F.J. McMahon grew up in Santa Barbara, California. He played in several “surf/instrumental” bands through junior and senior high school. Upon graduating Santa Barbara High School in 1964, he enlisted in the Air Force.

       While stationed at Hamilton Air Force Base just north of San Francisco, he had the opportunity to play a few small clubs and get involved with some of the music scene that was happening in that area between 1965 and 1967.  In 1967 he received orders to South East Asia.  This involved travel and temporary duty in Vietnam, the  Philippines and  Thailand.

         After being discharged F.J. returned to Santa Barbara to play and write what would be his only album: Spirit of the Golden Juice.  The album was released in 1969. This was followed by two years of hitting the road and playing anyplace that he could.  He then played in a succession of bar bands culminating with a move to Hawaii and one more year of gigging bars and hotels. 

           With disco on the way in and glitter glam the current flavor of the month, F.J. decided to quit the music business and get a day job.

            So he went to work for the Atomic Energy Commission as a Security Enforcement Officer on a place called Johnston Atoll.  Upon his return to California he met the lady of his life Diane Milano, got married and had two daughters Danielle and Niki.  Mixed in with all this was four years in the Navy where he became an avionics technician and served on the USS Ranger.  F.J. has spent the last twenty five years as a computer repair and operations specialist.