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John-Alex Mason attributes his love of music to two central people from his childhood in Colorado. First, his older brother, Stephen, who rocked out to music of the 60’s and 70’s - Led Zeppelin, the Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix and the Allman Brothers Band. And second, his godmother, Viola Marigna, who introduced him to Baptist moans and gospel through her own voice, mass choir concerts and church performances. “I remember the exact moment Stephen played Led Zeppelin II for me and how powerful the smell of heavy perfume and anticipation was at Viola’s church,” says Mason. It was not long before Mason discovered blues music and the bridge between praising and rocking.

As a quiet teen, Mason spent his free time listening to blues records – one of the first was Muddy Waters’ “Hard Again.” That same year the album’s producer Johnny Winter and harp contributor James Cotton came through to play separate shows at Colorado College. “I was pretty well floored by those two shows. I finally came to when Cotton’s guitar player asked me if everything was alright and I realized that I was the only person left in the theater, still staring up at the stage.” Columbia’s release of the “Complete Robert Johnson” when Mason was 15 led to a particular fascination and relationship with solo country blues artists that suited his then shy style.

The street also played a critical role in the development of his one-man band show. After winning the Telluride Acoustic Blues Competition in 2001, Mason was hired back to teach slide guitar at the festival’s guitar camp. It was through the Telluride Blues and Brews festival that Mason developed his passion for teaching and met and came under the influence of contemporary luminaries Taj Mahal, John Cephas, Phil Wiggins, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Anders Osborne and Richard Johnston.

“At Telluride, Richard invited me out to play with him in Memphis on Beale Street and I took him up on the offer. It was a steamy Thursday night in June and Rick gathered a crowd, something he’s really good at, then introduced me and promptly left the drum stool. My acoustic instrument was still de-tuned from the trip so the only option was Richard’s drum rig and Lowebow. So I hopped on.” Mason made enough that weekend trading sets with Johnston to pay for his hotel, meals and airfare, but more importantly found a vehicle to express the electrified, deep country blues sound he heard in his head.

Since then Mason has performed with BB King, James Cotton, John Mayall, Jimmie Vaughan, The Yardbirds, John Hammond, Robben Ford, Bob Margolin, Kelly Joe Phelps, Joan Osborne, Otis Taylor, Carolyn Wonderland, Will Hoge, Rose Hill Drive, The White Buffalo, Shemekia Copeland, Johnny A., Bugs Henderson, and the man Mason calls “the King,” Robert Belfour.

“This is how blues was meant to sound. John-Alex Mason first hits your ears with a voice that comes from another time and place. It’s a mature, smoky curl that jumps off the record with a density many singers spend years trying to achieve. From there, Mason’s songs and interpretations take his listeners on a backroads journey to those long, back breaking days and hot, juke joint nights. One listen and you’ll hear the pure Delta blues truth reincarnated in this young soul.” Art Tipaldi, Senior Writer Blues Revue and Blues Wax.

"Calling John-Alex Mason a "one man band" is a little misleading, because it sounds like three different people in harmony. It's not the novelty that makes it great; it's the powerful effect of the percussion, vocals and the guitar coming from the same soul. It comes across relevant, tribal and a wide groove, good listening and toe tapping, hell, you can dance to it too!" John Catt, founding member, Grand County Blues Society and director of the Blues from the Top Fest.

"WOW! I have long admired the way that John-Alex Mason plays and sings, he is a real pro and it is clear that he "feels it"! His "one man band" show at the Trinidaddio Blues Fest "Pre-Fest" takes John-Alex up another rung (or two, or three!) on my ladder. Even though John-Alex was sponsored by our friends at the Colorado Blues Society, I usually stay away from having one person acts play for more than 30minutes or so. Really - even trios don't normally get that much more. John-Alex Mason played, all by his lonesome, for nearly two solid hours to a packed (500 tickets sold!) crowd that was waiting to hear Bernard Allison's guitar magic. The set not only pleased the "natives," who can become restless - they loved it and so did I! If I needed any convincing that John-Alex Mason is the "real deal" (I really didn't!) I sure got it that Friday nite in Trinidad! What a great guy and what a great act!" Neil Sexton, Founder, Trinidaddio Blues Fest