John began playing for dancing whilst still a teenager, and subsequently worked with a number of dance-bands including those run by Nat Temple, George Birch, Harry Gold, and many others.   He was often to be  found playing with trumpeter Al Wynette  on Sunday afternoons in the Café de Paris, and in other venues with him when the Café closed its doors to dancers.

Recent ventures have included playing in a four piece band for a Motown party last year, and  prior to that playing keyboard in a seven-piece band for a gig in Harrow involving mainly rock and soul covers,  .

From his very early days he has frequently deputized as pianist for ballet schools, especially in the North West London area, and his ability to improvise has been a great asset here.