JOHN SPECKINE
YACHT ROCK * COUNTRY * BLUES
Photo: On-stage with Border Line
CONTENTS
List of original music that is currently available for purchase. Yacht Rock * Country * Blues
This is a playlist of 60 of my personal favorites that have been recorded in the last 10 years. Or visit my YouTube page: John Speckine - YouTube. Don't forget to subscribe. :)
Listen to a couple of samples: one meant for playing during the ceremony and one intended for the reception and "Dollar Dance.
I have other wedding music not yet listed here which you may sample at your request.
Every month, I will choose a song to make the "Free Song of the Month." You will be able to download this tune for no charge as long as it is so designated.
CURRENT: Thank God for You
List of covers available for public performances: Classic Rock and Country music from the 1950s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, and 2000s. Expect to hear songs you know but forgot you knew.
John's family, musical background, major performances and military service, as well as Contact Info for booking weddings and live performances.
John's son, Conor, besides being a Wildlife Biologist, is a talented nature photographer. These selected images of wildlife, nature and weather are available for purchase here.
OFFERINGS
PHOTO: Feb. 2025 - Family dinner for my son's 30th birthday
- Digital downloads - .99¢ per Single
- FREE "Song of the Month" download
- Customizable original music for weddings; available as recordings or live acoustic performance
- Available for acoustic public performances covering hits from the 1950s to 2000s
Listen and buy at John Speckine | ReverbNation.
AVAILABLE ORIGINAL SINGLES
YACHT ROCK / POP
COUNTRY (more or less)
COUNTRY (more or less)
Picture: my son at the Grand Rapids Music Festival, 2016
NEW DEMO: Any Other Life
Forever and a Day (original guitar version)
Thank God for You (FREE download)
NEW DEMO: Yesterday is Gone
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COUNTRY (more or less)
COUNTRY (more or less)
COUNTRY (more or less)
Picture: opening for Keith Urban, 2002 - I'm on the far-left of the picture
Forever and a Day (banjo version)
NEW DEMO: I Dream I'm Coming Home
New York CIty on the 9th of May
Suckin' Puppy (the Hot Dog Song)
NEW DEMO: Suckin' Puppy (Unplugged)
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WEDDING / RECEPTION SONGS
Picture: my youngest daughter's wedding party, 2024
CEREMONY
"DOLLAR DANCE"
RECEPTION
ALBUM: Mosquito-Bite Blues
AVAILABLE ON MOST MUSIC SITES, INCLUDING SOUNDCLOUD AND REVERBNATION
ORIGINAL WEDDING MUSIC
IN-CEREMONY MUSIC
TAKE MY HAND
I wrote this song for my then-fiancée right after I'd joined the Air Force. I surprised her with it when I came home to marry her on May 19, 1983. I hope you and your future spouse will love it as much as she did.
You can purchase the digital track
RECEPTION: The "Dollar Dance"
I wrote this song in 2002. I've never used it for my own wedding, but I've given it to a few friends to use. I purposely extended the Outro so the dance could last a little longer.
F R E E D O W N L O A D
THANK GOD FOR YOU
One of my more romantic songs. The lady for whom it was written seemed to like it. :)
LIVE PERFORMANCE COVERS
ROCK / POP
COUNTRY-ish
ROCK / POP
A WORLD WITHOUT LOVE - Peter & Gordon
ALL DAY AND ALL OF THE NIGHT - The Kinks
ALL MY LOVING - The Beatles
AMERICAN GIRL - Tom Petty
AMERICAN PIE - Don McLean
AMIE - Pure Prairie League
AND I LOVE HER - The Beatles
AUTHORITY SONG - John Cougar
BACK IN THE USSR - The Beatles
BAD MOON RISING - CCR
BAD TO ME - Billy J. Kramer
BEST OF MY LOVE - The Eagles
BROWN-EYED GIRL - Van Morrison
BUILDING A MYSTERY - Sarah McLachlan
BUS STOP - The Hollies
CALL ME THE BREEZE - Lynyrd Skynyrd
