-1982-83- JK began his career as Lead Guitarist for Billy Thorpe (Children of the Sun, Pasha Records), touring the United States and Australia. Band members included drummer Frankie Banali (Quiet Riot) and bassist Bruce Turgon (Foreigner, Lou Gramm), opening for such bands as Cheap Trick and Ted Nugent as well as headlining many shows. -1984-85- Wrote songs and played guitar on two records for Warner Pioneer recording artist, Steffanie, as well as toured, appeared on television and in her videos.
-1984-85- Wrote songs and played guitar on two records for Warner Pioneer recording artist, Steffanie, as well as toured, appeared on television and in her videos.
-1985-86- Joined EMI Recording artists Rail, again touring and opening for Ted Nugent and others as well as headlining many shows.
-1987-89-Formed the band Northrup with singer Johnny Edwards (Montrose and later Foreigner, Royal Jelly). During this time, they wrote and recorded many songs. One song they wrote together, "Ready for the Rain", was later recorded on the Foreigner, "Unusual Heat" record in 1991. He also recorded and performed on the King Kobra lll CD with legendary drummer Carmine Appice. Three of his songs were featured on that CD including "Walls of Silence". Also appeared on MTV in the video for the song Take it Off. Some of his songs were used for television, including episodes for Michael Landons hit television series, "Highway to Heaven".
-1991-93- Recorded, wrote, played guitars and produced the Paul Shortino, Back on Track CD featuring Jeff Northrup, released on Alfa Records. The CD featured many other great recording artists including, Carmine Appice, James Kottak (Scorpions, Kingdom Come), Jeff Pilson (Dokken, Foreigner), Sean McNabb (House of Lords,Great White), Matt Bissinette (David Lee Roth) and Toto singer, Bobby Kimball. Toured with Band members, Paul Shortino, James Kottak, Sean McNabb.
-1995- Recorded, co-wrote, played guitars and produced the self titled CD, "Cage", with singer Terry Ilous (XYZ) released on King Records. This CD also featured a who's who of artists including, Vinnie Appice (Dio, Black Sabbath), Carmine Appice, Randy Castillo (Ozzie, Motley Crue), James Kottak, Myron Grambacher (Pat Benatar), Tony Franklin (The Firm, Blue Murder), Phil Soussan (Ozzie, Billy Idol, Vince Neil) and Sean McNabb. Played rhythm and lead guitar for the Black Sheep "Sacrifice" CD. Appeared on the Black Sheep video for the song "Someone Like You" with James Kottak and Willie Basse.
-1997- Co-wrote, played Guitars and co-produced the CD, "Flynn", The Day I Spoke to Dog with singer Terry Ilous, released on VIP Records. This CD also featured another legendary drummer, Vinnie Colaiuta (Sting and many others).
-1998-2002- Released the self titled CD, JK Northrup on Metal Mayhem Music with recordings from the 1988-90 era with Johnny Edwards on vocals. Produced numerous bands in the United States and wrote and/or produced songs for commercials for such companies as Disney, American Express, Intel, Microsoft, HGTV, Earthlink and numerous others (this continues through to the present).
The JK Northrup "Play it on 11" Best Of is released July 8 2002 on MTM Music. The instrumental song "I.M.N.U." is featured on the Jason Becker Volume 2 tribute CD on "Lion Records". Also, another instrumental song, "Remember Me" was featured on the NYC Charity CD out on "Now and Then/Frontiers Records" benifiting the families who lost loved ones in the Sept. 11th tragedy and the Red Cross.
-2003- XYZ "Letter to God" CD is released. JK co-wrote, co-produced and played all guitars, as well as engineered and mastered it.
-2004- Shortino/Northrup "Afterlife" is released on MTM Music. All songs were written by JK (with the exception of two were co-written with Johnny Edwards). He also recorded, mixed and mastered it.
-2005- Toured with XYZ and Terry Ilous. Also toured with "The Acoustic Outcasts" featuring Ron Keel (Keel, Steeler), Charlie Wayne (Bullet Boys), Kelly Keeling (Blue Murder, MSG, Baton Rouge), Terry Ilous.
He started his music production company "Alien Productions", producing, recording and mixing numerous bands and recording artists and produced and recorded commercials for companies such as HGTV, Fine Living Channel, DIY Network and the GAC Country music Network.
-2006-Produced, engineered, mixed and mastered numerous cd's with various artists through his Alien Productions facility including Terry Ilous's XYZ "Forbidden Demos", The Mood Groove "Stones, Bones and Broken Shells" and the new "MelodicRock.com V3" cd for Andrew McNeice in Australia.
-2007- New JK Northrup "Wired In My Skin" released in March through the new Record label, "Alien Prod Records"! It features such legandary vocalists as Kelly Keeling (Blue Murder, MSG, Baton Rouge, Trans Siberian Orchestra), Johnny Edwards (Montrose, Foreigner, Royal Jelly, JK Northrup), Ted Poley (Danger Danger), Terry Ilous (XYZ, I.R.S.), newcomer vocalist David Zaragoza (Category 7), drummers Glenn Hicks (JK Northrup, Paul Shortino) and another newcomer, DanZoid (Mood Groove, W.N.G.C.) who played drums on 7 tracks!
Recorded, , co-produced (with Ted Poley), mixed, mastered and played Guitars and Bass on Ted Poley's "Smile" album released on Frontiers Records.
Recorded new album with my other band "The Mood Groove" titled Mr. Green Jeans War Blue.
-2008- Played guitar solos on the new "SOLNA" album featuring artists such as drummer Zane Peterson, lead vocalist Ms. Pamela Moore, known as "Sister Mary" from Queensryche's "Operation Mindcrime I & II") , JK Northrup on solos, Rob De Luca (Sebastian Bach / Spread Eagle) on bass, both Jan and Pete (Guitarist and vocalist) of Stonelake and Zane's long-time friend, Eric Ragno (David Reedman/Steve Grimmett/Michael Bormann/Ted Poley) on keys. Joey Vera has also been asked to be featured on 3 songs. Much more to come....
Discography
1985- Steffanie "Hideaway" (Warner Pioneer)
1986- Steffanie "Pink Noise" (Warner Pioneer)
1988- King Kobra lll (New Renaissance )
1993- Shortino/Northrup "Back on Track" (Alfa Records)
1996- Cage s /t (King Records)
1997- Black Sheep "Sacrifice" (Rockscool Records)
1998- Flynn "The Day I Spoke to Dog" (VIP Records)
2001- JK Northrup s/t (Metal Mayhem Music)
2002- "Best Of" JK Northrup "Play it on 11" (MTM Music)
2002- "Warmth In the Wilderness" Tribute to Jason Becker (Lion Records)
2003- XYZ "Letter To God" (MTM Music)
2003- MelodicRock.com CD #1
2004- Shortino/Northrup "Afterlife" (MTM Music)
2004- Melodicrock V2 "The Beast Inside"
2006- Mood Groove "Stones, Bones and Broken Shells
2006- MelodicRock.com "V3"
2007- JK Northrup "Wired In My Skin" (Alien Prod Records)-(NL Distribution Europe)
2007- Enjae (independent)
2007- Ted Poley "Smile" (Frontiers Records)
2007- Category7 (independant)
2007- Terry Ilous "Here and Gone" (FYCO Records)
2007- The Mood Groove "Mr. Green Jeans War Blue" (independent)
2008- Solna "Eurameric" " CDINZANE"