Jerome Fontamillas | |
|---|---|
 Jerome playing guitar for Switchfoot | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Jerome Earl Fontamillas |
| Also known as | Romey, Music Chef |
| Born | June 20, 1967 Pasay, Philippines |
| Origin | San Diego, California, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar, keyboards, bass |
| Years active | 1989–present |
| Member of | Switchfoot |
| Formerly of | Mortal, Fold Zandura |
Jerome Earl Fontamillas (born June 20, 1967)[1] is an American musician. Since 2003, he has played keyboards, guitar, and performed backing vocals for the California-based rock band Switchfoot, with whom he's released ten studio albums. Prior, he has played in several bands, notably with industrial rock[2] band Mortal, and alternative rock band Fold Zandura alongside longtime musical partner Jyro Xhan.
Early life and education
Fontamillas was born on June 20, 1967, in Pasay in the Philippines. When he was three years old, his family moved to the United States, where they lived in Chicago and then California. He started taking piano lessons when he was a child.[1]
In 1985, Fontamillas graduated from Monterey Bay Academy in Watsonville, California.
Career
In 1988, Fontamillas, Jyro Xhan, Ray Tongpo and Wilson Peralta released a six-song demo tape, titled Wish Fifteen, on Blue Genius Music as Mortal Wish. Four years later, they signed with Intense Records and changed their name to Mortal. Fontamillas would continue to play with Mortal until 1996 and played in Fold Zandura, also with Xhan, between 1995 and 1999.
In 2000, Fontamillas quit his day job and started touring with Switchfoot shortly before the release of their third album, Learning to Breathe. He became an official member of the band in 2003. His first release with Switchfoot was their 2003 break-through album The Beautiful Letdown.[1]
In 2002, Jyro and Fontamillas released a Mortal reunion album, Nu-En-Jin.[1]
Fontamillas is also a producer for the following independent acts:
- The Echoing Green, Echoing Green (1998)
- Starflyer 59, I Predict A Clone (1994)
- March, Velvet Blue Music, (1999)
Fontamillas currently serves as a member the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority's Arts Advisory Committee.
Personal life
Fontamillas is a Seventh-day Adventist.[3]
He married his wife Kristi, who is a photographer,[4] in December 2005. The couple have two sons, Parker Lennon (born in January 2010)[1] and Jackson (born on October 2, 2013).[5][6]
On December 20, 2018, Switchfoot announced that Fontamillas had cancer and nine days later they stated that a tumor has been removed and it had not spread or attached to any organs.[7][8]
Discography
Mortal |
Fold Zandura
|
Switchfoot
|
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Jerome Fontamillas". Land of Broken Hearts. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
- ↑ "Nu-En-Jin Overview". Retrieved July 2, 2008.
- ↑ "We need more music that is passionate and meaningful and honest" (Press release). cqbiblestudy.org. Archived from the original on 2008-08-28.
- ↑ "Kristi Fontamillas Photography". Retrieved September 5, 2013.
- ↑ "Twitter / switchfoot: Huge congrats to Jerome - he's ..." Twitter. September 27, 2013. Retrieved September 28, 2013.
- ↑ "A New Addition to the SF Family; Fading West Tour Preview; LOBH Interview". Land of Broken Hearts. October 7, 2013. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
- ↑ "Switchfoot Announces Jerome has cancer". Switchfoot. December 20, 2018. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
- ↑ "Switchfoot Announces Tumor removal". Switchfoot. December 29, 2018. Retrieved December 29, 2018.