Middle C Jazz presents singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist John Splithoff - The Stripped Tour, Wed. October 28th, 7pm, Booth Playhouse at Blumenthal Arts Center. Performing solo, Splithoff strips his catalog back to voice and guitar — the setting where his songwriting and one of the most soothing, soulful voices of his generation are most exposed.
The tour arrives amid the strongest commercial stretch of Splithoff’s career. His Spotify monthly listeners climbed past 1.1 million this summer — a 15% jump in a single month — pushing a catalog that has now surpassed 400 million global streams and 60 million video views, alongside more than 115,000 fan-created videos across TikTok and Instagram Reels.
“Tangled,” the first song Splithoff penned for Far From Here, blends classic pop with soulful R&B and shares stories of the joys of romantic entanglement. Schooled in timeless songwriter classicism, his music often draws on similar values of musicality and song structure, with strong melodic hooks and extended bridges. “Tangled” has been widely supported at AC Radio, reaching the Top 30 on the national charts.
Splithoff’s latest album Far From Here, released via Virgin in March 2025, draws on classic soul, pop, jazz, roots and R&B. Mostly self-produced, Splithoff’s voice and musical approach recalls the icons of music from Michael McDonald to Sade, as well as its more celebrated innovators like Benny Sings and Mk.Gee.
John Splithoff was raised in a music-filled home in the suburbs of Chicago surrounded by the sounds of Stevie Wonder, Fleetwood Mac, and Earth, Wind & Fire, cornerstones that shaped his soulful pop style. After picking up guitar at 13 and teaching himself through the music of past decades, his path shifted from sports to songwriting when a missed baseball tryout led him to join a vocal group. He went on to earn a degree in Jazz Performance from the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music before moving to New York City, where he juggled teaching lessons and performing weddings, and crashing on a friend’s couch while crafting his breakout single “Sing to You.” The song amassed over 150 million streams, topped AC Radio, and propelled him onto international stages alongside artists like Sting, Ben Folds, David Foster, and Chris Botti.
Following years of touring, including slots at Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, and opening for Teddy Swims, Splithoff settled in Los Angeles, creatively renewed. His latest album, Far From Here, reflects that evolution, weaving together themes of change, connection, and rediscovery through vivid snapshots of the places and relationships that have defined him. With Far From Here, Splithoff captures both the nostalgia of where he’s been and the clarity of where he’s headed, solidifying his place as one of pop-soul’s most compelling voices.
