Who is the Big Swede?

KUNG FU FIGHTING (Carl Douglas)

TIME FOR ME TO FLY (REO Speedwagon)

TAKE IT ON THE RUN (REO Speedwagon)

IN YOUR LETTER (REO Speedwagon)

COURTESY OF THE RED, WHITE, & BLUE (Toby Keith)

BREAKFAST TIFFANY’S (Deep Blue Something)

RUNAROUND (Blues Traveler)

COME AND GET IT (Badfinger)

NO MATTER WHAT (Badfinger)

US BLUES (Grateful Dead)

TIME (Hootie and the Blowfish)

WAGON WHEEL (Darius Rucker)

HUNGRY HEART (Bruce Springsteen)

NEW AGE GIRL (Deadeye Dick)

TRACKS OF MY TEARS (Linda Ronstadt)

SHE WORKS HARD FOR THE MONEY (Donna Summer)

SUMMER NIGHTS (Grease)

SHE HATES ME (Puddle of Mudd)

YOU AND I BOTH (Jason Mraz)

I GO BLIND (Hootie and the Blowfish)

THE WAITING (Tom Petty)

DON’T DO ME LIKE THAT (Tom Petty)

THE WAY (Fastball)

CLOSER TO FREE (The Bodeans)

CRUISE (Florida-Georgia Line)

BAD DAY (Fuel)

THE FRESHMEN (Verve Pipe)

SIMPLE MAN (Lynyrd Skynyrd/Shinedown)

JUST LIKE JESSE JAMES (Cher)

DANIEL (Elton John/Fuel)

MERCY (Brett Young)

ROSIE (Jackson Browne)

THE RIVER (Bruce Springsteen)

I'D LOVE TO CHANGE THE WORLD (Ten Years After)

GROW OLD WITH YOU (Adam Sandler)

BOTHER (Stone Sour)

HEAVEN (Warrant)

I USED TO LOVE HER (Guns 'n Roses)

RUN TO YOU (Bryan Adams)

HERE I GO AGAIN (Whitesnake)

HOME (Daughtry)

YOU CAN'T GO HOME (Bon Jovi)

KNOCK THREE TIMES (Tony Orlando)

SISTER GOLDEN HAIR (America)

JUMPER (Third Eye Blind)

I NEED A FAVOR (Jellyroll)

TAKE IT EASY (The Eagles)

I NEVER CRY (Alice Cooper)

SHE TALKS TO ANGELS (Black Crowes)

WISH YOU WERE HERE (Pink Floyd)

MOTHER (Pink Floyd)

EVERY ROSE HAS ITS THORN (Poison)

LET HER CRY (Hootie and the Blowfish)

GRENADE (Bruno Marz)

CHASING CARS (Snow Patrol)

TONIGHT I WANNA CRY (Keith Urban)

GOODBYE IN HER EYES (Zac Brown Band)

OVERKILL (Men at Work)

Over the years John has played in some wildly popular regional bands such as Fallacy, Psycho Bettie, LaScala, (and even filled in with The Mudflaps). He also had the opportunity to jam alongside some truly world-class acts (the kind that even John can't believe he has played with). 

This is a strange set of circumstances and coincidences. First of all, John is NOT Swedish. So, where did the name "Swede" come from? 

John was heavily involved in the world of Strongman strength events. At his peak of muscularity, he weighed in at an amazing 385 pounds! His stepson and his friends noted his overall similarity to a popular strongman of the day known as the Big Swede. This is the beginning of the tale of the Big Swede name.

Second twist to the story: As John advanced in his career at work he was assigned a company phone. Shortly after getting this phone, he received a phone call that began with the greeting "Hey Swede, how are you?!". Since John had no idea who the caller was, he asked who he was calling. The caller was trying to contact the former owner of the phone number who was AN ACTUAL, REAL-LIFE BIG SWEDE and that was what people actually called him! Strange, huh?

As John got older, he decided that it was probably a good idea to start shedding his unnecessary "bulk" that he gained over the years. The idea of being "big" is not so important as being healthy. In reality, John is probably more like "The Medium Swede", but it doesn't really roll off the tongue, does it?

So, even though he is not Big or Swedish, the name has become a familiar part of his history...

Everybody has some interests that are especially important to them. Here are John's:

FELINE RESCUES: John and his wife Rose have been involved in feline rescues for almost 4 decades! They have rescued, fed, and rehomed countless outdoor cats. They have also provided the funding for veterinary care, vaccinations, specialty prescription foods, and spaying/neutering for every one of them without any outside assistance.

THYROID CANCER AWARENESS: Several years ago, John was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and had a total thyroidectomy followed by radiation treatment. John was first alerted to remain vigilant after a company health fair identified nodules on his thyroid. John is doing great and has zero lingering issues. However, John is a firm believer in remaining aware of your personal health changes, getting regular checkups, and not ignoring possible problems.

HEART HEALTH: A close loved one felt a bit nauseous after a meal. Instead of ignoring it, they got checked and were diagnosed with an 8 cm aortic dissection! Her aorta was actually coming apart. This condition is almost always fatal and only diagnosed at an autopsy. If the warning signs were ignored, they would not be here today. This is one of the causes John holds closest to HIS heart (see what I did there?).