Genres: Country / Country Grunge / Country Rock
Contact: contact@jaredblakemusic.com

Jared Blake (born September 14, 1978) is an country music singer whom resides in Nashville, Tennessee. A Sony/ATV and Love Monkey Music (Bob DiPiero) songwriter first, his passion to perform was quickly realized. He appeared on the debut season of the hit television show The Voice (U.S. season 1); a singing competition which aired on NBC. Season one coaches included Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green, Adam Levine, and Blake Shelton. Jared was the final selection to complete Team Blake. His singing performances included a solo of “Good Girls Go Bad” (Cobra Starship), a solo of “Not Ready to Make Nice” (Dixie Chicks), a group performance of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” (Marvin Gaye), a group performance of “This Love” (Maroon 5), and a solo of “Use Somebody” (Kings of Leon). NBC and Universal Republic Records released recordings of the songs performed. Blake’s vocal performances broke into the charts with the first release, “Not Ready to Make Nice”, reaching No.16 and “Use Somebody” also reaching No.16 on iTunes charts. His songs have appeared in the charts more than 50 times since June 2011.
Jared Blake was born in Star City, Arkansas, and started his musical career learning piano and acoustic guitar. In middle school, Jared decided to join the school’s choir. His teacher used classical choral training methods, and Jared went on be selected by the statewide all-region choir from 1991 until his graduation in 1996. In 1993, Jared entered his first competitions at the Malvern Brick Fest taking second place, and went on to take place at the Lincoln County Fair youth talent competition. Subsequent years, Jared won 1st place in the Lincoln County vocal competition, and other state and regional talent shows. Jared began writing his own songs for the competitions, and pinpointed his career decision to become a professional songwriter as well as a singer.

Jared was signed to a publishing contract with Sony/ATV Music Publishing in 2006, ending in 2010. Blake worked four jobs at times, owning a decorative concrete business, writing songs for Sony/ATV and Love Monkey Music (Bob DiPiero), singing demos, and pushing his own music by playing in bars to support his family. Jared has played with David Allan Coe, Big and Rich, James Otto, Jerrod Niemann, Lee Brice, Gretchen Wilson, Randy Houser, Dierks Bentley and Jamey Johnson.

Jared Blake’s music stretches the boundary of country with a hint of blues and rock n roll. Jared’s fans have dubbed the creation “country grunge”.
Rolling Stone described this artist as a top pick to win the season on NBC’s hit show, “The Voice”. His “sweet 16″ (top 16) status was explained as “expected”. When the top 8 got narrowed down, Jared Blake became the show-shocker of the evening. Entertainment Weekly reported “He was robbed, totally robbed.”, the day after the live episode aired.

Immediately after leaving the stage, he was then thrown into the line of reporters dying to know what his thoughts were. Jared’s reply, “Where’s my first gig and let me get to all of these new fans!!”

Johnny Cash once said, “Sometimes I am two people. Johnny is the nice one. Cash causes all the trouble. They fight.” The same might be said of Jared Blake. People tend to jump to conclusions when they see Jared on a stage. The bad ass image (complete with tattoos, shaved head, ripped jeans and that searing look) can make an audience hold their breath as they prepare for what is about to happen. There is a hint of dangerous in Jared Blake and anyone who watches him can be sure there is a reason for it.

Jared has run into his fair share of bumps in the road and will talk about it openly when asked. There have been mistakes, falls and lapses in judgment. Those struggles proved hard and at times almost unbearable. The battles to achieve his dream made Jared feel like he was quote, “Losing his soul to the very thing that helped him find it.” If you stopped right there and looked no further, you would be missing out on an artist and a person who has so much to offer the world. You must listen carefully when this artist begins to sing. However, you can’t help but listen. The voice grabs any person within a 50-mile radius immediately. Jared’s heart and soul is revealed right before your eyes. There is no need for him to tell you his life story, because the songs do it for him.

When Jared sings a song, he really sings it. It comes from the depths of his soul to the ear of the listener. The voice is all-encompassing and will give you chills. The rhythms are unique and driving. The phrasing is all his own. Songs like “You Think That You Know Me” speak directly to the judgers of the world. Jared comes at you with lines like, “You think you know me, but all you know is my name. You’re lookin’ for some peace of mind. I’m lookin’ for the same.” The song “Change” might be the most emotionally charged. He doesn’t overpower the audience with a vocal power ballad. The song is delivered in a simple, strong and impactful way. “Change” explains how sometimes we learn the hard way what really matters. It’s about understanding life, your mistakes and finding a way to change for the better. It breaks my heart to hear Jared sing this one. It (as are all of his other songs) is a piece of poetry.

The coolest thing about Jared Blake onstage is that nothing is forced. He’s exactly who he is at all times. Playing the guitar, standing at the microphone and looking directly into the eyes of people in the audience, Jared gets the point across. There is no need for anything more. The music is written by him about his life and delivered in a way that makes you FEEL it. You can’t ask for more from an artist.

The bottom line is Jared Blake can move people with his music and his life. The world is about to find out just how well he can communicate. Somehow Jared must have figured out Johnny Cash’s secret. “You’ve got to communicate. You’ve got a song you’re singing from your gut, you want that audience to feel it in their gut.” Keep listening and you will feel it.
~From: Rock On Together~Review