At 66, John Downing is still writing songs with the same passion he felt as a nine-year-old listening to The White Album for the first time. A lifelong musician based in Grand Rapids, Minnesota — the birthplace of Judy Garland — John’s love for songwriting started with a single moment of clarity.
“Once when I was listening, I asked my brother where they get their songs. All he said was, ‘They write ’em themselves.’ And right then and there, before I had written anything or even played an instrument, something inside me knew I was a songwriter.”
Sneaking into his older brother’s room to play guitar (despite it being “totally forbidden”) only deepened that obsession. “He caught me one day and instead of throttling me, he showed me some chords,” John recalls. “He then told Mom and Dad they needed to get me a guitar so he wouldn’t have to kick my ass for sneaking into his room.”
John went on to spend decades playing clubs and coffeehouses while balancing family life and work. But self-doubt and depression often clouded his journey. “I just wanted to write songs,” he says. “But the audience wanted covers, so pretty soon I was doing mostly other people’s music.”
In 2019, he stopped performing altogether and resigned himself to writing songs “for the wooden walls.” That changed when he discovered Talent Is Timeless. “It kind of feels like I’ve found my flock,” John says.
The monthly challenges and supportive community have given him a renewed sense of purpose and energy. His proudest career moment came in 2001 when his self-produced CD of 11 original songs won runner-up in the Traditional Folk category at the Just Plain Folks International Awards, chosen from tens of thousands of entries. He performed at the awards banquet in Hollywood but quickly realized self-promotion wasn’t his strength.
“These days, when I’m writing songs, I feel the most my Self and that I am doing my life’s work,” John says. “Talk about a profound change!”
His advice for other songwriters over 50? “Just write!” With his cat George often sitting on his notebook, John continues to create music with the same curiosity and drive he had as a boy, proving that some passions never fade.
You can listen to John’s winning song here: https://www.talentistimeless.com/groups/monthly-challenges/mc-archive/
And Connect with John on Talent Is Timeless here: https://www.talentistimeless.com/members/dowbros/
Talent Is Timeless is a global community of 29,000+ songwriters aged 50 and over, proving that creativity doesn’t come with an expiry date. Our members connect with like-minded artists, participate in monthly songwriting challenges, attend expert-led masterclasses, and compete in our annual contest—with winners recording at iconic studios like Abbey Road. Whether you’re returning to music after years away or writing the best songs of your life, you’ll find encouragement, feedback, and genuine connection here.