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He has been travelling the world for the past 23 years bringing a unique brand of joy to audiences wherever he goes. He began playing the guitar at age 5 and he taught himself to play as well. At age 9, he was considered a genuine prodigy and won his first guitar competition against 30 other players. Between age 11 and 16 he could play every stringed instrument. He learned from records of Chet Atkins and Doc Watson. At the age of 16, he released his first album, a collection of bluegrass instrumentals and began touring as a sideman on the US Festival circuit.
These appearances led to 10 years of television spots, tours, recording sessions and many memorable evenings at the Grand Ole Opry and performed with such music giants such as, Alan Jackson, Waylon Jennings, Marty Stuart, Earl Scruggs, Vince Gill, Travis Tritt and Kitty Wells. His top USA achievement was an appearance on the CBS's televised extravaganza reopening of the Ryman Auditorium, the original Grand Ole Opry building in 1994.
J.P. is married to Hilda Chiasson, a world renowned pianist from Cape Breton whom he met at a Louisina Festival in 1994. He & Hilda returned to Cape Breton in 1995 from the USA where they made their home. Since then, he has six albums to his credit, a Juno nomination and multiple East Coast Music Award nominations including the 2003 nomination for Male Artist of the Year and the 2003 award for Intrumental Artist of The Year.
He has ready released in 2004, two new albums and has had many Festival appearances including Scotland, Denmark, Kentucky, New York and in Nova Scotia. Tour dates are well planned for 2006 with stops in USA and across Canada. J.P. released a CD entitled, X...a mandolin collection, and was a winner all the way. His follow-up CD, was, a Gordon Lightfoot tribute album, entitled, The Long River. J.P. won folk album of the year for this album in ECMA 2006. He had been nominated 4 times for ECMA 2006. J.P. also performed on 2 compilation albums, entitled, Atlantic Standards and on John Allan Cameron's Tribute Album. In late 2006, he released TAKE FIVE-A Banjo Collection. J.P. is nominated 5 times for ECMA 2007 for: Male Solo Recording , Bluegrass Recording, DVD, Instrumental Recording and Folk Recording. The 2006 CD's nominated were: J.P. Cormier-The Man and His Music and Take Five...A Banjo Collection. He tours 300 days a year with his wife Hilda on piano and harmony vocals and added musicians depending on the tour requirements.
In 2006, J.P. and his business associates, formed IAG Recordings (Independent Artist Group), a new proudly Independent and unique specialty label. All IAG information can be found on his website. For more information regarding J.P and his music, click into his website, address posted above.
UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2013:
J.P. recently released a brand new album entitled: SOMEWHERE IN THE BACK OF MY HEART. watch for a review of this album shortly.
