In addition to his role as Haven, social studies teacher Mr. Jonathan Pitts has a flourishing musical side.
As a former member of two bands, Pitts is a well-accomplished musician.
Pitts has been a member of bands The Biltmores and the Delco Pacers. Both of these groups have released music on Spotify and other streaming platforms.
“The group I played guitar with was called The Biltmores. This was a band I played with in college,” Pitts said. “The other group I played, wrote, recorded songs, and played shows with was a band called Delco Pacers.”
The musical journey that led him to this point began from a young age when Pitts was enrolled in traditional music lessons, following in the footsteps of his mother and grandmother.
“I took traditional piano lessons as a kid, just like I took traditional saxophone lessons,” he said.
He found this to be a meaningful experience, however, he wasn’t fully satisfied.
“I enjoyed those, but I really discovered a love for music and creating music through guitar as a self-taught student,” Pitts said.
Without a formal background in music theory or composition, Pitts found himself more motivated towards learning guitar, which didn’t include the restrictions of conventional music lessons.
“I became much more driven when I didn’t feel the pressure of traditional music,” Pitts said.
He credits Neil Young as one of his major personal influences in music, as this was the first concert he ever saw.
“I remember it like it was yesterday. I still have the ticket stub. That live music experience was a very transformative moment for me as an adolescent, as a fan of music. It really lit a fire in terms of wanting to perform and create music,” Pitts said.
Harnessing this passion, Pitts first picked up a guitar at twelve as a recreational activity, and the rest is history.
“It was just a hobby, but I got really serious as a guitar player in college,” Pitts said.
During this time, on the brink of entering the real world, Pitts and three fellow students at Providence College assembled The Biltmores.
“At the end of my last year of college, I had a group of friends from our dorm, and since it was always a dream, I just started a band,” Pitts said.
Pitts cites ’90s grunge and alternative, in addition to ’60s folk music, as some of the biggest influences for the group’s work. Bands like Built to Spill, Pixies, and Pavement inspired the sound of the band.
“It was kind of a blend between 60’s inspired Americana folk music and the 90’s grunge music that we loved listening to,” Pitts said.
Their sound resonated with others, and The Biltmores began booking and performing live gigs on campus and performances in New England.“We mainly performed on campus at the Student Union. It was a venue called McPhails, and we would perform every month or so for our friends in the college,” Pitts said “We also performed in Boston, New York City, and in that region.”
The Biltmores eventually began releasing albums. At first, Pitts stuck to instrumentals and songwriting, but eventually gained the confidence to begin using his voice.
“As a songwriter in The Biltmores, by the third or fourth album, I finally got the confidence to sing. This is something I was always self-conscious about, and I finally did it. Looking back, I wish I would have done it sooner,” Pitts said.
The Biltmores are no longer active; however, Pitts maintains the connections fostered by his experience in the group.
“It was the start of lifelong friendships. I still talk to those bandmates every single day, either on the phone or via text,” Pitts said.
Aside from The Biltmores, Pitts was a member of another group.
“The other band I played with was called Delco Pacers. This is a band I formed when I was no longer playing with The Biltmores, and we self-released albums,” Pitts said.
Delco Pacers have two albums available online: Stereo Streets and Bazaar Days.
Pitts now keeps his passion for music alive through recreational playing.
“The kind of playing I do is just Sunday morning playing my acoustic guitar for my kids. I’ve been a teacher for the last 13 years and a parent for the last nine, so it’s hard to find time to have those creative outlets, so I don’t record music or play shows anymore, but I would love to do it again one day,” Pitts said.
Music is something that will likely always remain dear to Pitts’ heart, as it built confidence and fostered friendships that will last a lifetime.
“The bonds that you create with different people through music are special, for lack of a better word,” Pitts said.
Pitts has gained the wisdom through his own positive experiences to give others the push they may need to pursue their passion without inhibition.
“One message I would have for young people today is whatever your creative passion is, just do it. No one ever regretted starting a band. No one ever regretted doing some sort of artistic output, and beyond the music or the art that you make, you’re going to develop connections to other people in the world that last forever. That’s the awesome thing about it,” Pitts said.
