John studied with Lewis Van Haney at Indiana University and Edward Herman at the Juilliard School of Music, where he received a Masters degree in trombone performance.

When John returned to San Francisco, he spent several years in the Freeway Philharmonic performing in Napa, Vallejo, Modesto and Walnut Creek. Still driving for a living, John owned and managed a local delivery company, Matrix Express, from 1988 to 2002.

John now pursues a part-time career in music full-time.