CHEESEBURGER IN PARADISE - Jimmy Buffet
CHINA GROVE - Doobie Brothers
COME MONDAY - Jimmy Buffet
COME TOGETHER - The Beatles
CROCODILE ROCK - Elton John
DANCE WITH ME TONIGHT - The Wonders
DAY TRIPPER - The Beatles
DUST IN THE WIND - Kansas
EIGHT DAYS A WEEK - The Beatles
EVERYBODY'S TALKIN' - Harry Nillson
EVERYONE'S A WINNER - Hot Chocolate
FREE FALLIN' - Tom Petty
FROM ME TO YOU - The Beatles
GET IT ON - T. Rex
HANG ON SLOOPY - The McCoys
HAPPY TOGETHER - The Turtles
HAVE YOU EVER SEEN RAIN - CCR
HAZARD - Richard Marx
HEARD IT IN A LOVE SONG - Marshall Tucker
HERE COMES THE SUN - The Beatles
HOLIDAY ROAD - Lindsey Buckingham
HOTEL CALIFORNIA - The Eagles
I FEEL FINE - The Beatles
I HEAR YOU KNOCKIN' - Dave Edmunds
I ONLY WANNA BE WITH YOU - Hootie & the Blowfish
I SAW HER STANDING THERE - The Beatles
I WON'T BACK DOWN - Tom Petty
IF NOT FOR YOU - George Harrison
I'LL CRY INSTEAD - The Beatles
I'M HAPPY JUST TO DANCE WITH YOU - The Beatles
IMAGINE - John Lennon
IT DON'T COME EASY - Ringo Starr
I'VE GOT A NAME - Jim Croce
I'VE JUST SEEN A FACE - The Beatles
JAMES DEAN - The Eagles
JESUS IS JUST ALRIGHT WITH ME - Doobie Brothers
KNOCKIN' ON HEAVEN'S DOOR - Bob Dylan
LA BAMBA - Richie Valens
LAKE SHORE DRIVE - Aliotta Haynes Jeremiah
LAST DANCE WITH MARY JANE - Tom Petty
LEARNING TO FLY - Tom Petty
LITTLE STAR - The Elegants
LITTLE WILLY - Sweet
ROCK / POP
COUNTRY-ish
ROCK / POP
LODI - CCR
LOLA - The Kinks
LONG, COOL WOMAN - The Hollies
LOVE IS ALL AROUND - The Troggs
LOVE ME LIKE A ROCK - Paul Simon
MAIN STREET - Bob Seger
MORE THAN WORDS - Extreme
MR. BOJANGLES - Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
MR. BLUE SKY - ELO
MRS. ROBINSON - Paul Simon
MY LOVE - Paul McCartney
MY SWEET LORD - George Harrison
NATIONWIDE - ZZ Top
NIGHTS ARE FOREVER - England Dan & John Ford Coley
NORWEGIAN WOOD - The Beatles
NOWHERE MAN - The Beatles
OCTOPUS' GARDEN - The Beatles
OH, HAPPY DAY - Edwin Hawkins Singers
OLD TIME ROCK AND ROLL - Bob Seger
PAPERBACK WRITER - The Beatles
PEACEFUL EASY FEELING - The Eagles
PHOTOGRAPH - Ringo Starr
PINK CADILLAC - Bruce Springsteen
PLEASE PLEASE ME - The Beatles
PUT YOUR HAND IN THE HAND - Ocean
R.O.C.K. IN THE USA - John Cougar
RAMBLIN' MAN - The Allman Brothers
ROCKIN' PNEUMONIA - Johnny Rivers
RUN THROUGH THE JUNGLE - CCR
SEA CRUISE - Dion
SENTIMENTAL LADY - Bob Welsh
SHADOW OF A DOUBT - Tom Petty
SISTER GOLDEN HAIR - America
SMALL TOWN - John Mellencamp
SMALL TOWN GIRL - John Cafferty
SOAK UP THE SUN - Sheryl Crow
SOMEDAY - Sugar Ray
SPIRIT IN THE SKY - Norman Greenbaum
STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN - Led Zeppelin
STUCK IN THE MIDDLE - Stealers Wheel
SUNSHINE SUPERMAN - Donovan
SUNSPOT BABY - Bob Seger
SWEET HOME ALABAMA - Lynyrd Skynyrd
SWEET HOME CHICAGO - Blues Brothers
TAKE IT TO THE LIMIT - The Eagles
TEQUILA SUNRISE - The Eagles
THE COVER OF THE ROLLING STONE - Dr. Hook
THE HOUSE IS ROCKIN' - Stevie Ray Vaughan
THE NIGHT BEFORE - The Beatles
TICKET TO RIDE - The Beatles
TURN, TURN, TURN - The Byrds
TWIST AND SHOUT - The Beatles
WALK ON THE OCEAN - Toad the Wet Sprocket
WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE - Bon Jovi
WHAT'S UP - 4 Non Blondes
WONDERFUL TONIGHT - Eric Clapton
WRECK OF THE EDMUND FITZGERALD - Gordon Lightfoot
YOUR MAMA DON'T DANCE - Kenny Loggins
YOUR SONG - Elton John
COUNTRY-ish
COUNTRY-ish
COUNTRY-ish
AMARILLO BY MORNING - George Strait
ANNIE'S SONG - John Denver
BALL AND CHAIN - Paul Overstreet
COPPERHEAD ROAD - Steve Earle
DREAM - The Everly Brothers
DRIVING MY LIFE AWAY - Eddie Rabbitt
EVERYTHING THAT GLITTERS - Dan Seals
FOREVER AND EVER, AMEN - Randy Travis
FRIENDS IN LOW PLACES - Garth Brooks
GRUNDY COUNTY AUCTION - John Michael Montgomery
