J.P. SLOANE

Award-Winning Television & Radio Producer,
Recording Artist/Actor, Writer, Biblical Scholar

Because of his versatility and many talents, media mogul Joe Battaglia, the former Chairman of the Gospel Music Association and past President of the National Association of Religious Broadcasters, describes J.P. Sloane as a rare Renaissance Man. J.P. Sloane is featured in the Millennium edition of Marquis Who's Who in the World and currently appears in the Dictionary of International Biography (Cambridge, England), as well as the current Who's Who in the World and Who's Who in America, where he is recognized as an award-winning television and radio producer, recording artist, actor, writer and biblical scholar. J.P. Sloane is also honored by his inclusion as one of the 2000 Outstanding Intellectuals of the 21st Century (Cambridge, England).

EDUCATION:

Purdue University, Department of Television Communications Certification (1981)
Oral Roberts University Institute of Charismatic Studies (1985)
Institute of Jewish-Christian Studies (1992)
Moody Bible Institute (1998)
IBEX campus in Israel (The Master's College extension): Jewish Thought and Culture; Cultures and Religions of the Mideast; Physical Geography of Israel; Archaeology (2001)
Masters College, BA summa cum laude (2003)
Masters College, M.A.B.C.
Trinity Theological Seminary, Doctor of Religious Studies (in progress)
National Dean's List Publication Biographical Listing 1998, 1999, 2000
Life member, The National Scholars Honor Society

Most of us begin life in the usual manner with little or no fanfare. However, J.P. Sloane began life with a special designation right from the start. The story unfolds before J.P. was born. His father, radio and television’s Jimmie Jackson, was credited with writing and performing the first "singing commercial." His father also wrote the fight song (Flying Tigers in the China Sky) for the famous WWII Flying Tigers. His mother, Anita Coleman, known as radio and television’s Hollywood Hostess, was also the first Sweetheart of the Flying Tigers. (Others, like Rhonda Fleming who starred in the 1951 movie remake of Flying Tigers and Jane Mansfield, would follow later as Flying Tiger Sweethearts). In an unusual coincidence, Jimmie and Anita's son, J.P. Sloane, was born in Hollywood, California on September 6, the same month and day as the Flying Tigers General, Clair Chennault was born, so right from birth Sloane begain life as the official Mascot of the Flying Tigers. Incidentally, it was the heroic adventures of the Flying Tigers fighting against the Japanese air force for China that inspired the original 1942 movie Flying Tigers which was John Wayne's first starring role in a war movie.

Sloane, on his mother's side, is also a direct descendant of Jean Lafitte, the privateer who is arguably the main reason that Andrew Jackson was able to fight off the British forces and save the city of New Orleans in the War of 1812, thus preventing England the access to the Mississippi River, which would have made the United States vulnerable to a British victory.

As a veteran of films, radio, television and recordings J.P. Sloane began singing at a very young age through his father's encouragement. His father hosted radio shows that were broadcast on WHN atop the Lowe's State Building in New York's Times Square and on KFWB (Warner Bros.) in Hollywood, California. Neil Reagan (President Reagan's brother) was one of his show's announcers, as was Hal Smith (Otis of The Andy Griffith Show). And so, through his father's encouragement, J.P. started his formal theatrical training at the Meglin Studios in his hometown of Hollywood, California when he was four years old.

His first national radio debut was at the age of five on Art Linkletter's House Party, broadcast on CBS' radio network. A few years later, Lucille Ball's good friend and mentor, motion picture director Ed Sedgwick, discovered and signed J.P. to a contract with Universal International Studios where J.P.

played the part of Billy Kettle, a featured role in the Ma and Pa Kettle movie series. J.P. has the distinction of being one of the youngest actors ever to be under contract at Universal Studios.

During the 1950's, J.P. appeared for several years on the Memory Lane television show which was broadcast on channels 9 and 13 in Hollywood. The show extraordinarily surpassed The Ed Sullivan Show in ratings for twelve weeks straight. J.P. was also featured for two years on the cover of Fawcett Publications' comic books with his Godfather, western motion picture star, Lash LaRue. The issues on which J.P. appeared sold a record-breaking six million copies which included domestic and international markets.

Actress, Barbara Fuller (former Mrs. Lash LaRue) is Sloane's Godmother. Ms. Fuller was featured in a 14-year leading part on the Pulitizer Prize award-winning radio soap opera, One Man's Family and starred in over 16 motion pictures (1940's-1970's). Barbara Fuller also appeared on numerous television programs. During this time, Ms. Fuller had the leading role opposite of film legend Charles Boyer on the prestigious Hallmark Hall of Fame.

In 1960, J.P. recorded his first record, High On a Mountain and during the years of 1965-68, he was the lead singer for The Brothers Grim, a popular recording group booked out of Hollywood who appeared in concerts, clubs and on television. They have the distinct honor of being the first American rock group to promote VOX concert amplifiers which were made famous by the British rock group, the Beatles.

After the breakup of The Brothers Grim, J.P. continued performing as a headliner with rock and country singer, Charlie Rich. Soon afterward, he formed his new group, J.P. Sloane & Co. They toured the United States from 1973-78, including appearances at the Sands and Dunes hotels in Las Vegas.

Through the years, J.P. has used his many character voices, writing abilities and television and radio production skills to act in and produce various national, local and syndicated television commercials for broadcasting and cable companies, banks, retail stores, restaurants and travel agencies such as Mr. Penguin (a tuxedo rental chain), First Federal Savings and Loan, Spotlight Cable (Times Mirror), Pier 1 Imports, Imperial Travel and Sorrento Restaurant, one of which was nominated for a CLIO.

Other accomplishments and experiences include Master of Ceremonies for a Lupus Foundation fundraiser in Nashville, Tennessee, ten years as the Master of Ceremonies for California's State Finals for the Our Little Miss Pageant, songwriter and special events host. Through the years, J.P. has had numerous newspaper and magazine write-ups, including an appearance in the prestigious Smithsonian magazine.

J.P. has performed in the nationally syndicated radio program series, Focus on the Family's Adventures in Odyssey, with Hal Smith, a long-time family friend.

In 1997, in the Academy Room of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, California, Steve Allen and Jayne Meadows hosted the 20th anniversary of Excellence in Media prestigious international Angel Awards where J.P. captured three awards. The awards were for a broad range of J.P.'s diverse talents, including one for Outstanding Television Producer of a nationally television program and one for Outstanding Male Vocalist.

In 1999, J.P. won an International Angel Award for his performance in the global release of the Dramatized Version of the King James Bible with the world's foremost biblical narrator, Alexander Scourby. This production features over thirty-five of J.P.'s character voices, which include portraying the voices of Satan, Pharaoh, Joseph, Abraham, Daniel and other lead and incidental biblical characters. The recordings are a production of International Cassette Corporation, a subsidiary of Word, Inc.

Currently J.P. Sloane hosts a radio program entitled "What In The World! " on the LeSea Broadcasting Network heard in over 47 countries including North America, Europe, Russia and the Middle East.

Other Links Of Interest