Jon Robert Gibson (born January 3, 1962) is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumental musician and record producer. Originally a blue-eyed soul singer, he switched from secular music to contemporary Christian music in the late-1980s. "Friend in You" (1988) and "God Loves a Broken Heart" (1986). His album Jesus Loves Ya (1991) was ranked No. 90 on Time Lifes The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music, while the title track charted at No. 52 on the Top 100 Christian AC. Forever Friends (1992) was voted Album of the Year by CCM Magazine.

Gibson ranked No. 59 out of all Christian artists in the 1980s. According to Frontline Records and Gibson's website, he has at least 22 chart-topping CCM hits with 9 No. 1 songs.

Gibson has recorded with Bill Wolfer (the keyboardist for the Jacksons), Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, MC Hammer, MC Peace, Crystal Lewis, Soup the Chemist, Avery Stafford, John P. Kee, Scott Blackwell and others. He has also performed with Carman and for Prince, collaborating with Justin Timberlake, Herbie Hancock, Maroon 5 and Matthew McConaughey.

Early life

Gibson was born in San Francisco on January 3, 1962. After several encounters with the law, and time spent in juvenile hall, Gibson joined the United States Army at the age of 18. He was given an honorable medical discharge eleven months later, due to an allergic reaction from military vaccines, after serving in the 3rd Infantry Division in Germany. Gibson accepted Christ in his father's car following a church service, and then was baptized by his father in their bathtub.

Career

Secular beginnings

In 1982, at the age of 20, Gibson signed with Dick Griffey's Constellation Records (SOLAR) as a rhythm and blues artist. His debut came as a guest vocalist and songwriter on several songs for Bill Wolfer (the keyboardist for the Jacksons), on his Wolf album, via the Constellation label. The album included Michael Jackson singing background vocals on the Gibson/Wolfer collaboration "So Shy". Griffey circulated Gibson's demo tape, with people believing they were listening to Stevie Wonder, who Gibson sang "Ebony and Ivory" with while on tour in 1983.

Gibson released his debut album, Standing on the One (1983), originally via Constellation (now owned by Unidisc Music). It included "Nation in Need" with a quasi-style rap verse, in addition to other secular tracks such as "It's True" and "Start It All Again". He also produced the single, "She Told Me So" (1983) via Elektra Records, with a music video that premiered on MTV. However, Gibson was torn between his desire for pop stardom and his need to give testimony to his faith. Therefore, he entered the Christian music industry when he signed with Frontline Records after 1985.

Contemporary Christian

Gibson's second album featured his first rap solo, "Ain't It Pretty" (1985), from On the Run (1986). The album was co-produced by Felton Pilate of Con Funk Shun. On the Run was well received, and rendered his first No. 1 single in contemporary Christian music (CCM) to impact Christian radio. "God Loves a Broken Heart" became one of over twenty Top 10 CCM hits for Gibson. He would also experience success with the No. 1 single "Friend in You", Burrell and Tramaine Hawkins previously performed in concerts with Gibson's band at various venues, such as the Beverly Theatre in Beverly Hills (a live performance of "B-Boy Chill" is on YouTube). Gibson was in a gospel rap group with Hammer known as the Holy Ghost Boy(s), with songs later produced and released on their respective albums. Hammer released a song called "Son of the King" on his debut album, Feel My Power (1986). Gibson released "The Wall" on his third album, Change of Heart (1988). The album included Gibson's cover version of "Yah Mo B There" (co-written by Rod Temperton and Quincy Jones), a song originally performed by James Ingram and Michael McDonald.

Gibson collaborated with Stevie Wonder on his fourth album, Body & Soul (1989). Wonder played harmonica on a remake of his own song, "Have a Talk with God", from Songs in the Key of Life (1976). The album peaked at No. 23 on July 29, 1989 (charting for 25 weeks) Wonder's soundtrack album, Jungle Fever (1991), had Gibson singing backup on the track "I Go Sailing" (as well as touring together).

Gibson's fifth album, Jesus Loves Ya (1990), featured multiple musicians including Rob Watson and Doug Webb. It produced two No. 1 singles, the title track and "Love Come Down" (with "Preacher Man" reaching the Top 5). In 1991, "Jesus Loves Ya" was a top selling CCM single, spending a record eleven weeks at No. 1 on the CCM charts. However, several elements frustrated the relationship between Gibson and Frontline Records. The main issue was that Gibson was receiving little if no payment for his recordings. yielded five Top 10 hits (four No. 1s) and was voted Album of the Year by CCM Magazine. The album peaked at No. 3 on August 8, 1992 (charting for 37 weeks), but Frontline Records ran into serious financial trouble. resulting in a nearly three-year hiatus before releasing his seventh album, Love Education (1995). The album peaked at No. 19 on April 15, 1995 (charting for 5 weeks).

Gibson later signed with Ojo Taylor and Gene Eugene of Brainstorm Artists International (BAI). Gibson searched for a record contract for two years, It was a consciously urban-sounding album made with producer Tommy Sims. It didn't fare as well as previous records, therefore Gibson created Imagery Records for his ninth album. He released his first praise album, Soulful Hymns (2002), via his own label.

In June 2010, Gibson released the single "On a Mission", which was available for download. A portion of the funding for a Project 10 album was raised via Kickstarter. The planned album, The Horizons of Knowing, "I'm On a Mission" eventually appeared on Gibson's tenth album, The Storyteller (2012), a tribute album to his father Stan Gibson (who led him to the Christian faith in 1981).

Gibson released the single "Silent War" in March 2022, marking his first new music in a decade. The track was made public for download via his websites. Since 2024, he was raising money for his eleventh studio album via GoFundMe, with his new non-profit ministry and independent recording label Answer to God (ATG). Per his social media, Gibson recorded a duet with Stevie Wonder which hasn't been released.

Musical training and style

Gibson writes, arranges and produces most of his albums, as well as plays most of the instruments. Comments Gibson: