Jonah Koslen

Beachwood, Ohio native Jonah Koslen has been active in the music business as a composer, a producer and a performer, since 1973. As an original member of the Michael Stanley Band, Jonah wrote and recorded some of MSB”s most loved songs, “Waste a Little Time On Me,” “Strike Up The Band,” “Nothings Gonna Change My Mind,” and “Ladies Choice.” Jonah contributed lead guitar, lead vocals and arrangements to the first three MSB albums and numerous compilations. His classic MSB song, “Nothings Gonna Change My Mind” charted nationally in the summer of 1977.

Jonah recorded his first the solo project, Back Tracks, in 1978. Later that year Jonah formed the now classic Midwest rock band, Breathless, and recorded two releases for EMI America, which featured fan faves “Takin” It Back,” “Glued to the Radio,” and “Walk Right In” among many others. “Takin” It Back” charted in 1979.

The greatest hits compilation Jonah Koslen and Breathless 1978 – 1981 CD is available now on Line Level Music. This collection of songs comes from both Breathless studio albums, Breathless and Nobody Leaves This Song Alive. It also includes two previously unreleased tracks, “Glued to the Radio” recorded live for a WMMS Coffee Break Concert at the Cleveland Agora and “Why Are the Lovers, Always the Last to Know.”

In the 1980s, Jonah formed Jonah Koslen and the Heroes, recording two albums, Aces and Orange. Jonah relocated to Los Angeles, California in 1984, and his first 13 years in LA were very busy. He recorded demos with ’80s teen star Tiffany, appeared at Farm Aid II with blues legend Bonnie Bramlett in the Bandaloo Doctors, subsequently writing and recording several songs for an episode of the TV show Fame, which Bonnie appeared in. Jonah worked and recorded with one time Aerosmith guitarist Jimmy Crespo, Guns and Roses guitarist Gilby Clark, and appeared on a live television broadcast with Wayne Newton. He composed music for the Skin Diver CD, which appeared in films including Teenage Vampire, The Dangerous, and Lunar Cop. With friend Joe Walsh, Jonah created the ‘morphing’ video that appeared in concert with the Eagles, introducing the encore songs on the “Hell Freezes Over” world tour.

In the early ’90s, Jonah reunited with Michael Stanley to help write and produce the Ghost Poets CD. He also composed and produced an album for the rock band Skin Diver. At different times throughout the years, Jonah has been a CD-ROM producer for Philips Media (producing and designing the “Don’t Quit Your Day Job” game for the Improv Comedy club), an Internet radio pioneer with ClevelandHits.com and Everstream and a web developer.

Jonah has also released several CDs of new, compilation and live recordings, including 2008’s Telling On Myself, 2016’s Nusic, and 2017’s Partially Light. Jonah Koslen and The Heroes Agora Live, a classic recording of a WMMS Coffebreak concert from 1983, containing live versions of classic MSB, Breathless and Heroes favorites, was also finally released in 2017 to rave reviews. In the fall of 2022, Jonah reunited with original surviving MSB alumni Tommy Dobeck and Daniel Pecchio under the name KDP for two sold-out shows, which resulted in the 2023 release Koslen Dobeck Pecchio KDP Kent Stage Live ‘22. Many of these CDs as well as Jonah’s Breathless recordings are now available from Jonah’s merch site, JonahKoslenMerch.com.

May of 2024 saw Jonah front and center for a sold-out show at MGM Northfield Park Center Stage, celebrating the 50th anniversary of MSB. Jonah assembled a band which includes some MSB and Resonators alumni, and they performed two sets spanning the long and storied MSB legacy. In August 2024 Jonah opened for Donnie Iris And The Cruisers with an energetic and very well-received acoustic set highlighting his 50 year career.