​

VAP Records

It started in 1978 in Amityville, Long Island, where Jonathan and his brothers co-founded VAP Records — Virgin Archer Production. As President, Jonathan helped build an independent dance music label from scratch: producing 12" singles, working with record pools and DJs, and launching artists like Final Edition. VAP Records released three singles between 1979 and 1983, establishing the Floyd brothers as serious players in the New York independent music scene.

 

Music Career

As a guitarist, Jonathan has shared stages and studios with some of the most respected names in R&B and jazz — Holland-Dozier-Holland, The Supremes, Force MD's, Jon B., Al B. Sure, and the artists of New York's Black Rock Coalition. As half of J.S. Floyd — 'The Distinguished Gentlemen of Smooth Jazz' — alongside his brother Stafford, he has built a catalog of 'Hot Funk/Cool Jazz' that continues to grow. Their debut album 'Check the Forecast' and recent single 'Two Piece and a Biscuit' have earned radio play on smooth jazz stations across the country. Jonathan is also a registered ASCAP member with 225 songs in catalog, and an enrolled member of the Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC).

 

Author

Under the J Leslie name, Jonathan has published 13 books on Amazon KDP targeting teens, young adults, and lifelong learners. His catalog spans entrepreneurship (Secrets of Entrepreneurial Triumph, Practical Business Insights for Teens), mindset and personal development (The Thought Experiment, The Brain Update, Break the Cycle), and fiction (Influencer Exposed, Future Sex). His books are registered with the U.S. Copyright Office. Audiobook editions are available via Audible/ACX.

 

Teaching & Community

Jonathan teaches guitar at Hands 4 Hope Youth Organization, where he works with young people to build musical skills and confidence. Through Forecast Audio and Lighting, he also provides professional sound and lighting design for live events and productions.

Philosophy

Jonathan is a founding believer in the Free Information Network (FIN) — the philosophy that valuable knowledge should be shared freely, without paywalls or gatekeeping. Everything he creates — music, books, content — is grounded in the belief that information is most powerful when it's accessible to everyone.

 

Closing

From Amityville to Los Angeles to Oregon, Jonathan Leslie has spent a lifetime creating things worth hearing, reading, and experiencing. He's not done yet.