Singer/songwriter Jonny Polonsky first made a name for himself with his talent for writing smart pop melodies, but he later embraced a more eclectic style that also encompassed hard rock and roots rock. Born on July 10, 1973, Polonsky began playing and writing songs during his childhood in Wilmette, IL. Using the name the Amazing Jonny Polonsky, he mailed tapes of his music to friends and musicians he admired; one of his tapes made its way to Frank Black, who was impressed enough with Polonsky's work that he produced a demo tape for him and helped him find a manager. Once again, Polonsky sent out tapes -- this time to record companies -- and secured a deal with American Records in 1995. The following year his first album, Hi My Name Is Jonny, was released. However, soon after the album's release, American lost its distribution deal and Polonsky was left without a label until he found eggBERT several years later; in 2001 he released the There Is Something Wrong with You EP, his first new material in five years. The Power of Sound followed in 2004. To support the release, he toured as an opening act for Audioslave, and struck up a friendship with their rhythm section, bassist Brad Wilk and drummer Tim Commerford, which led to the three forming a short-lived band called Big Nose. Big Nose collaborated with Maynard James Keenan of Tool and A Perfect Circle on a pair of songs which were recorded by Keenan's side project Puscifer; Polonsky would become a member of Puscifer from 2007 to 2010. Polonsky also worked as a studio musician, particularly on projects produced by Rick Rubin, which led to Polonsky appearing on albums by Johnny Cash, the Dixie Chicks, Neil Diamond, Pete Yorn, and Minnie Driver. In 2015, Polonsky released his first solo album in 11 years, The Other Side of Midnight, and in early 2018 he was back with another long-player, Fresh Flesh. ~ Heather Phares & Mark Deming, Rovi