Jonathan Soto
Drummer / Percussionist
My name's Jonathan Soto. I'm a drummer and a percussionist. I began tapping rhythmically to the sound of my dad's worship team at two months of age says my mother. Since then I've been drumming on things. My dad would let me sit in with the worship team when I was about two years old. And I got my first kit when I was about two. I think it was either for my birthday or Christmas.
There were times when I would go months without playing when I was younger. I guess I kind of took drumming for granted then. I began taking drum lessons from Jill Unrein when I was pretty young and by about the age of ten I was playing on the kid's church worship team at my private school, Christian Life School. The music was contemporary Christian rock music. From then on I played on the kid's church worship team until after Jr. high. I took lessons from Jill on and off till about the age of 11. I also Jammed with some friends of mine around that time. And when I was about ten I began taking drum lessons from Mark Nelson for a few months.
When I was in Jr. high I began playing on my youth group, Impact's worship team. I played on that worship team on and off until I moved to Florida in Dec of 2000. I began playing on my Jr. High, Washington Middle School's Jazz band and orchestra when I was 12 years old. I played in those bands until I went to high school.
When I was 14 years old I began jamming with Mr. Meaner, a high school punk band. I played with them for a few months then left the band. At about 14 I began playing in a Gospel music worship team at Zion Revival Center. I played on their worship teams for a few months as well.
By the end of 2000 I had developed a healthy passion for Jazz. When December 2000 rolled around I moved to Florida with my family and began playing in Mitchell High School's marching band shortly thereafter. I played with their band for the remainder of the school year until late spring 2001. At about that time I began sitting in with a local jam sesh at the Moose Lodge. It was organ based Jazz music which I enjoyed. By the end of the summer of that year I was taking drum lessons from a fellow named Eddie Graham. He's a great drummer with a knack for Jazz. I took lessons from him for a little bit. Then when school began that year I got involved in the Gulf High School Jazz band. I stayed on that Jazz band for the rest of the school year.
About that time I began getting heavily involved with the high school NJROTC. About six months after school ended I joined the Marine Corps. I served from November 10, 2003 - February 15, 2005. I got out with an honorable discharge. While I was in I didn't play drums as much, but soon after I got out I began getting involved in music again and playing in bands. Since I've been out of the Marine Corps I've played in the following bands: Spiral Garden, Three Bullet Theory, The Jake Kalosi Experience, Blue Miles, Magic Shoppe(percussion), and now I'm on the Ohr Chadash worship team at my Messianic Jewish congregation.
I will be starting school in May at St. Petersburg College to study music. As for now I'm looking forward to what the Lord Jesus Christ has for me and one day I know I'll be serving Him in music full-time. Thanks for your time. I hope the best for all of you. God bless.
-Jonathan Soto
Ps. To hear me drumming check out this my space page and click on Blue Miles on the music player. Here's the link
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=258186537