We were lucky to catch up with Jessie Glennon recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Jessie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
I realized I wanted to pursue being a musician professionally when I was around fourteen; I had been learning to play guitar for a couple months, so my dad took me out to a local live music jam at Knuckleheads in Kansas City. I hadn’t really seen live music before, and I hadn’t realized I could play with other musicians without being in a band, or that I would even be capable of doing something like that. Seeing other musicians from around town get up and play with people they’d never met on songs they might not have rehearsed or ever heard before really motivated me. At the time, I could barely play a single song, which pushed me to keep practicing so I could get on stage as soon as possible.
Jessie, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Before becoming a musician, I raced Jet Skis with my sister Anna Glennon. We spent much of our childhood at the Lake of the Ozark’s, riding Jet Skis and boating with our dad. After seeing our first Jet Ski race at Clinton Lake, we started racing around age 9 and built our brand, “Jet Girls Racing,” on social media.
In high school, I got into music, starting with “Guitar Hero.” I secretly learned guitar on my sister’s acoustic, later upgrading to electric and taking lessons. I began attending local jam nights and formed my first band, Spitfire Sarcasm, in 2016. After a racing injury at 14, I shifted focus to music, growing my Instagram “Jet Girl 888” and partnering with brands like Peavey Electronics and Sheptone.
I studied Music Technology at KCKCC and graduated in 2023. That year, I met “Coyote Bill” Bartelt, leading to regular gigs with Coyote Bill and the Brood. In 2024, I formed my Blues band, Jessie Glennon and the Outliers, and we’ve performed at the Kansas City International Blues Challenge and on KKFI radio. I’m continuing to build my career as a musician, and when I’m not on stage I’m working as an audio engineer and music teacher.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
I think that one of the most rewarding things about being a musician is the connections you make with the audience as well as with other musicians. Music has always been something that brings all sorts of people together, and being able to write my own music that leaves an impression on people or makes them feel something/reminds them of something gives me a sense of accomplishment. Music has become my primary way of connecting with people, and I work as a teacher now so I can inspire others to play in hopes music helps them in the same ways it’s helped me.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
When I was younger I didn’t have a lot of things that I was good at; I didn’t really enjoy any sports, I didn’t do well with academic stuff, and I didn’t really have a lot of hobbies either. I did race jet skis, but racing never felt like something I could be “good” at. I had only been playing for about four months when I went to my first jam, and I was still unsure if music was the right path for me. It was at this first jam that I met Craig Summy, one of the hosts. He was very welcoming and supportive, which alleviated a lot of the fear I had going into my first time on stage. He continued to support me as I improved as a musician and pushed me to practice and work hard, which helped me gain more confidence in myself. He passed away in 2019, but the impact he left on me has continued to motivate me to pursue a career as a musician and to help other people feel welcome in the community in the same way he did for me.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jetgirl888/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessie.glennon.77/
Image Credits
Sarah Bockting Photography