Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Manning.
Jason, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I grew up in Corsicana (53 miles South of Dallas), Started playing at age 4 and singing competitively in High School. I also started dabbling with songwriting in High-School, although it was basic at best. While in College at Texas A&M, I co-founded a four-piece band called Touch’NGo with some college friends. We were successful because we could seamlessly cross between dance, rock, and country music. And we were decent at all of them. After graduating, I’d written a dozen or so tunes, and made the first of two independent country records.
In late 1995, I moved to Nashville full time to really dig into the craft of songwriting, producing, and publishing. I met, worked with, and even became friends with some of Nashville’s top writers, publishers, and artists. Many of those relationships continue 20 plus years later. I lived and worked in Nashville 10 years and cherish the time and experience I had there. It’s one great City!
In 2005, I made the pilgrimage back to “where I’ll ALWAYS consider Home”… Texas. The Texas Music scene was really busting wide open, and Texas Red-Dirt Music had really developed into its own genre of music. Although I’d befriended and worked with some of the pioneers of the Texas scene, ie… Jack Ingram, Robert Keen, Jerry Jeff Walker, Gary P. Nunn, etc… I’d basically lost 10 years of “getting out in the trenches”, and at 35, I wasn’t really interested in starting over and grinding it out in the Bars and Honky Tonks. So I stuck to writing and took on a project producing project here and there to keep my thirst to create music quenched.
In late 2006, an up and coming tribute to the band, the Eagles, was looking for a replacement for it’s “Glenn Frey” position. After a short conversation and a three-show “trial” run, I got the spot. We were based out-out of Nashville, and we only played four or five shows a month. That band later morphed into most of the current line up of “7 Bridges: The Ultimate Eagles Experience” which has been playing together for the past ten years and still going strong.
During my time with 7 Bridges, I reconnected and started a writing collaboration with an old college friend Jason Dickson (from the groups Anytown, Mur, and Headwest). We released an LP under the name Manning-Dickson in 2009 of songs we’d written called “Drive”. That album saw 2 single releases to Texas Radio: “Cold As Her Heart” and “Drive” which spent almost two consecutive years in the Texas Music Chart’s – Top 100. That project lasted through most of 2010 but was ultimately abandoned because of personal and creative differences.
Over the past several years, I’ve produced two EP’s and one LP on a fantastic singer/songwriter, Andy Meadows. Andy has a super smooth deep baritone voice that harkens back to the crooners of yesteryear like Jim Reeves, Dean Martin, Eddie Arnold, and Frank Sinatra. he plays with a nine to ten-piece big band that has a horn section. I’m VERY proud of the music we’ve created so far. We’re about to go into the studio to start a brand new EP next month. If you haven’t heard it, check it out at www.andymeadows.net.
I’ll occasionally sit in and sing with Andy’s band. It’s a blast. He’s got some of the best live and studio musicians I’ve ever worked with. Some include the legendary Larry White (Ray Wylie Hubbard, Freddy Fender(Studio albums) on steel, Milo Deering, on Fiddle (the Eagles, Don Henley), Mario Cruz on Sax (Bruce Springsteen), Don Bozeman (Dallas Brass), Kerry Williams, Tim Georgeff and Andrew Frye on Piano and Keys, and many more. They’re ALL incredible players!
This year, 2018, I’m planning on releasing an EP of original music called “Voices” as well as a separate single around the holidays. I’ll also continue to write, produce, and entertain as long as they want to see or hear me. =)
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Of course not. the road of the “Music Business” never is. Unless you get EXTREMELY lucky. It takes a LOT of work, perseverance, and $$$ to get anything accomplished. Today and yesterday. And the music business changes daily/weekly. What worked in the ’90’s wouldn’t earn you a nickel today. But we do it because we love it and it’s part of who you are. (that or we’re just gluttons for punishment) lol
3-J Productions, LLC – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
3-J Productions, LLC started as the parent company of “7 Bridges: The Ultimate Eagles Experience”. But now is the umbrella for everything I’m doing in the Business. From producing acts, publishing songs, booking artists, and even merchandising/promotional items for artists. I wear many hats. Bandleader, Producer, Bus driver, Booking Agent, Promoter, Entertainer.
I’m proud of the products (albums/shows) we put out into the universe. We strive to out the best songs with the best production possible. So far so good.
3-J Productions, LLC operates with complete transparency. There’s a LOT of thieves/ low lives in the Business, especially when it comes to booking and production. Folks looking to make a quick buck with no concern for quality or honesty. We hold ourselves to a higher standard. Because of that, we don’t just work with anyone, only a select few. “We believe in quality over quantity”.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
It’s always great to hear a song you wrote, performed, or published on the radio or played by an artist at a concert.
And “Cold as her Heart” got a great review from legendary “Music Row Magazine” music critic Robert Oermann. He was notorious for his awful reviews.
Also, gaining and maintaining lasting friendships with great writers, artists, publishers, producers such as Buzz Cason (discovered Jimmy Buffett/writer- Everlasting Love), Don Gatlin (Daryl and Don Ellis/Savannah Jack), Billy Montana (writer – I hope you dance), and many many more.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.3-jproductions.com
- Phone: 615-293-3664
- Email: info@3-jproductions.com
Image Credit:
chiefbear photography
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