“The My Name is Jon Daker” video is an iconic Easter recital clip from First United Methodist Church in Peoria, Illinois, recorded in 1990 and later becoming a viral sensation on YouTube, garnering over 5 million views. This quirky performance features Jon Daker, an amateur singer, delivering unique renditions of “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today” and “That’s Amore” with his distinct phrasing, pseudo-operatic style, and lyric lapses, accompanied by pianist Reva Singley Cooper Unsicker.
Originally aired on a public access program on WTVP, the video surfaced online in 2006, sparking widespread amusement and intrigue. Despite the misspelling of Jon’s first name as “John” in the subtitles, Jon Daker’s legacy endured. Born in 1939 in Peoria and passing away in 2022, Daker was known for his harmonica skills and a passion for music.
he recital showcased various talents including singers, a choir, and a comedian, capturing a slice of local cultural life. While there have been whispers of Daker’s other local TV appearances, definitive videos remain elusive. In 2014, a follow-up video titled “JOHN DAKER STRIKES AGAIN” appeared, showing Daker at a Ford dealership, which also caught the public’s attention.
This video not only amused VH1’s Web Junk 20 viewers in 2006 but also attracted admiration from performers like the Blue Man Group and comedian Bill Burr, highlighting Daker’s unexpected impact on pop culture. Jon Daker’s story, especially his later years spent in assisted living, reveals a man who, despite his accidental fame, valued simplicity and joy, touching people’s lives through laughter and music.
