Jonathan “Jon” Dretto started playing guitar at age 8 and now, at just 16, is the hottest young player in Upstate, New York. Jon calls his style “Nuclear Blues”. His broad range of influences includes Steve Vai, Paul Gilbert, Michael Lee Firkins and classic Bluesmen like Freddie King, Stevie Ray Vaughn and BB King. Beginning in the summer of 2010, Jon began playing in Upstate, New York area blues jams. He soon found he could hold his own with the “big boys” and as word got around, he became a frequent guest with several Rochester and Buffalo area bands. Jon has been a frequent on-stage guest of his friend and mentor, Chet Catallo, former Spyro Gyra guitarist and has performed with a number of well-known blues artists including Davy Knowles and the Nighthawks. Jon’s middle school music teacher made him aware of an audition in June, 2012, at a Syracuse New York music store, for the opportunity to perform with the Paul Reed Smith company band, the Rocky Mountain Stoneflies, on the big stage at the Watkins Glen 2012 Grand Am. The audition was hosted by InTune Magazine and PRS Guitars. Jon took the top honors and was awarded a PRS guitar and amp. He performed to a crowd of 15,000 and was joined on stage by British blues artist Davy Knowles. Jon describes it as “The best night of my life.” After the event, Jon’s Dad-Manager, John, and PRS Management stayed in touch. Jack Higginbotham, PRS President, made it clear he had an interest in Jon, early on. Because of Jon’s age and the inherent age-related considerations, it took some time to put the deal together. Jon was signed as a PRS Artist in the summer of 2013. He uses PRS guitars and amplifiers exclusively and is working with the company to create greater awareness of the PRS brand, especially to artists in Jon’s demographic. It is believed Jon is one of the youngest artists ever signed by a major American guitar company. Jon stays very busy. He has performed at a number of New York State blues festivals, club dates and has traveled Canada extensively, including performing at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, for the 100th Grey Cup Gala. The Grey Cup is the Canadian equivalent of the American Super Bowl. Jon’s go to guitars are a PRS 408MT Artist Model with an all rosewood neck, ebony fret board in Eriza Verde and PRS McCarty. Included in his stable is a PRS P22 with a figured maple 10 top, rosewood fret board, a PRS/LR Baggs piezo system in Black Gold Burst. He also plays the new S2 Custom 24 solid body and the PRS Angeles Custom acoustic. Jon’s favorite amp is the new PRS 2 Channel 100 watt Archon with one or two PRS 2x12 closed back cabinets. For smaller venues he uses the PRS SE 30 all tube combo, with a 12” speaker. Jon is an Ernie Ball Stings Endorser and uses Cobalt Slinky 9-42 gauge strings on all his PRS electrics Jon’s first six-song EP reflects his high-energy “Nuclear Blues” style and includes five original songs with music, lyrics and arrangements by Jon. The sixth is Jon's twist on the classic St. James Infirmary. Jon is all boy and well-rounded. He has earned his 3rd Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do and loves to weight-train, skateboard, swim and bike ride. He’s a fan of old movies and TV shows like Sherlock Holmes and The Honeymooners. He is an eleventh grade student in a suburban Rochester, NY school district.