Jason Johnson

Jason Johnson is a native of Orange County, California. He developed a love for music at an early age, listening to his dad's record collection of country and rock and roll from the 1950's and 1960's. He first took up guitar at the age of 12 and quickly learned to love playing and singing. Jason was first influenced by finger-style guitarists like Chet Atkins and folk artists John Denver and James Taylor. He later became heavily involved in the rockabilly scene in Orange County during the 1980's. As a teenager, he played lead guitar in some local garage bands fashioned after L.A. groups like the Blasters. Dave Alvin, the rootsy, Americana songwriter for the Blasters is still a songwriting hero for Jason. Hours of playing the blues/country-based styles of rockabilly music affected Jason's understanding of basic song structure and of image-driven lyricism. Later, after college, marrying the love of his life, and becoming the father of 4 children, Jason turned seriously to the craft of songwriting and to producing his own demos in his home studio. Within 2 years, he had a single-song contract with a music row publishing house and was pitching songs to Nashville legends like Roger Murrah, Mark Alan Springer and Jeff Cook of Alabama. After his first audition in 2004, Jason was picked up by the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville as a regular performer at their Writers Nights, Early Show Rounds, and Band Spotlight shows, where he frequently appears. Jason has also placed in the finals of the Georgia Music Industry Association's Best of Country Showcase and has appeared at the Swallow in the Hollow as well as other Atlanta music venues. Good friends from the band "Wichita" frequently appear to back Jason in his live shows. Wichita is an Atlanta treasure with excellent musicianship and professionalism. Drawing on his own life experiences, his faith, a good sense of humor, and the classic themes of his early musical influences, vivid imagery and emotion can be found in Jason's songs. Jason's website is available for more information and for sampling and downloading audio files. Check it out at www.jasonjohnsonmusic.com.