GUITAR TOWN - Steve Earle
JACK RABBIT - Elton John
JAMBALAYA - Hank Williams
LANDSLIDE - Dixie Chicks
LITTLE SISTER - Dwight Yoakum
LIVING IN ALUMINUM - Antsy McClain
LONG-HAIRED COUNTRY BOY - Charlie Daniels
LOOKIN' OUT MY BACK DOOR - CCR
MARGARITAVILLE - Jimmy Buffet
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - Johnny Rivers
MY MARIA - Brooks & Dunn
ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH - John Denver
ROCKY TOP - Ricky Skaggs
RUBY - Kenny Rogers
SOME DREAMS - Steve Earle
SOMEBODY LIKE YOU - Keith Urban
SUNSHINE ON MY SHOULDERS - John Denver
TAKE ME HOME COUNTRY ROADS - John Denver
THE CHAIR - George Strait
THE DANCE - Garth Brooks
THIRD-RATE ROMANCE - Sammy Kershaw
TULSA TIME - Don Williams
UP ON CRIPPLE CREEK - The Band
VOLCANO - Jimmy Buffet
WAGON WHEEL - Old Crow Medicine Show
WAKE UP LITTLE SUZY - The Everly Brothers
WALK SOFTLY - The Kentucky Headhunters
WHO'S YOUR DADDY - Toby Keith
WRITE THIS DOWN - George Strait
YOU KNOW ME BETTER THAN THAT - George Strait
YOU'RE STILL THE ONE - Shania Twain
ABOUT ME and CONTACT INFO
FATHER & GRANDFATHER
MY KIDS
Top Row - Left to Right
- Conor, 31 - Biologist, Musician, Artist, Photographer
- Tiffany, 44 - Mom, Nurse
- Heidi, 40 - Mom, Distribution Center Manager
THE GRANDKIDS
not pictured
- Xalia, 15 - High School Student
- Ethan, 18 - High School Student
- West, 21 - College Student
- Alivea, 23 - College student
MUSICIAN & SONGWRITER
TO BE HONEST...
I'm a better musician than lead vocalist, and a better songwriter than musician. I can't hide it, so I may as well admit it. :) I'm a Rhythm Guitar player by trade. I can play bass, some lead guitar, keyboards, harmonica and banjo; but when I play live, I stick with Rhythm for the most part.
PUBLIC PERFORMANCES
Instead of playing the familiar lead guitar licks on the covers I do, I'll usually just keep on strumming, although there are a few tunes on which I'll break into a little lead guitar. :)
DUET PARTNER WANTED
No public performances since Covid. Since that time, I've had some medical issues with my throat: some days I can sing, some days I can't. Therefore, I'm hoping to find a DUET PARTNER, male or female - preferably, but not necessarily, someone who can also play guitar or keyboards - so I can start playing live gigs again.
INSTRUMENTS
6-string acoustic guitar - (Seagull, Washburn, Ibanez)
12-string acoustic guitar - (Martin)
6-string electric guitar - (PRS)
Slide guitar - (usually on the Washburn)
Electric bass - (Fender)
Banjo - (Dean)
Keyboards - (Casio)
Harmonica - (Hohner)
Drum software - (EZD)
PERFORMANCES (1979 - 2020)
Benton Harbor, MI New Buffalo, MI Manistee, MI San Antonio, TX Biloxi, MS Belleville, IL Athens, Greece Glyfada, Greece Nea Makri, Greece Kalamaki, Greece Frankfurt, Germany Aviano, Italy Vicenza, Italy Sigonella, Sicily Iraklion, Crete Madrid, Spain Zaragoza, Spain Bedfordshire, England Omaha, NE Chicago, IL Miles City, MT Spokane, WA South Haven, MI St. Clair Shores, MI South Bend, IN Elkhart, IN Goshen, IN Bremen, IN Bourbon, IN North Liberty, IN Adrian, MI Niles, MI St. Joseph, MI Buchanan, MI
APPEARED ON STAGE WITH
Keith Urban Montgomery-Gentry Carolyn Dawn Johnson
The Rivieras Perfect Tommy Rebel Pride Whiskey River
Shenandoah Border Line Various USO Shows in Europe
Several civilian bands in Greece, Omaha and South Bend
Picture: Home studio, 2020
DISABLED VETERAN
STAFF SERGEANT, UNITED STATES AIR FORCE (1982-1990)
My time in the Air Force reminded me of that George Strait song, AMARILLO BY MORNING: ("Lost my wife and a girlfriend somewhere along the way")
LEBANON / GRANADA
Due to my unit's participation in the planning and support of these operations, I am considered by the American Legion to be a "Wartime Veteran."
