Guitarist J.D. Pendley was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, and has lived and performed as a full-time musician in Austin since 2001. In 2000 he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in jazz guitar performance from the University of Utah. In Austin he performs with Erik Hokkanen, the Jazz Pharaohs, the Giant Three, Continental Graffiti, and many other groups.

His chief musical influences are Eddie Lang, Louis Armstrong, Django Reinhardt, Sidney Bechet and Alan Reuss. In addition to the guitar, J.D. is now studying tenor banjo. J.D. is "passionate about rhythm, acoustic music, and contining the tradition pioneered by so many of the guitarists in the early days of jazz."