Schizoid Johnny: There's a reason for his name

It was standing room only at Topaz Joe's in Topaz Ranch Estates Friday as Schizoid Johnny, a "varietal virtuoso," capped his performance with comedy and surprises to entertain the crowd. His "one-man band" appearance, provided entertainment to satisfy everyone's tastes in music while donning multiple costumes and portraying multiple personalities as varied as the music he plays. The standards and familiar tunes were intermingled with his own compositions.

One moment he looked like Eddie Montgomery from Montgomery Gentry of country music fame and the next minute he was the image of Batman, flitting through the crowd or becoming a nun, an alien or a hillbilly playing "Rocky Top." The entire performance was totally unpredictable, hence the name Schizoid Johnny.

John Steinhardt, Schizoid's alter ego, toured around the world as a one-man band for more than 20 years, showcasing his music for various audiences including the military before settling into a teaching career but he was still a performer. When not performing he took his quirky style and energy to the classroom as a music teacher and band director for many high schools in the country. Many of his performances were designed as fundraisers for music programs in the schools and many other good causes. He no longer teaches in the school but is devoting his energy, once again, to entertaining.

Steinhardt's music consists of guitars, keyboards, a trumpet, trombone, harmonica, drums, among other instruments, and pre-recorded background music all played by him. He also has a long list of accomplishments to his credit.

Born in La Jolla, Calif., and raised as a country boy near Oshkosh Wis., he started playing the trombone at age nine, guitar and drums at age 11, performed in the high school concerts, marching, pep and jazz bands where he won countless awards; was a catcher on the championship 4-H softball team, played football; started college music classes while still in high school; played professionally with his own rock band by the time he was 14, was passing for 18 when he was 16 while performing in bars from Chicago to Milwaukee to Green Bay to Minneapolis all before he graduated from high school. He went to college at the University of Wisconsin where he received a bachelor's degree in music and education in 1977.

Visit his Web site: www.schizoidjohnny. net for a wider view of the world of Schizoid Johnny.