January 30, 2026 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

For Poulter, entertaining people is a calling

Jonny Poulter just wants to entertain people.


The 2022 St. Joseph-Ogden High School graduate was inspired to play music after hearing the Beatles in fifth grade.

He started playing piano and got his first guitar not long after that.


“I learned to play by listening to different songs or albums I enjoyed,” Poulter said. “I tried to play what I heard. Once I got my first guitar riff down, I believed that I had it. In hindsight, I was only getting started.”

Poulter said he likes multiple genres of music but he is partial to the music he creates.


“My favorite type of music is my own,” he said. “My favorite song to perform at the moment is one of my own called, “This Old Dog.”


For Poulter, practice makes perfect. He spends his time before shows running through songs. In the days leading up to a show Poulter spends time creating a set list and practicing his songs.


“It can be a little nerve-wracking,” he said about performing. “You’re thinking about this big ordeal and you’re terrified of what may go wrong.”


However, once he starts playing, the nerves just go away.


“Once I get started, it’s not too bad and I relax a little,” Poulter said.

Poulter will be performing at Open Mic Night at the Space located at 399 N Fremont St, Champaign on Tuesday, Open Mic at Winston’s in Sidney on July 25 and the Sidney Saloon on Sept. 21 from 8 to 11 p.m.

“I aim to entertain and make sure everyone is having a good time,” Poulter said.

Poulter can also be found on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@jonnyp8236

in Life, People
Banner
Related Posts

Dream come true: St. Joseph native earns veterinarian degree from University of Illinois

July 18, 2019

July 18, 2019

Suzanne Ford has always wanted to be a veterinarian. “My mom says I was two years old when I said...

‘ B.J. was one who absolutely stood out’

September 10, 2021

September 10, 2021

We asked Matt Davidson, the former Legislative Director for the Illinois Municipal League for his thoughts on B.J. Hackler. Here...

5 things you don’t know about me…..Campbell Flessner

August 7, 2019

August 7, 2019

Campbell is in the running for the title of Little Princess! She is six years old. We asked her to...

She’s Back! Dukeman set to get another shot at softball this summer

June 30, 2020

June 30, 2020

Hannah Dukeman is getting a chance to play softball despite COVID-19 stealing her senior season at St. Joseph-Ogden High School....

10 Things You Don’t Know About Me… Kent Brown

February 7, 2019

February 7, 2019

Every week we ask a community member to share 10 facts about themselves. This week it is St. Joseph resident...

Kids say…

August 26, 2019

August 26, 2019

Every week we ask students at local schools three questions related to farming. This week we spoke to students at...

10 things you don’t know about me with Whitney Setterdahl

November 25, 2020

November 25, 2020

My favorite childhood memory is when my youngest brother Jack was born. My brother Ben and I were eating an...

10 things you don’t know about me… Todd Jacob

October 2, 2019

October 2, 2019

Every week we ask an area resident to share 10 interesting facts about themselves. This week we spoke to State...

10 things you don’t know about me… Alex Neubauer

June 27, 2019

June 27, 2019

Every week we ask residents to tell us 10 interesting facts about themselves. This week we talked to Alex Neubauer...

10 Things You Don’t Know about me… Sharon Jeffers

March 20, 2019

March 20, 2019

I have two grown and married children, Logan/Tressica and Lauren/Kris, and two beautiful grandchildren Weston, and Emma I grew up...

Learning lessons: Hilton gives back through teaching and village trustee role

May 10, 2019

May 10, 2019

Timbra Hilton moved back to Royal in 2016. She and her husband, Paul, both grew up the small town and...

Why is it important to keep your blood pressure under control?

April 9, 2021

April 9, 2021

By: Christie Clinic Department of Family Medicine What are some signs of high blood pressure and why is it important to...

10 things you don’t know about me….. Gerald McClendon

September 6, 2019

September 6, 2019

St. Joseph resident and owner of Little Bear Hauling Gerald McClendon tells us 10 things about himself! My favorite childhood...

10 things you don’t know about me: Shannon Singleton

June 1, 2023

June 1, 2023

This week we asked second-grade teacher Shannon Singleton to tell us 10 things we don’t know about her. You will...

‘We lost a very good man in Jim Cotter’

September 2, 2021

September 2, 2021

Jim Cotter loved to brag about his kids. This past Saturday was no exception. Cotter took time out from covering...

Comments
Leave a Reply