Jonathan Eckberg:  Vocals / Guitar / Producer / Writer

Jonathan Eckberg is the producer and chief writer for OneElevenEast, as well as a seasoned solo artist with 4 CDs to his credit. He is a rare talent and his talent shines on more than just the music stage.

By the time Jonathan reached junior high school, the he had developed two intense loves in life; music and distance running. He soon followed in the footsteps of his brothers, pursuing both with great passion. He is still doing so today.

Jonathan's freshman year in high school was the first for the newly organized Bureau Valley School system. One of the benefits of consolidation was the addition of a Cross Country program. Though it started small, it developed into what would become on of the most successful programs among small schools in Illinois. Jonathan qualified for state his junior year, but it was in his senior year that he shined, winning several meets, leading a young Bureau Valley team to state for the very first time, and finishing in 11th place individually. That senior team, thanks in great part to Jonathan's coaching and leading would later produce three college MVPs in the same season (Jonathan at Lipscomb University, Randy Bill at Augustana, and Jason Bill at the University of Illinois)

Throughout those junior and senior high years, Jonathan was also pursuing his love of music. He quickly proved to be a gifted guitarist, performer, and writer.

After graduating from Bureau Valley High School in 1999, Jonathan headed for Greenville College in Greenville, Illinois where he studied music and ran cross country and track for the Panthers and Coach Brian Patton.

After three semesters he decided that he would rather play music than study it and he left to head for home, where he attended IVCC junior college with brother Timothy and wrote and recorded his first CDs.

Following his second year at IVCC, Jonathan decided he would like to head for Nashville and pursue a career in music. Taking his older brother's advice ("You can go to Nashville and work 8 hours a day while trying to make it in music at night, or you could go to school and mooch off your parents for two more years...") Jonathan decided to continue his education, choosing a small Division I school, Lipscomb University. A providential meeting with the cross country coach led to Jonathan being offered a scholarship to run on the spot, and he soon established himself at the Bison's top runner.
After graduating in 2005, Jonathan decided to stay in Nashville, and we took a position with Lipscomb as an assistant Cross Country and Track coach.

In 2007 Jonathan’s career took another turn as he accepted a position back at Greenville College to serve as the assistant Cross Country and Track Coach for his former coach, Brian Patton.

Jonathan is still pursuing both music and running. His coaching position at Greenville College affords him the time to continue training. Today he is running Marathons, having turned in his personal best of 2:27 and a 21st place finish in the 2008 Chicago Marathon. He has also qualified for and run in the prestigious Boston Marathon. He is currently beginning a 4 year training program designed to help him meet the qualifying standard of 2:19 minutes and an invitation to the 2012 Olympic trials.

In addition he is writing and recording great new material all the time, with a new CD expected sometime in 2009. Check in on Jonathan out at www.jonathandavideckberg.com .