Jason Whitton

Jason Whitton has always felt that his life would be centered around performing. A self proclaimed procrastinator, nerdy hip hop freestyler, and some say, country crooner, Whitton has always seen himself as a bit of an odd ball. "I've just never really felt normal my entire life. When I was younger, my life seemed much like a movie, and for some reason, someone was watching. Perhaps it was my higher self, helping to steer me this way and that. Ive always been one who watches, as well. I guess thats where the song writing came into play. I've written a fair amount of songs with women as the main character. Not really from their perspective, but about events that affected their lives. They are fascinating creatures and I fear I may never come close to understanding one completely."


Whitton began singing and writing when he was still a teenager, and being a native Texan, much of his earlier work has its roots in country. He has been heavily influenced by singer song- writers, such as Tom Waits, James Taylor, Bob Marley, and Jack Johnson. "I love old Tom Waits. His voice just fits the work he was doing. It really made a lot of since to me. I think he's one of the best song- writers of the past thirty years. Kentucky Avenue still twists me in some place that is hard to get to. JT's double live album got me through a damn hard time in my life after the end of a three-year relationship with my college sweetheart. Everybody does have the blues sometimes. Marley's passion is what makes his music so infectious to me. It bridges many gaps between generations and ethnicities. And Jack is just a damn good time. Great tunes, melodies, and he has the best instinct of when to end a song. I saw him at The Greek in LA, and he laid it down. No talking, just song after song after song."


All these influences, along with many more, have inspired Whitton to write and perform music that communicates the message of love, hope, understanding and at times there is a touch of humor, as evident with his debut album, Thriftstore Cowboy. It is a fantastic representation of his song writing skills. His voice has been compared to a male Tracy Chapman, David Gray, and recently to the country sensation, Keith Urban. It has been called AAA, Alt.Country, Americana, folk, etc. He likes to call it Country Soul.


He considers himself a singer songwriter who has influences from R&B, to folk and country. "I'm glad I chose these songs for my first record. It took a lot of hard work and patience, but I feel it is the best representation of what I do as an artist. I am constantly writing and going in other directions, but thats okay with me. If the next record is more pop influenced, then I'm going to run with it. My goal is to just keep making records and build up my own catalog of work. It may take me a long time to accomplish that, but with that idea in the back of my mind, it helps to keep going through the process."