Wikipedia

My name is Jon Daker

"My Name is Jon Daker" is an internet viral video of an Easter recital at First United Methodist Church in Peoria, Illinois, in 1990 that was broadcast as part of a public access TV program on WTVP.[1][2] It has been viewed more than 5 million times on YouTube. In the video, an amateur singer, Jon Daker, is accompanied by a pianist as he sings renditions of "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today" and "That's Amore." While performing he uses unusual phrasing, sings in a pseudo-operatic voice, and forgets song lyrics.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]

My Name is Jon Daker
StarringJon Daker
Release date
  • 1990 (1990)
CountryUnited States

Background

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The video was uploaded to YouTube[11] and EBaum's World in 2006.[12] Daker's first name was misspelled in the original subtitles, so he is sometimes referred to as "John Daker."[3][1]

Jon Graham Daker was born November 19, 1939, in Peoria.[1] Daker grew up on the West Bluff and attended Peoria High School, earning his GED later.[3] He enjoyed music and played the harmonica.[3] He died on February 20, 2022.[3][13]

The recital was a public access program on WTVP. The organist at First United Methodist Church, Reva Singley Cooper Unsicker, was the accompanist.[14][1] Unsicker taught voice, piano, and organ lessons until her death in 1995.[1]

There are several other video clips from the recital of different singers, a six-person choir, and a comedian.[14] George Stanton, Bob Spencer, Margie Hicks, and others sang. Pearl Gross delivered a comedic set.[14][15]

There are rumors of other appearances on local TV, but the videos are unconfirmed or unavailable.[14]

On November 17, 2014, a video entitled "JOHN DAKER STRIKES AGAIN" was posted, depicting Daker at a local Ford dealership.[16][14][10] The YouTube short obtained over 131,000 views. The user posted two subsequent videos on November 25, 2014[17] and April 24, 2015.[18][14]

Cultural impact

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In 2006 the video was featured on VH1's show Web Junk 20. In 2016, the Blue Man Group, who are fans of Daker, invited him to meet with them backstage when they were playing a show in Peoria.[3][19] In 2016, Bill Burr did a segment on his Monday Morning Podcast about the video.[20]

Heather Schopp befriended Daker when she was volunteering to play piano at the assisted living facility where he lived in November 2018.[3][1] She received permission from Daker's niece to post updates on a fan page, The John Daker Experience, with over 2,900 followers.[3] Schopp wrote, "He was aware of it, and he assumed the best of all of us. He had no interest in any more details, in benefiting monetarily from his fame, in telling others about it. It was enough for him to know he was loved, and to continue making people laugh."[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Aigner, Jonathan (February 21, 2022). "His Name Was Jon Daker, and May He Rest in Peace".
  2. ^ Taylor, Justin (2010-02-25). "My Name Is John Daker". The Gospel Coalition. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Renken, Leslie (2022-04-04). "'My name is Jon Daker': Awkward performance immortalized Peoria singer with internet fame". Peoria Journal Star.
  4. ^ Larsen, Jake (January 20, 2017). "YouTube pick: The incredible singing of John Daker". The Daily Nebraskan.
  5. ^ Taylor, Justin (February 12, 2010). "My name is John Daker".
  6. ^ "'My name is Jon Daker'". Pekin Daily Times (IL). April 14, 2022.
  7. ^ "'My name is Jon Daker'". Daily Ledger (Canton, IL). April 13, 2022.
  8. ^ "Awkward performance immortalized singer with internet fame". The Times Record (Aledo, IL). April 13, 2022.
  9. ^ "25 Awesome things... and Bacon". Group Magazine. November 1, 2012. pp. 82–83. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-11-01.
  10. ^ a b Parsons, Jeff (2015-08-08). "John Daker Sings - The Viral Video That Just Keeps Going Viral". Q97.9. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  11. ^ My name is John Daker (The original), retrieved 2023-11-13
  12. ^ ebaum. "John Daker - Weird Singing Man". www.ebaumsworld.com. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  13. ^ "Jon Daker Obituary 2022". Cumerford-Clary Funeral Home. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  14. ^ a b c d e f Aigner, Jonathan (2018-09-23). "Celebrating the Gifts of John Daker and His FUMC Peoria Pals". Patheos. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  15. ^ Pearl Gross, retrieved 2023-11-22
  16. ^ JOHN DAKER STRIKES AGAIN, retrieved 2023-11-22
  17. ^ JOHN DAKER STRIKES AGAIN 40 Year Reunion, retrieved 2023-11-22
  18. ^ JOHN DAKER FAN APPRECIATION, retrieved 2023-11-22
  19. ^ Stephens, Jack (2022-04-04). "Jon Daker performs with Blue Man Group". Peoria Journal Star. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  20. ^ "The Monday Morning Podcast 6-6-16". 2016. p. Timestamp 27 minutes in.
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