‘80s. Having recognized the value and inevitability of the digital revolution early on, he is a veteran of the cyber-genre of music and comes to any gig with an extensive library of songs, all originally arranged and sequenced so that he becomes, in essence, a one-man band. It's what happens live, though, that sets John apart.

His distinctive voice, masterful guitar playing and—above all—his absolute command of the keyboard, have consistently earned him more gigs, return invitations and a stable of students. "Music has taken me around the world several times over, allowed me to perform with some great musicians, and has encouraged me to continue to learn on a daily basis," he says.

Hardie has recently returned to the desert after touring, and performing in, 18 countries in 2-1/2 years."It is so good to be back to what I have always considered my home base," Hardie says."And it’s so good to say I’m back for good."

John Hardie Track Record

1973-79
• Andy Ross Orchestra on British television series "Come Dancing"; pianist/arranger
• John Hardie Quartet; multiple London appearances, radio and television broadcasts
• Fiesta Club, (Sheffield, Eng.) accompanist for cabaret performers including Matt
Monroe, Vince Hill, Freddie Cole, Stefan Grapelli.

1983-88
• Coyote, a five-piece country band; toured western U.S. including Worth Hotel in Jackson Hole, Wy., Reno Hilton, High Sierra Casino at South Lake Tahoe (two-year run).
• Aloha Cruises of Hawaii; entertainer and accompanist for Hawaiian recording artist Emma; (six-month contract).

1990-2001
(As Touché, a duo)
• Silja Symphony in Helsinki; acoustic piano in jazz quartet
• Commodore Cruise Line: Enchanted Isle (San Diego to the Mexican Riviera) and
Enchanted Seas (New Orleans to Western Caribbean)
• Cunard: Crown Monarch (Florida to Sydney, Australia, a six-month contract)
• Celebrity Cruises: Zenith (Eastern Caribbean)
• Princess Cruises: Crown Princess to Alaska
• Radisson: Seven Seas Navigator (nine-month contract covering South America, Monaco, Nice, Naples).
(As Touché, a trio)
• Le Meridien Hotel in Bahrain (three month contract)
• Renaissance Lines: Inaugural cruise of the Rembrandt (eight-month contract)
• Inter-Continental Hotel in Yokohama, Japan (nine-month contract) (jazz club)
• Holiday Inn in the Sultanate of Oman (six-month contract) (jazz restaurant)

2001-2003, Palm Springs area:
• Rancho La Quinta Country Club as featured single entertainer
• Atlas Restaurant and Dance Club as vocalist and pianist with Tibor Lesko Trio
• Andrew's of La Quinta as vocal, keyboard, guitar
• Indian Wells Country Club as featured vocalist, keyboard, guitar
• Renaissance Esmeralda Resort as single and duo
• Morningside Country Club, acoustic piano for dining
• Vicky's of Santa Fe, acoustic piano and vocals
• Blue Guitar, guest guitarist and vocalist

2003 to present:
• Silversea Cruises: Pianist/Entertainer on board Silver Shadow and Silver Cloud
• Busmann’s Brazil Restaurant, Dresden, Germany as featured single entertainer
• Kurhaus Hotel, Scheveningen, Holland as acoustic piano and vocals
• The Brasserie, Groningen, Holland as acoustic piano and vocals
• Silja Symphony and Serenade as acoustic piano and vocals
• London:
--Radisson Hotel SAS
--The Churchill Hotel
--Smollensky’s. Wapping
--The Tickled Ivories, Reigate
--La Caprice
--The Savoy Hotel
• Mood’s Restaurant & Bar, Zermatt, Switzerland
• Soprano’s Piano Bar, Aruba
• Princess Cruises: Pianist/Entertainer on board Sea Princess
• Currently performing at La Quinta Resort & Hotel’s Azur Restaurant with saxophonist Brian Denigan