Jon David Gorman has been playing music his entire life. His father was a guitar player and Jon David remembers listening to his dad play when he was very young. His father unfortunately passed soon after, and his mother Tara Gorman, goddess of Awesomeness and co-founder of Planetary Gigs Society, began hosting Music Nights at their house practically every month. The idea was to invite anyone who wanted to come play music at the Gorman house, and many fine and talented musicians routinely showed up.

Jon David considered himself very lucky and was grateful for the Music Nights with so many ‘super encouraging’ friendly musicians who helped him learn to play. He first took guitar lessons, then saxophone in 4th grade, before settling on bass as his main instrument. The Music Nights became like organic lessons, learning tips here, chords there. Music Nights taught him to be a very versatile player.

He says music is powerful because it conveys emotions and ‘music builds empathy.’ Jon David wants to use music to help build community. He got some good advice at one point, to learn a song that means something and play it, and he tries to follow that advice. He believes music is just as worth it as learning any other language.