Biography of Jonathan Morgan Jenkins

Jonathan was born in Santa Monica California and lived in various homes in the Los Angeles area before his family settled in San Clemente, south of Los Angeles, in 1962. It was here that he was introduced to music at a young age when his mother, Mary Jenkins (Monk) began teaching guitar to neighborhood children. Soon, his mother's student load made it necessary to open a small music studio downtown. When her students needed instruments and accessories, his father Jim Jenkins an Aerospace executive with the Hughes Corporation, officially opened the business as "MARIA DEL ARTE".

With the explosion of new talent in the 60's and a need for his mother's students to have a venue to perform their newly polished talents, the folk/rock club THE FOUR MUSES was born. Built in the same building, The Muses quickly developed as a popular venue for local talent, it was the only place in the area.
Back then, the major Southern Cal, small club venues were, THE FOUR MUSES, the GOLDEN BEAR, the ICE HOUSE and the famous TROUBADOR were ELTON JOHN made his west coast debut. Some Four Muses regulars included JACKSON BROWN, STEVE MARTIN, JACK TEMPCHIN (who composed many early EAGLES hits), LINDA RONSTADT, CORKY CARROLL and TAJ MAHAL who toured the local circuit in those days hoping for success. Another famous local band, HONK, from Laguna Beach were frequent performers at the Muses and it was there they became more aquainted with film makers, GREG MCGILLVERY and JIM FREEMAN, who signed the group to write the sound track for their famous surfing film, FIVE SUMMER STORIES.

During this period, Jonathan learned to play guitar. Aside from his mother, one of his first teachers was JOHN BLAKELY who rented a room in their home. Blakely was one on the founding members of the famous surf band, THE SANDELS, who wrote the sound track for the famous BRUCE BROWN film, THE ENDLESS SUMMER.

With this inspiration, he helped found the surf band, THE EXCEPTIONS, with his close friends RANDY JOHNSON, STEVE GASPARRO and BOB LINDBERG during the 5th and 6th grade. After becoming a popular band at local parties, they were invited to play at the graduation of their 6th grade class.

During high school, he played in Friday night Hoots (local amateur night) and various rock bands. His mother, MOTHER MARY, so named by her students became a second to mother to many kids who had strained family relationships during the social changes that were a part of that era.

When his father passed away in 1975, his mother was unable to continue operations and closed the business.

With a desire to teach music professionally, Jonathan started college full time in 1978 and graduated with his BA in Choral and Instrumental Education with California Teaching Credentials in 1983. After a short time as a school teacher, chose another career path and opened up his music studio. From that time to the present he has coached hundreds of vocalists into powerful performers, most or which had little or no prior training.

In 1992,he founded the CAPISTRANO CHORALE with a group of 10 women and built the group over a 10-year period to 80 plus singers singing at 5 different local venues, twice a year.

In 1993, he released his first solo compact disc, WINDOWS, a collection arrangements for String Orchestra. Windows was recorded in one of the first, Digital Recording Studios, in Southern California and consists entirely of Computer Generated music, a common- place technology currently.

Following this recording, Jonathan continued to upgrade his own studio with the latest technologies. Currently using the latest Apple Hardware and Logic 7 software, he is able to Record, Produce, Arrange and Burn client CD's. It's a one-stop production shop. Now teaching, Guitar Piano and Voice, these technologies are essential to give his students immediate feedback regarding their progress and the opportunity to compose and produce their own projects.

In 2002, Jonathan found another way to express his creativity. He hired a screenwriter to bring his story, SKY, to life. Since completed, Sky has received positive reviews and was nearly produced in 2005 by an independent production company that became plagued with internal organizational problems. Undaunted, Jonathan purchased Final Draft screenwriting software and gave another one of his ideas a try. He completed his first screenplay, THE CAGE. QUANAH, and THE WAVERIDERS followed these. He is currently writing the cold war drama with a unique twist, COMRADES. With three more in development, he is busy and continuing to refine his skills. He is marketing his work on the popular web site, INKTIP.COM.

Jonathan has further extended his capabilities. After receiving his pilot's license, Jonathan became acquainted with MALCOLM CAMPBELL who flew Helicopters for the army, including Vietnam. Currently, he is a formation pilot with HERITAGE T-34 FOUNDATION of with Jonathan is a board member. Jonathan began flying with the Formation Team at various air shows and filming the vents. In 2006, he was officially designated to Formation photographer. Now using the latest High Definition technology he is not only filming for the foundation but has expanded his client base to filming local events and editing and producing them in his state of the audio/video studio. Another service he provides is taking a history of family film shots and turning them into a retrospective DVD to be cherished by all the family members.

In 2007, Jonathan opened Vocal Warrior on the worldwide web and is quickly becoming and important voice in the Vocal Training and Home Recording Studio community.

