jon bellion

Biography

Jonathan David Bellion, born December 26, 1990, in Lake Grove, New York, grew up in an Italian family from Naples and initially pursued basketball before choosing music. After high school, he enrolled in the music program at Five Towns College in Dix Hills, New York, but dropped out at age 19 to focus on professional songwriting. He worked under songwriter and Warner Bros A&R executive Kara DioGuardi for a year, learning to write across genres like rock and hip hop, which honed his versatile style blending pop, hip hop, R&B, and alternative elements.[1][2][3]

Bellion's career took off with early mixtapes starting with Scattered Thoughts Vol. 1 in 2011, followed by signing with Visionary Music Group in 2012 and releasing Translations Through Speakers (2013), The Separation (2013), and The Definition (2014). His debut studio album, The Human Condition (2016), peaked at number five on the US Billboard 200, driven by the double-platinum single 'All Time Low.' He opened for Twenty One Pilots' Emotional Roadshow World Tour and released Glory Sound Prep (2018), which reached number 15. As a prolific songwriter and producer, he contributed to hits like Eminem and Rihanna's 'The Monster' (Grammy winner), Jason Derulo's 'Trumpets,' and recent works for Jonas Brothers' The Album (2023), Maroon 5, and Tori Kelly.[1][4][5]

In 2019, Bellion founded Beautiful Mind Records, signing pop/soul band Lawrence and producing tracks for their debut album Hotel TV (2021). His legacy lies in his genre-fusing production and songwriting prowess, influencing modern pop while maintaining an independent creative voice through mixtapes, tours like The Glory Sound Prep Tour, and ongoing collaborations.[1][2][5]

Fun Facts

• Bellion turned down a college basketball opportunity to pursue music full-time.[2]
• His first mixtape Scattered Thoughts Vol. 1 (2011) garnered over 11,000 downloads via Facebook before he had a label deal.[1]
• In 2023, he released an unfinished song 'Fallen' featuring Jon Batiste directly to social media.[1]
• He covered Drake's 'The Motto' on Visionary Music Group's YouTube page early in his career, helping secure his signing.[1]

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Kara DioGuardi - Songwriter and Warner Bros A&R executive who mentored him in professional songwriting (Learned to write for various artists in rock and hip hop genres) [Around 2010 (age 19)]

Key Collaborators

• Eminem and Rihanna - Co-wrote the chorus ('The Monster' (Grammy for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration)) [2012-2013]
• Jason Derulo - Helped write and produce ('Trumpets') [Early 2010s]
• Lawrence (band) - Signed to his Beautiful Mind Records label; wrote and produced singles; they opened for his tours ('Casualty,' 'It's Not All About You,' 'The Weather' from Hotel TV) [2019-2021]
• Jonas Brothers - Co-wrote and co-produced every song (The Album (2023) including 'Wings,' 'Waffle House,' 'Summer Baby') [2023]
• Maroon 5 - Co-wrote and co-produced ('Memories,' 'Middle Ground') [2019-2023]
• Halsey - Produced ('Graveyard') [2019]
• Camila Cabello - Produced ('Liar,' 'Shameless') [2019]
• Justin Bieber (feat. Chance the Rapper) - Produced ('Holy') [2020]

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #hip-hop, #pop