Gibson

John was born in Dallas, Texas and began studying with Oakley Pittman, who was director of bands at Southern Methodist University and principal clarinettist of the Dallas Symphony. John and his family moved to Denver, Colorado where he studied with the retired principal clarinetist of the Denver Symphony, Val (Tiny) Henrich.  Further studies with David Etheridge, Jerry Neil Smith, and John McGrosso completed his studies and resulted in a music education degree and a masters of music performance degree from the University of Colorado. During his time at CU, John discovered his interest in arranging, taking classes in that topic whenever possible.

As a new music teacher, John began arranging music for his instrumental students, an interest that eventually resulted in starting an internet based sheet music publishing business called JB Linear Music in 1998.  The first publications were duets taken from orchestral literature. Mr. Gibson’s theory was that the process of turning a full orchestral work into only two parts required music that was linear in nature, hence the company name of JB Linear! What better linear composer could you have than Rossini, the composer of the first set of duets published by John through JB Linear Music.

Although not always working in the music business, John never stopped playing, particularly in orchestras. While clarinet has been his principal instrument, he also played oboe in orchestras for about 8 years, as well as flute, saxophone and penny whistles in other venues. Presently, John plays clarinet in the Vancouver, Washington Symphony conducted by Salvador Brotons of Barcelona, Spain. He also plays in the Oregon Chamber Players in Portland, Oregon. He is an instructor of clarinet and saxophone at Music World in Vancouver, Washington.

Through JB Linear Music, his music and the music of other selected musicians is played and enjoyed throughout the entire world. Although John loves marketing his music, he also gets great pleasure from giving it away in his monthly newsletter.