Eastern philosophies have always been a passion of Jonny's, as well as an academic focus. Studying at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), he was unable to fully immerse himself within these teachings, so in 1997 he applied for and was admitted into a highly exclusive program to study in Beijing at Peking University. Jonny would then spend the next two years studying Chinese language and culture in Bejing and traveling extensively throughout China and Southeast Asia. From this experience, he not only improved his Chinese speaking, reading, and writing skills to relative fluency, but he also gained a love for Asia and its people that most Westerners never get a chance to understand.
Among other lifelong hobbies, Blu has been involved with studying and practicing martial arts about as long as he has been singing. Beginning at age 6, he began learning American Karate and Kickboxing. He continued this on until age 14 when he began studying the Filipino style Sikaran Arnis, which included more direct combat and weapons study.
But, it was at the beginning of his time at university (UCLA) that he began studying under the renowned Grandmaster Carl Totton at The Taoist Institute of Los Angeles. There he learned Shaolin Kung Fu (Five Animals, Southern), Kenpo, Lima Lama and The Core System along with internal arts, Qi Gong and Tai Qi. Instead of just focusing on the external martial aspects of fighting, Blu learned more about harnessing the energy of the body and the environment around him. His style took on a new level of speed, precision and intellect that changed his view of the martial arts.
After 15 years, Blu continues his studies under Sijo Totton today and holds black belt instructor ranks in Shaolin Kung Fu, Kenpo and Lima Lama. In 2012 Blu was included in The Kenpo Continuum, which chronicles all the ranking black belts in the history of Ed Parker's Kenpo Karate. Also in 2012, Blu was officially recognized with the title of "Sifu" (Teacher) by the Grandmasters of the Whipping Willow Association.
Inspiration struck Jonny in 2000 after he entered and won a Chinese singing competition in Los Angeles. It was then that he was discovered by a Taiwanese TV network, ETTV. An executive there began sending Jonny out to perform at events around California. He also toured (as the only non-Chinese singer) through the Mandarin singing competition circuits in the US and placed first in several events. The step that finally pushed him into the International Mandarin Pop spotlight was when he made it to the International finals of the CCTV International Singing Competition; this was the boost he needed to make this a true career.
In October of 2004 Jonny signed with See Music in Hong Kong, China and had released 3 chart topping Mandarin songs and music videos: "On the Edge," "The Apology," and "Crossroads" (all written in Chinese by Jonny), and he had appeared in several television and radio shows throughout southern China. Jonny Blu is the first ever Caucasian artist to have achieved this in the history of the music business.
In 2004 Jonny also appeared as himself in the Disney blockbuster movie "Princess Diaries 2: A Royal Engagement" and he received an RIAA Certified Gold Record in the USA for his song on the soundtrack.
From 2013 to the present Blu has been a Celebrity Judge on the hit ICN TV China Talent show "American Stars" and he performed as a featured singer on the Beijing Television Spring Global Gala in January of 2014 for an audience of 800 million viewers across the globe.
In 2006, Jonny decided to expand his career path and return to his musical roots in the USA with his first English Swing/Pop album In Just That Kind of a Mood. Uniquely among his con- temporaries, most of the songs on Blu's debut album, and his 2008 EP release In A Groove, are actually written by him; a talent that has set him a cut above the rest. Jonny's music contains original compositions as well as standards by artists ranging from the classic Cole Porter to LL Cool J, all with his own contemporary spin.
Blu's album Taboo! (a co-production with Peer Music) was officially released on October 6 of 2009 and was an Official Entry in the 2010 Grammy Awards. In "Taboo!", Blu explores a classic collection of "Latin standards" (in English and a couple in Spanish) including, Babaloo, Sabor A Mi, Taboo, and Besame Mucho, with contemporary arrangements and a major pop appeal. The first show to promote the album was to a sold out crowd at Iridium Jazz Club in NYC on September 12, 2009 and since then Blu has been touring his high energy big-band act extensively to sold out venues in the US. His music is featured on multiple syndicated Adult Contemporary and Jazz radio and internet radio stations nationwide and internationally. In 2008, In Just That Kind Of A Mood was released in Eastern Europe by Universal/QL Music and in 2010 in South Korea by Loen Ent./Musicmine Records. His music is featured on several Major Label (Universal and EMI) Swing and Jazz Compilation CDs and has been featured in television shows like CBS's Young and the Restless and in several feature films.
In November 2013, Blu released his first holiday CD "Winter Ballads" and he released an experimental 5th studio album "The Ukulele Experience, Vol. One" on August 8, 2012.
Blu's next Pop/Jazz album is due out in 2014.
