where i’m from

by jim knight
Before he fell into a professional music career, Jason Michael Carroll’s only experience was singing in the church, where his father was minister. As a matter of fact, Pastor Carroll was dead set against secular music.
Soon after Jason Michael moved out on his own, he was listening to the radio while working at a local hardware store when he heard about a talent contest. He decided to enter and won. That success and others caught the attention of Don Gehman, the producer of the multi-platinum album Cracked Rear View by Hootie & the Blowfish, and Pat Green’s Wave on Wave. Don took Jason Michael to Nashville where he met manager Rusty Harmon and the rest is history.
Arista Nashville signed Jason Michael to a record deal and immediately started working on his first album, Waitin’ in the Country. That album entered the country chart at #1, and it was #8 on the Billboard pop chart. His first solo album produced 3 country hits, 2 of which were top 5 singles. One of those singles, ‘Alyssa Lies,’ was a powerful, moving song Jason Michael wrote about child abuse. ‘Livin’ Our Love Song’ and ‘I Can Sleep When I’m Dead’ were successful follow up singles.
Songwriting is just as important to Carroll as performing is. He had originally looked to write some songs with Rob Thomas of Matchox 20, but due to scheduling he ended up writing with Jewel and Shaye Smith, with whom he wrote songs for his debut album.
Ideas for a song can strike at any time, so Carroll always carries a laptop everywhere he goes so that he can record and store ideas for his next hit.
Currently he’s in the final stages of choosing songs to go on his as yet untitled sophomore album.
The first single from that album, ‘Where I’m From’ (one of the few Carroll didn’t have a hand in writing) is already available to download online in bootleg form.
When not recording the songs that earned him the title of Top New Country Artist of the Year, he lives in Raleigh, North Carolina with his family. He’s got four kids and still spends time with his two biggest fans- his mom and dad.
Watch for Jason Michael Carroll’s sophomore album to be released in March or April of 2009. And don’t miss his concert at the Greater Jacksonville Fair on Monday night, November 3rd.