Education

A.A.-1979 Saddleback Community College-Mission Viejo, Ca
Major-Music

B.A.-1983 California State University Fullerton-Fullerton. Ca.
Major-Music Education
Minor-Composition & Arranging

California State Teaching Credentials
Single Subject-Music/Clear
Multiple Subject/Clear

03/92-07/01
Founder, Musical Director and President of the Board\Capistrano Chorale Inc., a California nonprofit organization. Responsibilities included: Producing programs for 75 singers, choosing all music, interviewing new members, negotiating all contracts, directing all sectionals & rehearsals, hiring musicians,directing all shows. Performed 5 concerts in Orange County twice yearly, including the prestigious Barclay Theater in Irvine,Ca.

1990-2007
President - MORGAN STREET MUSIC
Digital Recording, Film Score, Commercials, Song Writing, Demo CD_S, Production Services, Arranging, Lead Sheets, Vocal, Piano and Guitar Instruction. Video Production.

2007 - Present
OPENED "VOCAL WARRIOR" on the WORLDWIDE WEB.

"Quanah" - Click here to read the Script Preview

QUANAH

Logline
The world's ongoing fascination with the stories of the American Indian vs. the US Calvary reaches a climax in QUANAH. The lives of renegade Comanche Quanah Parker, a dying, confession seeking, Calvary General that defeated him and the apprentice New York Times reporter impersonating a priest to get his story all collide to tell this incredible true story.

Synopsis
May 19 1836, renegade Comanche Indians captures CYNTHIA PARKER, 9, during the raid on Fort Parker, Texas. She grows up with the Indians and marries Comanche Chief, PETA NACONA, giving birth to blue eyed future Comanche chief, QUANAH PARKER.

1889, Staten Island, New York, Calvary Brigadier General, RANALD SLIDELL MACKENZIE lies on his deathbed at his cousin's home, a progressive mad man, suffering from advance stages of Syphilis. He is tormented by Indian Spirits seeking their revenge and flashbacks of his commands in the Indian wars and the women and children he ordered killed.

He is especially tormented by memories of his battles with and the eventual capture of QUANAH PARKER the renegade Comanche, only to see him surrender on his own terms. After capturing Quanah, whom he greatly respected, his instincts to leave military service and stop the carnage were overshadowed by his longstanding ambition to become a Calvary General. After proving himself to his superiors by capturing or killing thousands more Indians, he was eventually promoted to Brigadier General in Texas. His triumph was short lived as the advanced stages of Syphilis began to destroy his brain. He was soon relieved of his command and sent to Bloomingdale Mental Hospital in New York.

After discharge, he moves to his cousins, ABAGAIL MACKENZIE, home on Staten Island. She seeks the help of CHARLES MILLER, the Editor of the NEW YORK TIMES, to tell his life story but Ranald demands a PRIEST to attain confession for his sins before he dies. The Editor's son, HOYT MILLER, on winter leave from Dartmouth, is assigned the task. He, reluctantly, masquerades as a Priest to get his story.

When he meets the troubled Ranald, who details the stories of his life in the Civil and Indian wars, he encounters Indian Spirits himself and struggles to work with the, sometimes, insanely violent Ranald.

He learns that, in Texas, Ranald commanded Civil War freed, black soldiers, BUFFALO SOLDIERS, to enslave another race, the AMERICAN INDIAN, part of the general's spiritual torment.

In the end, Ranald receives confession, dies and is buried with honors at West Point.

QUANAH, the last Comanche Chief who leads the surrendered Comanche to financial independence, has his mother's remains returned to the reservation and buried with her people. Three months later, he falls ill and dies, buried next to her.

His life changed forever, Hoyt attends Quanah's funeral, now, actually a priest.

"The Waveriders" - Click here to read the Script Preview

THE WAVERIDERS

Logline
The "BIG CHILL" of surfing! Four middle aged, disillusioned, surfing buddies who followed the Endless Summer thirty years prior, set out again, chronicled by a skeptical teenager. Their world has changed and so will they.

Synopsis
The Waveriders are four restless, middle-aged surfers who grew up together in an idealistic California beach town during the late 60's. They were part of the sport, fashion, music, and the culture that became known as the 'Golden Age of Surfing.'

Thirty years ago, Skagg, Nate, Razz, and Crooner comprised a reckless surfing fraternity dubbed The Waveriders, whose mentor was a local surfing legend known only as "Waterman."

In their eighteenth summer, The Waveriders abruptly packed their surfboards and followed Waterman around the world on an outrageous surfing odyssey; armed only with a cheap home-movie camera.

While their maverick guide remained behind, the seasoned wayfarers returned home with memories of "the most bitchin' summer ever"

Richard Skagmar, the surfing champion turned surf bum; Nathan Standart, the millionaire beachwear mogul; Charles Rassman, the war hero turned restless dentist; and Steven Cromwell, the undiscovered rock star turned organ salesman still remained close friends and still join each summer to celebrate that certain summer they followed the sun.

