Quiet student is passionate about his music
By Crystal Fulara
When called upon in class, Jonathan Eckberg smiles shyly and gives a quiet answer. However, put a guitar in his hands, his face lights up and a passionate singer emerges.
Eckberg, who plays piano, drums, bass, but mostly guitar, grew up performing in the Walnut Community Bible Church where his dad is the pastor.
His parents had a love of music. He dad was in a few bands and he mother knew piano. His older brothers also took a liking to music, so it was only natural that Eckberg was interested.
The band he’s in now is mostly family – he, two of his brothers and one other person make up Casual Man. The group plays mostly in clubs, bars, parties and coffee houses.
The 20-year-old Eckberg says they play for fun right now, but he is planning a future in music.
"Whether it be through writing songs for people or performing, them, music will be my career," he said.
What would he do if he could not make it in music? Get a job, save money and keep working towards a music career, he said.
Eckberg graduated from Bureau Valley High School and attended a school in southern Illinois before ending up at IVCC. In order to earn money for college, he made a CD entitled "Waiting for My Day" and sold it to his friends. The CD is mostly blues style.
Eckberg wrote every song on his CD except the one entitled "What’s Your Problem," which he co-wrote with Zach DeMay.
For his inspiration in life, he admires his mother and father. For song writing inspiration, he looks up to song writer Bebo Norman. His favorite guitarists include Derek Webb, Glen Phillips and Stevie Ray Vaughn.
Eckberg says music is his "one true passion in life."
The look on his face while he’s performing proves that it is.