With a musical soul and a strong heart for service, John Xavier Polk aka “JP” has always lifted his voice in song. Born to the late Bishop John A. and Pastor Catherine B. Polk of Orlando, John spent his early childhood singing in his church’s youth choir. Likened to a young Sam Cooke, John excelled and flourished in music as a boy. He mimicked the drum playing style of his father in order to better serve his church. A divine enabling allowed him to teach himself to play keyboard well enough for service.
As he grew into manhood the desire to serve his country arose within him. John decided to leave Florida for Texas and a career with the US Army. After years of using his voice for song, now John was using his clear sound to call out cadence while doing the rigorous daily physical training the Army required. During this time John decided to join the church choir once again. It was there in little Killeen, Texas that he truly began crafting his art and honing his singing voice. Once John was discharged from the Army, he returned to his friends and family in Orlando and began the serious work of ministry. For many years John worked exclusively in and for several churches polishing his skill as a singer.
It would not take very long for him to be recognized and placed as a leader. In 2006 on a chance meeting with ladies preparing for a women’s conference he formed his first group Voices of Life Music Ministry, which later become JP & 1Voice. After several years of performing locally and opening for national artists, JP & 1Voice was afforded the opportunity to be featured in The World Famous Gospel Brunch at House of Blues Orlando in 2013. It was there ministering to audiences from around the world under the training of host Sàndra Tillman Clark that the international urge hit. John would finally get the desire of his heart as his friends Nicole Taylor and Chrystol Ingram would give him his first invitation to Italy for their Winter/Christmas Gospel Tour in 2014.
JP continued doing shows at House of Blues, and in 2016 a guest would invite him and his band to perform for her wedding ceremony and reception. The drummer for this event had recently started an outfit of her own, Skillzmatic Band, and chose John to be her frontman. John’s experience with SMB helped him to become a part of The Elite Showband in 2019. Meanwhile John toured once again with 2017 and was headed back again in 2019 when there became an opening to take his own team. He formed JP & The Soul Voices and successfully toured that year and again in 2021 & 2022.
In 2021 JP took a leap of faith to Denver, CO where he quickly linked up with Denver’s Radio Band, Elevation Band, Soul X, The Motones and other local bands. He would form his own outlet, JP & The Elements, and has gained a residency at a local wine restaurant