For Skagg, each reunion of The Waveriders affords him another opportunity to persuade his comrades they should retrace their previous journey and locate Waterman.

Crooner and Razz are eager to accept Skagg's proposal. However, Nate owns a demanding surf wear company and always casts the dissenting vote while firmly vowing, "Next year, for sure next year!"

Yet it is Nate, while secretly facing the grim prognosis of a lifelong blood disease, who abruptly tells all that it is time for The Waveriders pursue the waves and find their missing friend.

Twenty-five years after their first adventure, they set off again to try to reclaim the past.
Against a backdrop of breath-taking scenery, unforgettable surfing sequences, and memorable surfing music, the futile adventures of The Waveriders are chronicled by Skagg's son, Keith; a cynical teenager who has been coerced into coming along by Uncle Nate in order to "hold the camera."

A self-conscious, late-blooming adolescent who is farmed off to his irresponsible father each summer, Keith grudgingly accompanies The Waveriders on their fateful journey, which will provide a unique passage to manhood for this shy, reluctant youth.

Unlike "the most bitchin' summer ever," nothing goes right for our travelers. It is in Hawaii, the paradise where their original adventures ended years ago, that The Waveriders finally confront inner failings, outer facades, and dark secrets and, ultimately, the true measure of friendship---while their youthful escort stumbles through adolescent insecurities and awkward sexual awakenings.

It is here that Razz faces the flashbacks of war induced by cowardice, Crooner confronts his delusions of fame and idolatry, Skagg comes to terms with his declining youth and celebrity and finally assumes adult responsibility, and Nate finally locates the elusive Waterman in time to reconcile a long-hidden secret and his deep fear of death.

It is here that young Keith falls in love for the first time, and eagerly claims his manhood along with the respect he has always desired from others.

It is here that our enlightened travelers bid a tragic farewell to one of their own.
Before their bittersweet journey is ended, our travelers will battle secret demons and hidden fears, experience heart-breaking revelations, which lead to personal victories and achieve, for each of them, a separate peace with their unrequited dreams.

Above all, they will come to understand the precious value of their friendship and realize that the summer must eventually end for everyone----even The Waveriders.

"The Cage" - Click here to read the Script Preview

THE CAGE

Logline
A misunderstood teenage girl becomes a fugitive after she steals her mother's car and leaves town to avoid jail, rescue her dog, find her father and fulfill her dreams.

Synopsis
17 year old, tomboy, SHAWN PRICE is a good intentioned, troubled teenager from a broken home who befriends her rescued Greyhound STRETCH. Her single mother, LINDA PRICE, a burnt-out bartender, struggles to raise she and her "perfect" brother, JACK PRICE.

Shawn's childhood dream has been to fly airplanes like her hero Amelia Earhart and her estranged father, former Air Force pilot, JEFF PRICE. To acquire an autograph from the AIR FORCE THUNDERBIRDS, a gift for her father, Shawn impersonates a Sergeant, breaks on March Air Base and is arrested.

Already on probation for petty theft after stealing a lot of special dog food for Stretch, she is headed for Jail if her mother's boyfriend, police Sergeant FRANK SIMMONS can't work another miracle.

Unable to cope with incarceration, the impending adoption of Stretch, and a need to locate her father who lives in Reno, Shawn steals her mother's car and leaves town, with Stretch, soon pursued by her mother and Simmons.

On her adventurous journey, the public fugitive witnesses an airplane crash and saves the life of former WWII pilot, HANK BROWN, becoming a local hero in Bishop, Ca. Hank is a member the famous Tuskegee Airman, African American fighter pilots. She meets Hank's grandson, GARY BROWN, her first love, trains to be a pilot and reunites with her father who drives down from Reno.

It is Shawn who gives Hank the confidence to fly again after his crash and to face haunting WWII memories of wartime tragedy and prejudice. With wan-a-bee, local pilot, newswoman APRIL DRAGER working diligently to uncover Shawn's true identity and become a famous newsperson, Shawn is forced to face her past.

To save the life of Hank who must be hospitalized with a severe heart ailment under the care of a specialist, Shawn helps Gary and her father fly him back to a hospital near her home where she faces incarceration. Drager, flying her own plane on their tail and broadcasting live on local news in Southern California, claims that Shawn has taken the others hostage. This is a rouse to get her big break and leave Bishop.

In the end, she exposes Drager, saves the life of Hank, again, and creates her future as a pilot with Gary, reuniting her family.

World Famous Voice Coach and Author, Jonathan Morgan Jenkins, has transformed 100’s of voices of all levels and styles into Vocal Powerhouses. He is currently giving a FREE PRIVATE INTERVIEW to anyone interested in finding a qualified Vocal Coach.

Biography of Jonathan Morgan Jenkins