| Member Since | 8/7/2006 | | Band Website | http://www.myspace.com/jakejohnsonband | | Band Members |
Jake Johnson was born in Sandersville Georgia, in 1974.
Living very much like the 20’s in a run down, ramshackle shack, with little income and even less opportunity, he learned at a very young age, the meaning of “struggle”. Jakes whole family was musically inclined, playing and singing in the local church, but it was his father, strumming “Clayton Delaney”, that lit the flame. Years went by, Jakes father died and the family eventually moved on, to Lakeland Florida where they lived for several years. His mother met a welder and they married in 1983. All this time Jake, trying to adjust, found a friend in music. At 12, Jake was realizing his potential in music, but times were hard. He found a job as a roofer at the age of 13, and quit school to work full time. All the while in his spare time, he was honing his skill as a guitarist.
It was at age 16 that he discovered singing. Now 16 and working every day as a Stucco man, Jake met a man named Gene Goodwin, who was without a doubt a genius on the guitar. They quickly became friends, and Gene began giving him music lessons. Jake was an understudy for 4 years with Gene, meanwhile, he found himself drawn to the local honky-tonks, where he would watch and sometimes sit-in with the bands that played on Friday and Saturday nights, learning the craft of stage performance. Jake went on to win “Male Vocalist of the Year” in a competition held by the Polk County chapter of the CMA. Then won “Runner-up” the following year. After that He recorded his first album in a studio in Florida, which while in post-production, was busted for money laundering and Cocaine trafficking. The studios owner was shot down that week, in an unrelated “drug-deal-gone-bad.” To this day Jakes unfinished first album is held in probate as “states evidence” in an ongoing murder/drug case.
Jake was 18 when he went to Traviss Technical School, where he received a certificate in Electronics Technology and Computer Systems. He did this without a high school diploma. He then moved back to Georgia, where he was accepted as a non-traditional student at Georgia College & State University at the age of 20. While in college, he received his G.E.D. It was at this college where he studied Music Theory and Music Appreciation, as we as, Political Science, English, Creative Writing and Computer Science. He began playing acoustic gigs to help pay his way thru college, and eventually formed a band. This band did not receive much notoriety but Jake participated in a local talent show where he won “First Place” 37 times in a row. He and his mom went to Nashville Tennessee where they met Charlie Dick, the late Patsy Clines husband. Charlie showed them around Music Row and got Jake to play at such legendary places as Tootsies, Broken Spoke, Legend Falls and The Blue Bird Café’. Jake was invited to attend a private writers convention and was allowed to pitch a song he wrote to a broad spectrum of famous people’s people. No one bought it but still, that’s pretty good for a beginner. Jake was invited back any time. While he enjoyed his visit to Nashville, it provided little for his career in music.
It wasn’t until Jake moved to North Carolina that his career really took off. Having been in several bands over the years, Jake finally decided to do his own thing and formed the Jake Johnson Band. His self-named band went on to perform with big national acts, such as, David Allan Coe and Confederate Railroad. Jake was brought into the ECU Fraternities and was a big success, then found a home performing for the local biker clubs and Redneck bars. After many requests, Jake decided to record a second first album. He had many mixed feelings about using the material on the first album, so he began writing again, but swearing to not have what happened last time happen again, he began buying the equipment to build his own studio and record label. The album had t be put on hold in 2007 because of a tragic event in Jakes life.
After a very nasty failed marriage and many court proceedings ending in divorce, Jake won full custody of his 2 beautiful children, a boy and a girl, ages 2 and 3, and when he wasn’t fulfilling his contractual arrangements, he was spending every second he could with them and trying to rebuild their life, giving them whatever security and stability he could considering the circumstances. Jake the “Rocker” becomes Jake the “Single Father.” Jakes only statement about this travesty was simply. “All the pain and heartache I’ve endured over the loss of my love… Is going to make me a million in song writing… Her loss, my gain.” said Jake, smiling impishly.
2008, Jake Johnson is back and ready to work. He is finally finished building J-Squared Entertainment is currently in the studio recording his first, yet to be named, album. Who knows? Maybe he will name it… “States evidence.”
Jake Johnson Band is currently playing all over the east coast and will be setting up their first tour just as soon as the new album is released. Meanwhile you can keep track of the latest happenings by coming to Jakes Myspace page often and watching the calendar.
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| | Influences | Influenced by everyone who has ever put a sound on a recording. But other than that... Joe Diffie, Merle Haggard, Waylon, Willie, Johnny, David Allan Coe, George Strait, Garth Brooks, Hank I, II & even III, Travis Tritt, Doug Stone, George Jones, Randy Travis, Lefty Frizzelle, Porter Wagoner, Dwight Yoakam, Guns n' Roses, Metallica, CCR, The Doors, Chris kristopherson, Elvis Presley, Chris LeDoux, Buck Owens, Confederate Railroad and most of all, and above and beyond, Jesus Christ, my Lord Almighty...For, i am nothing, and i could do nothing without His permission... Come to a show and you will see evidence of all walks of music in my performance. | | Sounds Like | Jake Johnson Band has a unique sound, but at the same time, is all to familiar. The sound ranges from the old school Outlaws to the new school rockers. With a little John Cougar Mellencamp, a little Lynrd Skynrd, a little David Allan Coe, a little Jimmy Buffett, a little Metallica and even a little Merle Haggard. Jake can deliver the most heartfelt ballads and the most exciting rock n' roll jams you would expect from your favorite cover band, then, blow you away with the truthfulness of his original music. All the while, he manages to be different.
Persona, professionalism, image, style, class, charisma, honesty and attitude is the sure mark of a true showman! Off stage, Jake Johnson is as true as he appears. On stage, he tantalizes the listeners and onlookers with a real emotional connection to every single song he sings. Every note, expression, ideal and personal touch comes strait from his heart, but thats just the music part of it. Incredible performances add fuel to the flame. It is very rare to see a band expend more energy, show more personality or be more involved with the crowd, than Jake does as he dominates the stage. He begins with a bang and he crescendos with an explosion, working the crowd into, what can only be described as, a free-for-all frenzy, leaving the audiences totally and completely entertained... | | Record Label | J-Squared Entertainment | | Type of Label | Indie |
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