Jason Aldean
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jason Aldean (born February 28, 1977) is a country music artist.
In January 2004, Aldean signed with Broken Bow Records. Aldean, who sings in a honky-tonk tenor, released his debut album in 2005. The disc has sold more than 850,000 copies.
In May 2006, Aldean won his first career award, Academy of Country Music (ACM) Top New Male Vocalist.
Parents, Barry and Debbie, divorced when he was three. He was raised by his mother, mainly in Macon, GA. Summers were spent with his father in Homestead, FL. Aldean was married to his high-school sweetheart, Jessica, on August 4, 2001. Their daughter Keeley was born February 14, 2003. Aldean is the nephew of Jim Wooten, Associate Editorial Page Editor of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Growing up he spent time at his Dad's house in the summers. Before his dad went to work during the day, he would daily map Jason out the guitar chords on notebook paper to show him where to place his fingers to play the chords. Jason sat and did that all day while his dad was at work. When his dad got home, he got out his own guitar and they would play together. That was how Jason learned to play the guitar.
He could soon just listen to songs and be able to play them after hearing them for about three times. That is how he started learning a wide variety of songs. His early favorites included George Strait's "The Cowboy Rides Away," Hank Williams Jr.'s "The Blues Man" and Alabama's "My Home's in Alabama."
Both parents encouraged young Jason as he progressed musically. At age 14, after watching the country-music awards on TV, he developed the desire to perform on stage. His mother, Debbie, acquired his first opportunity to perform at the local VFW hall in Macon. He sang John Anderson's song 'Seminole Wind' and 'Sticks and Stones' by Tracy Lawrence. He describes that all of the 10 people who were there applauded, and he almost had to be dragged off the stage because he was then hooked on performing.
He began performing at area talent contests and local fairs. At 15, he joined the "house band" at the Macon nightspot Nashville South. A year later, he bought his first car with money he'd earned singing, a 1985 Toyota pick-up with a rusted-out tailgate. By the time of his high-school graduation, his future was set.
His father booked Jason and his band into college towns in Florida, Alabama and Georgia, then further up the eastern seaboard. One of the bandmembers was Justin Weaver, with whom Jason began writing songs.
In 1998 he performed his original songs at a showcase staged by the famed Atlanta nightclub The Buckboard. None of the record company talent scouts who were there approached him, but Michael Knox, then of the Warner-Chappell song-publishing company did. Jason states he was actually unfamiliar with what a song publisher was.
Nevertheless, after signing to write songs for the company, Jason Aldean moved to Music City on Nov. 1, 1998 at age 21. A month later, he was offered a recording contract. When that was not productive, he signed with another label immediately afterward. After repeatedly postponing his recording sessions, the second label dropped him in 2000.
Showcases for various music executives did not bring a contract. Finally, Lawrence Mathis spotted Jason at one of the showcases at The Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville. When signing with Lawrence as his original manager, still frustrated and discouraged with his struggling career, Jason gave him six months before he planned to leave Nashville and return home to Georgia giving up his hopes of a music career. Five weeks later we was offered a deal from Broken Bow Records there in Nashville. Broken Bow released Jason's platinum selling original self-titled CD, "Jason Aldean".
Aldean spent most of January 2007 in the studio with producer Michael Knox finishing up his sophomore album. The album's lead-off single, "Johnny Cash" (previously cut by Tracy Byrd) has been released.
He's currently touring with Rascal Flatts and is scheduled to headline the Eastern Kentucky University spring concert in Richmond, Kentucky.
Contents |
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
- Jason Aldean (2005) #37 US, #6 US Country, #2 Top Independent Albums - R.I.A.A. Certification: Platinum
[edit] Singles
| Year | Title | Album | US Hot 100 | US Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | "Hicktown" | Jason Aldean | #68 | #10 |
| 2006 | "Why" | Jason Aldean | #43 | #1 |
| 2006 | "Amarillo Sky" | Jason Aldean | #59 | #4 |
| 2007 | "Johnny Cash"A | Relentless | #25 |
ACurrently active on charts
