John Wayne Townsend is an American singer-songwriter. He is best known for being the lead singer and keyboardist for Sanford-Townsend Band, and co-writer of their 1977 US top 10 hit "Smoke from a Distant Fire".
Townsend was brought up in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Townsend said in 2004 that his father was his first influence in music, as he could remember being in church as a two-year old and seeing him singing, adding "I owe it all to him, all my early attempts at singing were imitations of my father". Some of his other musical influences include Ray Charles, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett and James Brown. Townsend joined his first band in high school at the request of his friend, Jimmy Wilson, who was on guitar. At the age of eighteen, he attended the University of Alabama, wanting to become a doctor.
While studying Chemistry at university, he was called by Johnny Wyker, who asked him to front his band as it would help him fund his education; Townsend agreed on the condition that his friend Tippy Armstrong would also join on guitar. The band became The Magnificent Seven, but soon changed to The Rubber Band because of the title of the film of the same name and its copyright. The Rubber Band recorded "Let Love Come Between Us", written by Wyker, which would later become a hit for James & Bobby Purify.
The Rubber Band soon disbanded and in 1967, John was contacted by Paul Hornsby asking him to join Hour Glass in Los Angeles, an offer he declined. In 1968, Townsend formed The Heart in Montgomery, but soon moved to Hollywood. The Heart released a few records that did not go commercial, however the band were an opening act for Jimi Hendrix. The Heart disbanded in the late 1960s and Townsend wrote and recorded a few demos with a San Bernardino band that featured Mike Collings, Roger White, Dan Greer, and Steve Woodward, some of whom would later be future backing members for Loggins and Messina. This band, called Feather, had a minor hit with "Friends" in 1969. Townsend wasn't happy with the direction the band was going and left soon after.
After a few years of working odd jobs, John ran into his Heart band member Ed Sanford. They spent a year writing songs and performing in clubs, and through John's friend, drummer Merel Bregante, met recording engineer Alex Kazanegras. They soon got a songwriter deal with Chappell Music, and after passing demos around got the attention of Warner Records, who signed them on as the Sanford-Townsend Band. In 1977, the band had their biggest hit with "Smoke from a Distant Fire", which peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100. The Sanford-Townsend band opened for Fleetwood Mac and toured with The Marshall Tucker Band and Charlie Daniels.
By the early 1980s, John left working with Sanford to take some time off after their constant touring.
Townsend went into songwriting, working with Kenny Loggins, Larry Carlton and Gregg Allman; he wrote "Peacemaker", a minor hit for Loggins and Messina. He would also sung jingles for commercials and film scores. Townsend met Don Henley, who helped him sign with MCA records; when signed to MCA, a band was put together to back him, "John Townsend and Friends".
In 1991, Townsend learned that Allman was playing at a country club in Reseda, and drove up to meet him. Allman invited him back to his house in San Francisco, which led to him joining Gregg Allman Band. He toured with Allman for a year and half before Gregg's commitment with the reformed Allman Brothers Band meant the band had to be put on halt.
Townsend then met Dan Toler and his brother Frank. He then moved to Florida and formed the Townsend/Toler band. After a few years Townsend moved back to Los Angeles, and started performing in clubs as a solo artist, all while writing new material. He was contacted by Alex Kazanegras, who had helped him and Sanford out in the 1970s, and asked to start producing for him.
Townsend still tours as a solo artist, and on occasion has reunited with Sanford for one-off concerts. More recently he has worked with Cannibal & the Headhunters.