Born in Nairobi, Kenya, in 1992, singer and guitarist J.S. Ondara grew up inspired by Western rock and folk music. When he was granted an opportunity to come to America in 2013 via the green card lottery, he chose to relocate to Minneapolis, Minnesota, in honor of Bob Dylan. After building his name in the area coffeehouse scene (then performing under the name Jay Smart), Ondara was championed by the local music press and landed a record deal with folk and blues label Verve Forecast Records.
Ondara’s debut, Tales of America, arrived in 2019, which gave his perspective on the immigrant experience and featured the Number 23 Adult Alternative single “Lebanon”. The album featured contributions from members of Dawes, the Milk Carton Kids, and Andrew Bird, and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Americana Album. Ondara then hit the road in support of the album, and performed on bills with Neil Young, the Lumineers, Lindsey Buckingham, and the Milk Carton Kids. An expanded edition of the album, Tales of America: The Second Coming, was released later in 2019.
