John William Schlitt, born February 3, 1950, in Lincoln, Illinois, is an American singer. He began his musical career at 13 and balanced studies at the University of Illinois with music, leading to his graduation in 1974 and full-time dedication to Head East. With Head East, he released several albums throughout the 1970s before being fired in March 1980 due to addiction. After converting to Christianity, he joined Petra in 1986 following an invitation from Bob Hartman. With Petra, he released notable albums including Back to the Street (1986) and Beyond Belief (1990), winning four Grammy Awards and numerous Dove Awards during his tenure. After Petra's retirement in 2005, he pursued a solo career with albums such as Shake (1995).
