John Carney was born in the country of Panamá to an American father and Panamanian mother where he began his professional musical career at the tender age of 13. After graduating college with a B. F. A in music performance, John began teaching privately in New Mexico in 1978 before moving to Houston in 1981. John currently resides near The Woodlands, Texas.

During the 1980s John added Country music to his repertoire of Rock, R and B, Latin Jazz and Classical. In 1984 John joined forces with the late Jim Ponder of Conroe, Texas and their band played a mixture of Country and Rock; cover tunes as well as originals. This act opened for Bo Diddley, Clint Black, and backed the well-remembered "shock-jock" Moby Mathews.

In 1991 John joined The Big Otis Band and spent the next seven years playing beside many of the best musicians in Houston. While performing with Otis, John learned a whole new style of music, opening for acts such as Little Richard, also opening and backing up Percy Sledge.

In 2002 John created his own band Max Cat (Gato Maximo). Max Cat encompasses a range of styles that allows John the opportunity to express his versatility and talent in a variety of his musical styles.