Raised in New York City, John began playing Subway stations and bars in and around Manhattan in his early twenties. His songwriting has evolved over the past 15 years from intimate walks through the blue-black city streets and bar-rooms of New York City, to autumn brown country roads paved with gratitude.

John has a loyal grass-roots fan base and continuously tours throughout the Northeast. John's sound is described by Jazz Bassist Joe Fonda as "true lyrical poetry that is rooted in the blues and has a deep groove". The music is seamless and moves effortlessly between powerful testimonials of love and redemption and mournful ballads of regret and perseverance.

John plays strictly acoustic music. It is clean, soulful and honest. John's music takes listeners on a journey they do not soon forget. Josh Hathaway of Blog Critics wrote that there is a truly unique quality to Scarpulla's music that honors blues, soul, pop and Americana at the same time.

Scarpulla credits the longevity of the careers of his influences such as Van Morrison, Joe Cocker and Neil Young to their uncompromising honesty and individuality. Good music outlasts trends and maintains its integrity way after the sweet first bite of the flavor of the month.