Jon Dennis Keliehor

Born in Lincoln Nebraska, Jon Keliehor spent his childhood in Seattle, Washington. Music interests began early on during the long days at his mother's dance studio. In 1950 the family adopted a 5-year-old girl, Bonnie Jean. By the age of 12 his mother had found a permanent teaching position nearby on Vashon Island where they resettled. Here he remained until 1959 continuing to develop interests in music. He was accepted into the University of Washington School of Music when he was 17, and after two and a half years was asked to become a full time member of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra.

By 1962 he was performing with jazz and rhythm and blues groups. As Seattle progressed into the psychedelic era in 1965, he became a founder member of the group The Daily Flash. He toured extensively with that group and then with another Seattle group, Bodine. Living in Los Angeles, he performed and recorded with well-known artists.

He moved to London in 1970 accepting an opportunity to join London Contemporary Dance Theatre where he began teaching music, performing and composing music with the company. His music continued to develop through opportunities with LCDT, the Royal Ballet, and many contemporary dance companies. He wrote music for BBC, ITV, Bruton Music and independent artists. In 1977 he established a music studio at the Diorama Arts, remaining in England through mid-1984.

Returning to Los Angeles he searched for possible outlets for his music. By 1986 had relocated to Seattle working for the Dance College at Cornish College of the Arts. He founded Luminous Music Studios, performed with Gamelan Pacific, composed music and touring with DanzaHoy in Venezuela. In 1989 he met Signy Jakobsdottir. They were married in 1992, and their son Brendan Lukas Keliehor was born in 1993. In 1996 they decided to return to Glasgow, Scotland where he established Luminous Music in 1997, a centre for educational activities around percussion instruments and music for contemporary dance. Luminous Music produced a full catalogue of Keliehor’s music compositions.