John Angotti - Biography


Catholic Music Artist, John Angotti was raised in Clarksburg, West Virginia; a small community nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Third in a family of 4 adopted children (with an older brother and two sisters), John's first ability to speak without stuttering was at the age of 4 when he sang the hymn "The Church’s One Foundation." How appropriate for the mission God has planned for him thus far! An accomplished and superb pianist, John began studying piano at the age of seven. His mother, who has been a church musician for over 50 years, motivated him to become involved with church music at a very early age through the children's choir at church. "I believe it was there at that age where I truly began to form my beliefs about God through the songs we were singing," Angotti says. John has been writing Catholic music since his mid-teen years at St. Joseph Seminary where he was considering entering the priesthood. "After I left the seminary, it never dawned on me that God perhaps wanted me to do something else for the church, perhaps more suited for the gifts God gave me," he says jokingly. It was in the music director positions that followed where Angotti found himself composing songs for use in worship on Sunday, songs the entire congregation loved to sing during their prayer. His wife Tracy said that he should record some of these songs because people were asking for his music to listen to for inspiration in their cars and homes. In 1995 John signed a distribution deal with World Library Publications (WLP) in Chicago, Illinois. There he met Father Jim Marchionda, OP, a Dominican preacher who was also a composer for WLP. Father Jim invited John to be the accompanist for him at some workshops at the Los Angeles Religious Education Conference. He also let John be involved in the workshops, explaining how to combine old, traditional hymns with new stylistic rhythms and give new spirit to what could be considered a "boring" hymn to a young generation. At that moment, Angotti began to see the plan unfolding... "...I feel that no matter what I want to do with my life on a personal side, I've come to see that my vocation, not my occupation in life, is to help the people of this world come to know God both on a personal and communal level..." John's collection of experiences as Director of Children's, Young Adult, Adult, and Contemporary Music Choirs, as well as his experiences in the secular world, has prepared him for his current ministry of touring full time. John currently lives with his wife Tracy and two wonderful children, Dominica Marie and John III (Tre), in Memphis, Tennessee. John continues to spread his message of prayer through song taking a special interest in reaching today's youth and stressing the importance of prayer through music for all ages. He has performed at the National Catholic Youth Conference, National Conference for Youth Ministers, National Pastoral Musicians Conference, Los Angeles Religious Education Conference, The East Coast Religious Education Conference, The National Catholic Education Association Conference, The Hofinger Religious Education Conference in New Orleans, and appearances at many churches throughout the United States. Through his ministry of music and word, John Angotti shares his experiences and message that Jesus is Lord and Savior of us all. "...When I look back on my path of life, it all becomes so clear as to God's call, but I know that if I didn't fall and stumble along the way, I would never know what it means to be forgiven by a God who truly loves each and everyone of us..."