John Anthony Helliwell (born 15 February 1945)[1][2] is an English musician, best known as the saxophonist, secondary keyboardist, and backing vocalist for the rock band Supertramp.

After hearing Monty Sunshine play Petite Fleur with Chris Barber's Jazz Band, John was inspired, and saved up for two years to buy a clarinet for 15 pounds when he was thirteen.

One of these bands, The Dicemen, John claims dressed in Beatles-inspired suits and wore trousers so tight they had to be carried on stage.

The Jugs O'Henry band was short–lived, and once they had ended, Helliwell put an advertisement into an issue of Melody Maker with the title "Have Sax, Will Travel".

The band, known for including future music stars such as Alan Bown, Jeff Bannister, Jess Roden, Robert Palmer, Mel Collins, and Dave Lawson, had limited success in sales, and changed genre's through the 60s, transitioning from blues, soul, and rnb, to psychedelic, progressive, and baroque pop, and freakbeat.

[8] John's addition helped introduce saxophone, other woodwinds, occasional keyboards, synthesizers, and backing vocals to the groups sound.