FROM PIANO LESSONS TO THE LAS VEGAS STAGE: JON MCLAUGHLIN’S MUSICAL JOURNEY

FROM PIANO LESSONS TO THE LAS VEGAS STAGE: JON MCLAUGHLIN’S MUSICAL JOURNEY

From The Talk About Las Vegas Podcast | a podcast by Ira Sternberg by Ira David Sternberg

April 5, 2026 · 29 min

About this episode

Jon McLaughlin discusses his musical journey from piano lessons to performing on stage in Las Vegas.

This week on “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Ira sits down with acclaimed singer-songwriter Jon McLaughlin, who performs April 11 at Myron’s at The Smith Center. In this engaging conversation, Jon reflects on a lifelong relationship with music that began at the piano as a child. Coming from a musical family—his father and grandfather were musicians—weekly lessons were simply part of growing up. Now a father himself, Jon shares why he won’t push music on his daughters, even though they already love the pi-ano. Jon also talks about the professor (Jonathan Brooks) who profoundly influenced his musical thinking while he attended Anderson University, helping him realize that music could be both simple and deeply personal. That realization helped shape the songwriting style that has become his signature. In the conversation, Jon discusses why lyrics matter so much to him, how he finds creative inspiration by forcing himself to listen to new music, and what he calls finding “the office”—that focused place where songwriting happens. He also shares stories about the first time he knew his career path was the right one, the thrill of his first sold-out show in Denver, and the powerful…

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