After playing a gig with John Compton one night, we were outside talking right before he was heading to play another gig somewhere downtown.  John said, “Man you got to come down and hear this new guy playing with me and Joe Nadue.”  I asked him who it was and he told me about John Hoffman.  I had never heard of him before so I let it pass.  A couple of months went by and I finally went out to see John at the Noble Savage blues jam one Tuesday night.  I have to say it was a rare treat.  I had never heard the kind of things that were coming from behind the kit before in a local performance.  I sat in awe of John’s technical prowess from that small stage that night and knew I had to get to know this guy better. 

John comes from a family of musicians and it is this background that has strengthened him as a solid and sought after drummer in this town.  Moving from the Shreveport, Louisiana area to go play in San Antonio was a big help in John’s musical growth because of the sheer variety of musicians he came in contact with.  For what ever reason, God chose to bring this native son back to our area for all to enjoy.  I did get to know John better and now that we are friends I can truly say you will not meet a more humble guy on the local music scene.  John is a testament to those musicians who don’t turn their backs on their roots.  If you ever get a chance to see him play on a local gig you should do so.  As John Compton would always say, “Smoke em if you got em.”  At the rate he is going, Hoffman won’t be on the local scene very long.  He is destined for bigger things and it shows in his drive and attitude.