John Schlitt

John Schlitt began singing when he was just five years old, performing the leads in recitals and plays in his school. It soon became clear that a career in music was in John's future. He finished college with a degree in civil engineering and promptly set about making a name for himself in the world of rock 'n roll. His unique, fiery tenor and unbridled passion for singing landed him a gig fronting the group Head East.
In 1980 he was let go by the band. The reason: John had an out-of-control drug and alcohol addiction.
Through the witness of his wife, Dorla, and their pastor, John accepted Christ as Savior and friend. He resolved to live for God and even forsake music, if that was what God ordered. He ended up looking for practical work to support his family, starting from scratch. But God wasn't done with him musically. In fact, it turned out that John's days in Head East were a precursor to something greater. Five years after firmly putting music behind him, God called John back to fronting the Christian rock band Petra.
John Schlitt officially joined Petra in 1986, bringing with him his amazing vocal range and abilities that made him a legend with Head East. Except this time, his mind was no longer blown on drugs and alcohol – he was clean, focused, and armed with a powerful message: God made us to be winners - Jesus Christ is alive and through Him we are to be victorious in His perfect plan for us.
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This perfect plan continues on for John, releasing "Vertical Expressions" in 2007 with Bob Hartman as "II Guys from Petra," and also a third solo release, "The Grafting," in 2008.