Like many musicians before him, Whit Jackson was born in Nashville, Tennessee. The musical bug grabbed hold of Whit when he was just 12 years old. The member of a handful of sports teams in junior high, music was something he never really thought of attempting, until that is he realized how many girls there were in choir! As Whit recalls, I distinctly remember the looks on peoples faces when I walked into the choir room to tryout. I was considered a jock in school, so for me to be auditioning for choir was short of a shock for some people. But once the teacher hit the piano and I began to sing, I can still remember the look of disbelief on that small crowd of faces. It was then that Whit realized the real power music had on people. One minute theyre looking at you with confusion, the next theyre stuck on every word you sing. Unbelievable, he recounts.
The Jackson family stay in Tennessee was short lived. As Whits father traversed the corporate ladder so too did the family have to traverse the country as his work brought him to Arkansas, Kentucky, and Illinois. Though he was a child moving from state to state, Whit didnt mind all the traveling his father did. In fact, it was through this modern gypsy lifestyle that Whit was exposed to so many different types of music. Being from the South Whit originally gravitated to artists like Garth Brooks and George Straight. Yet, when Whit moved to Chicago when he was 20, his ears were opened to a flurry of new influences. It was then that songwriters like Michael Jackson, Dave Matthews, Tracy Chapman, and Matchbox 20 began to grab hold of his ear.
It was in this new, musically fertile environment that Whit really began to grow as an artist. He began writing his own songs and music as well as gigging around town with some other local musicians, namely mentor and friend Phil Charleston. Acting as a sort of older brother to Whit, Phil took Whit under his wing so to speak and showed him the ropes on guitar along with playing around town. Without Phil, Whit claims, Id never be ready for the music business. With a small band now in tow, Whit began playing mostly covers but as their confidence grew, they began incorporating Whits original music. This turned out to be a fantastic idea. Not only was the response to the new tunes warm, the increasing crowds really dug it.
While Whit loved Chicago, it was at this point that he realized that in order to really pursue his musical ambitions hed have to set out towards Hollywood. In true artistic fashion, Whit loaded all his belongings into the back of his SUV and headed West. Several months passed in Los Angeles before fate intervened and changed Whits life. At a house party in Hollywood after playing to a few friends, a man approached Whit. That mans name was Tommy Daley and he happened to be a promotion executive turned producer. The first question out of Tommys mouth was, Do you have a CD? He didnt and so Tommy declared, Well, then were gonna make one. And thats exactly what they set out to do.
Once in the studio. Tommy helped Whit develop arrangements and lay down tracks on his forthcoming EP. Its been a process, explains Whit. Long days and nights in the West Hollywood studio learning the craft of record making has been laborious for Whit, but it also has been a time for reflection and growth. From where I started back in Chicago to now, it seems so surreal, frankly, Im amazed he says. The reality of Whit Jacksons music is a journey of passion and purity in a complex world. With just one listen to his soulful and refreshing tunes you too will be amazed.
