John D'Amico joined Adult Probation in 1990. To the probationers he supervises and the judges he appears before, John D'Amico is an Adult Probation Officer in the Multi-Lingual Supervision Unit. To jazz enthusiasts, he is the gifted "Father John" D'Amico. "Father John" is considered one of Philadelphia's outstanding jazz composers, lyricist and pianists. In October 1995 he was named Jazz Instrumentalist of the Week by BET's Jazz Discoveries, and received national air play on BET's jazz TV station. John was a 1989 recipient of the John Coltrane Award for Outstanding Achievement in Jazz and was a featured artist in the National Public Radio's "At the Bride" series. In the early `90s, his love of the Latin culture spurred him to organize a Latin jazz orchestra for a live broadcast on WRTI. In July 1994, John's accomplishments were spotlighted in a biographical segment, "The Jazz Man," on Larry Kane's The Bulletin (KYW-TV).

John has been playing classical piano since he was six years old, and jazz since he was 17. When he was 19, he placed his jazz career on hold and entered St. Charles Seminary, where he continued his love of music by conducting and arranging for the Borromeans Chorus, and by playing the part of Howard Hill in the Seminary's production of "The Music Man." While a practicing priest, he renewed his studies in jazz piano. Soon thereafter he felt a career decision had to be made and, at age 29, "Father John" traded in his pulpit for a piano.

Since then, John has performed with jazz greats such as: Lionel Hampton; vocalist Etta Jones; bassist Charles Fambrough; and saxophonists Jimmy Oliver, Bootsie Barnes and Lou Tobakin. The great drummer, "Philly Joe" Jones, was a featured member of the Father John D'Amico Trio.

You can see "Father John" Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights at the William Penn Inn, Rt. 202 & Sumneytown Pike in Gwynedd (699-9272). Or, if you get a chance, pick up one (or all three) of John's albums/CDs: Live at the Painted Bride - 1986, Street Blues - 1989, and Rare Breed - 1995 (with vocalist Ella Csircsu).