LABELLE - Local musician, John Walter Kaune Jr., (also known as Jack Ivory), recently kicked off the Swamp Cabbage Festival by jamming out at LaBelle Brewing Company. He has lived in Hendry his whole life, and loves it here.

“I love the quietness. I’m not one for the big cities. It’s much more relaxed here,” he said. “I grew up in the Alva/LaBelle area. This laid back lifestyle country livin’ is what I’m used to,” said Kaune, “The best part of my childhood were my grandparents. They’ve always spoiled me and supported me and still do today.”

He got his start in music at a young age. “I’ve always enjoyed music, but I had an opportunity to join the praise band at First Baptist Church in LaBelle with my best friends while I was in middle school. I played the keyboard and sang backup vocals. I got my first guitar when I was 14. I always hung out and jammed with my best friends in and out of church and we would even do gigs for local events or parties,” Kaune explained.

Kaune is happily engaged, and soon to be married to Brieanna Cox. They have two young daughters Kaydence and Raley.

“My family and my music. These are the two things that drive me in life,” he said.

“When I’m writing music, it tends to come from the places that I have a hard time expressing myself in. I have a lot of built up thoughts and questions and things I’ve wanted to say but couldn’t over the years because of my anxiety or what not. Writing music is my form of therapy for that. I can write down exactly how I feel. I can say something to someone that I never had the courage to before. And I can put it all in a song and tell the whole world,” he explained.

“I cover a wide variety of genres when I’m playing covers,” said Kaune. “But when I write my own music I guess I would say it has a modern south-alternative rock feel to it.”

“I currently have over 15 original songs that I’m sitting on. I’m working on getting the money to get in a studio and record a small number of them. That’s part of what my gigs do for me besides helping with the bills to feed my family.”

Kaune’s next gig is March 12,  at The Quart House. You can also listen to his music on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jack-Ivory-103598871705658/