John Wines, better known online as the Old Grey Guitarist, turned a lifetime of playing and teaching guitar into a viral social-media career—and then carried that momentum to America’s Got Talent in 2023.
The British guitarist earned four yes votes with his audition, advanced to the Season 18 live semifinals and was eliminated during the first live results show. He has since continued teaching, performing and sharing rock-guitar lessons with an audience of more than two million followers across his social platforms.
John Wines at a glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | John Wines |
| Online name | Old Grey Guitarist |
| Born | Around 1964 |
| From | South Coast of England |
| Based in | Dorset, England |
| Work | Guitarist, music teacher and online creator |
| Known for | America’s Got Talent Season 18 |
| AGT result | Live semifinalist |
| Current work | Teaching, online courses, workshops and performances |
| Net worth | Not publicly verified |
What is John Wines doing now?
Wines remains active as a guitarist and teacher. He continues sharing rock covers, technique demonstrations and short lessons under the Old Grey Guitarist name.
He also teaches through the Old Grey Guitarist Academy. Its beginner electric-guitar course covers fundamentals, chords and music theory, extending the kind of accessible instruction that first helped his social accounts grow.
Alongside online teaching, Wines is available for guitar workshops and live performances. Booking profiles describe him as a UK-based solo performer with more than 20 years of teaching experience. He also fronts the Old Grey Guitarist Band for private and public events.
AGT introduced Wines to a larger television audience, but his current work remains rooted in the same two areas that defined him before the show: playing rock guitar and helping other people learn the instrument.
Who is the Old Grey Guitarist?
Wines adopted the Old Grey Guitarist name when he began posting online. He later explained that the name was partly intended to prevent his school students from immediately finding his account.
The plan did not keep him anonymous for long. His guitar covers began spreading widely on TikTok and Instagram, particularly videos featuring classic-rock riffs and solos. By early 2023, he had passed one million TikTok followers.
His online success was unusual not because an experienced guitarist played well, but because Wines presented advanced rock vocabulary in an approachable way. His videos combine recognizable songs, expressive playing and the perspective of a working teacher rather than a distant celebrity.
John Wines on America’s Got Talent
Audition
Wines appeared in Season 18 at age 59. He began his audition with Queen’s “We Will Rock You,” then moved through a guitar arrangement designed to show his range and stage presence.
Watch John Wines’ AGT audition
Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel and Sofia Vergara all voted yes. The audition was released online before its television broadcast and attracted millions of views within its first weeks.
Live semifinal
The judges selected Wines for the live shows. In the first qualifier, he performed a rock-guitar version of “Misirlou,” the traditional melody strongly associated with Dick Dale and the film Pulp Fiction.
Howie Mandel gave him a standing ovation, while Simon Cowell pressed his red buzzer during the performance. The audience vote did not place Wines among the night’s top five, and he was eliminated in the results episode on August 23, 2023.
Did John Wines reach the AGT final?
No. Wines reached the live semifinal stage but did not advance to the Season 18 final. Adrian Stoica and Hurricane ultimately won the season.
Older versions of this article stopped after his audition and said only that he had advanced to the next round. The complete result is that he became a Season 18 semifinalist.
His work as a music teacher
Teaching was not a new direction created after AGT. Wines had already spent decades working with young musicians through schools, youth services and private lessons.
He has taught at The Bourne Academy in Dorset and worked with hundreds of student bands. In interviews, he has spoken about the value of music education for confidence, discipline and the development of young people, including students with additional needs.
His current online academy brings that experience to learners outside his local area. The course material starts with basic technique rather than assuming that viewers already understand guitar terminology.
John Wines’ social-media success
Wines joined social platforms hoping to attract a small number of additional students. A cover of Free’s “All Right Now” became an early breakthrough, and further performances of music by Queen, Pink Floyd, Metallica, Nirvana and other rock artists expanded his audience.
His TikTok audience exceeded one million followers before AGT, while his Instagram following continued growing afterward. Current professional profiles describe a combined social audience of more than two million.
Follower numbers change frequently, so the lasting point is not a single total. Wines built a large audience by combining performance with instruction and by presenting classic guitar music without an exaggerated influencer persona.
John Wines’ age
Wines was introduced as 59 during his AGT appearance in 2023, placing his birth around 1963 or 1964. A complete, independently verified birth date has not been made public.
That means he is approximately 62 or 63 in 2026. Articles should avoid presenting “59” as a permanently current age.
John Wines’ height
The earlier claim that Wines is 5 feet 11 inches tall was not supported by an attributable interview or official profile. His height has therefore not been reliably confirmed.
John Wines’ net worth
John Wines has not publicly disclosed his net worth. His visible income opportunities include school and private teaching, online courses, performances, workshops, social-platform revenue and event bookings.
Those activities establish that he has several professional income streams, but they do not reveal his assets, expenses or total earnings. Any precise online net-worth figure should be treated as speculation.
Social media and lessons
Frequently asked questions
How far did John Wines get on AGT?
He reached the live semifinals of Season 18 and was eliminated during the first results show.
What did John Wines play during his AGT audition?
He opened with Queen’s “We Will Rock You” and performed a rock-guitar showcase.
What did John Wines play in the live show?
He performed a rock version of “Misirlou.”
Is John Wines still teaching guitar?
Yes. He continues teaching and offers online guitar instruction through the Old Grey Guitarist Academy.
How old is John Wines?
He was 59 during AGT in 2023, making him approximately 62 or 63 in 2026.
What is John Wines’ net worth?
His net worth has not been publicly verified.