Jon Walmsley worked to shed Jason Walton with music
Nobody wants to be John-Boy's younger brother forever!
Sometimes, actors are also great musicians. A predisposition toward performance sometimes makes for skills across multiple mediums. So, when a person excels at one type of art, they might be more likely to succeed in others too! Bruce Willis might be best remembered for his acting skills, but you can't forget "The Return of Bruno," his debut studio album. Relatedly, did you know William Shatner has a whopping twelve albums in his discography?
One hopeful who tried to leap from screen to stereo was Jon Walmsley. If the name doesn't ring a bell, you might not be alone. You might instead recall the name Jason Walton, who Walmsley played on The Waltons across nine series and six movies.
In a 1976 interview with the Lexington Herald-Leader, Walmsley was good-spirited about how often people associated him with his character on the beloved TV show.
"It doesn't really bother me that much that people call me Jason," Walmsley explained. "I can understand that. But I'm working on changing that situation."
Fans will remember that Jason Walton was the musically talented second-eldest son on The Waltons. Where John-Boy was adept with the pen, Jason was skilled with the guitar, harmonica, piano, and banjo. This was a trait the character shared with Walmsley, as the actor played music both on the set of The Waltons and away from the cameras. He sought to use his talents as the key to forging his own path, separate from his onscreen character.
"In music, people know you for yourself. They know your style of music and they ask for you by name. It'll be Jon Walmsley then."
Walmsley continued to contribute music to television shows well into the 21st Century, as he lent his skills to shows like 7th Heaven, 8 Simple Rules, and The Secret Life of the American Teenager. Outside of TV, Walmsley continues to rack up credits as a musician, composer, and producer.