DESERT SHIELD / DESERT STORM
An injury to my back, suffered during training for Kuwait, was severe enough to keep me from being deployed with my unit and made me ineligible for re-enlistment. So, although I had spent seven months on the Strait of Hormuz prior to 1990, I was not in the region after August 2, 1990 and thus am not authorized to wear the National Defense medal or any other medals or ribbons associated with the "Desert" operations.
TRAVEL GUIDE NOTE
Do NOT go swimming in the Strait of Hormuz or anywhere in the Persian Gulf - the numbers of jellyfish and highly venomous yellow sea snakes is unbelievable.
PERSIAN GULF WAR
After the U.S.S Stark was attacked by Iraq (May 17, 1987), and then our subsequent operations "Earnest Will" (July 24, 1987 - September 26, 1988) and "Nimble Archer" (October 19, 1987) against Iraq and Iran, the "First Persian Gulf War" was on. I was stationed at Hellenikon AB in Athens, Greece for most of that time.
Athens was known as the "Crossroads of Terrorism" when I was there (1985-1988). The hijacking of TWA Flight 847, during which Navy Seaman Robert Stetham was murdered by terrorists and dumped onto the tarmac in Beirut, originaled at the Athens airport one month after my wife and I got there (my unit was physically adjacent to the airport).
Back at Hellenikon (which had been a Nazi air base in World War II), it seemed like there was another bombing about every third day (including, in August 1985, the Base Hotel where my wife worked). This was when I lost my wife. It was a little tense, and as I found out later, a major contributor to my PTSD.
When I got to Omaha in June of 1988 (about the time a U.S. Navy captain was machine-gunned by terrorists back in Athens), I started training for deployment to the Middle East. My unit, Battlefield Communications, knew it was going to Kuwait when we were issued our DBDUs (Desert Battle Dress Uniforms).
I was permanently injured in the summer of 1989 during training for deployment to Kuwait. This ended my plans to change services and get a commission in the Marines. I was taking classes at the University of Nebraska at Omaha for that purpose.
After I was injured and it was determined that I was not eligible to re-enlist again, I was reassigned to the SAC HQ Communications Center as a Shift Supervisor. This was the most interesting assignment I had in the USAF. We were located in the basement of the SAC HQ building next to the War Room (think: "War Games" - this is where President Bush went after the 9/11 attacks). As supervisor, when a hot message came into the Communications Center, it was my job to get the message to the generals next door. I saw some really interesting things in there, none of which can I speak of here.
Due to the timing and circumstances of my injury (I call my permanent limp my "Saddam Shuffle"), the VA has granted me "Persian Gulf War Veteran" status; so while you will never see me wearing a "Desert Storm Veteran" hat, I do wear my "chocolate chip" DBDUs when I march in the Memorial Day Parade and sometimes on Veteran's Day, and occasionally, my "Persian Gulf War Veteran" hat.
FYI: I receive NO additional benefits because of "Persian Gulf War Veteran" status.
MEMBER OF...
American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers
Picture: Memorial Day parade, 2025
CONTACT
QUESTIONS ANSWERED!!
Do you want more details about original music for your wedding or booking a live performance?
Send me a note. I'll answer within a couple of days.
We can go over details on the phone, via email or have a lunch - and I'm ALWAYS available to discuss business on the golf course. :)
THANK YOU!!
John Speckine
Picture: Sep. 2026
HELP OUR CAUSE
As a Disabled Veteran, the efforts and support of the Wounded Warrior Project are near and dear to me. Please help those who have sacrificed so much to fight for YOU and those who couldn't fight for themselves.
Click the button below to give any amount you wish. Everything is a help and very much appreciated.
