Jason Mraz
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{{Infobox Band
| band_name = Jason Mraz
| image = Image:JasonMrazInConcert.jpg
| caption = Jason Mraz performs at Copley Symphony Hall in San Diego, California on November 26, 2005.
| years_active = 2001 - present
| origin = Mechanicsville, Virginia
| music_genre = Pop/Rock
| record_label = Atlantic (2005- )
Elektra (2002-2005)
}}
Jason Thomas Mraz (born June 23, 1977) is an American singer-songwriter, born and raised in Mechanicsville, Virginia, which is a suburb of Richmond.
Contents |
Background
Mraz went to Chickahominy Middle School (grades 6-8) and Lee Davis High School (grades 9-12). His last name is Czech for "frost". Though he did not pick up the guitar until the age of 18, his musical appetite was strong. After a brief stint studying at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy taking musical theater in New York, he moved to San Diego. There he became a hit on the Southern California club scene, playing with percussionist Toca Rivera and his brother, latin-pop guitarist Carlos Olmeda. He was briefly married to a woman named Sheridan; however, they divorced amicably and still remain good friends. Mraz is mostly popular in the United States, Japan, and Australia.
His clear, strong tenor voice and easygoing, optimistic lyrics gained popular acclaim in 2003 when his first single, "The Remedy (I Won't Worry)," began to receive regular play on radio, MTV, and VH1. Co-written by music production team The Matrix, the popularity of "The Remedy" boosted the sales of his debut release, Waiting for My Rocket to Come, which has been certified platinum by the RIAA. Mraz has played with the likes of Bob Dylan, Dave Matthews Band, Paula Cole, John Popper, and Jewel.
Mraz's stylistic influences seem multiple and varied, a mixture of pop, rock, jazz, folksy country, and even hip-hop/rap. He is nothing if not eclectic.
Mraz was most recently on tour with Alanis Morissette and the Rolling Stones. His follow up to his major label debut, Mr. A-Z (which reads as "Mraz") was released on July 26, 2005. It entered the Billboard 200 album chart at No.5 selling nearly 90,000 copies in its first week, later on in December 2005 the album earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical, while producer Steve Lillywhite received a nomination for Producer of the Year for his work on the LP. [1] He began touring in support of the album on September 12, 2005 in San Diego. Also in 2005, he was one of many singers featured in the new fall advertisement campaign for The Gap entitled "Favorites." The music-themed campaign also featured other singers including Joss Stone, Keith Urban, Alanis Morisette, and Michelle Williams.
In January of 2006 he had two concerts in Makati and Taguig City, Philippines, as to promote his album Mr. A-Z. These two places were the Rockwell Tent in Makati and the NBC Tent in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.
In 2006, he toured the U.K. with James Blunt.
In March of 2006 he toured Australia to promote Mr. A-Z.While in Melbourne he performed at sold out shows in Manchester Lane for two nights in a row.His sold out Sydney shows took place at the the Vanguard.
In May of 2006 he will be doing a tour of mostly small venues in the U.S., along with a couple of music festivals and an acoustic show with a few other bands, including P.O.D., Better Than Ezra, Live, and The Presidents.
Mraz has recently ended a serious relationship with singer-songwriter and former Roxy model Tristan Prettyman, whom he met at Java Joe's in San Diego, CA.
Mraz has often collaborated and performed with funk-hip-hop-folk artist Billy "Bushwalla" Galewood, a friend from New York who studied musical theater with Jason. Together, they have written and recorded several songs, including "Curbside Prophet" Jason's 3rd single off his major label debut Waiting for My Rocket to Come. Most recently, Bushwalla has toured with Jason during his fall 2005 tour. They both describe each other as one of their biggest influences, and they perfected their skills by jamming and freestyle rapping for hours on while living in New York.
Discography
Albums
- Live at Java Joe's (2001) - independent release
- Sold Out (In Stereo) (2002) - independent release
- The E Minor EP in F (2002) - independent release
- Waiting for My Rocket to Come (2002) #55 US (Platinum)
- Tonight, Not Again: Jason Mraz Live at the Eagles Ballroom (2004)
- Mr. A-Z (2005) #5 US
- Geekin' Out Across the Galaxy (2006) - digital live EP
Guest contributions
- I Melt With You, from the album 50 First Dates Soundtrack (2004)
- Summer Breeze, from the album Everwood: Original TV Soundtrack (2004)
- Rainbow Connection, from the album For The Kids Too! (2004)
- Shy That Way, with Tristan Prettyman from the album twentythree (2005)
- Good Old Fashioned Loverboy, from the album Killer Queen: A Tribute to Queen (2005)
- Keep on Hoping, with Raul Midon from the album State of Mind (2005)
- A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall, from the album Listen to Bob Dylan: A Tribute (2005)
Chart Positions
Singles - Billboard (North America)
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | "The Remedy (I Won't Worry)" | Adult Top 40 | 4 |
| 2003 | "The Remedy (I Won't Worry)" | The Billboard Hot 100 | 15 |
| 2003 | "The Remedy (I Won't Worry)" | Top 40 Mainstream | 7 |
| 2003 | "The Remedy (I Won't Worry)" | Top 40 Tracks | 7 |
| 2004 | "Curbside Prophet" | Adult Top 40 | 23 |
| 2004 | "You and I Both" | Adult Top 40 | 15 |
| 2004 | "You and I Both" | Top 40 Mainstream | 37 |
| 2004 | "The Remedy (I Won't Worry)" | Top 40 Adult Recurrents | 1 |
Awards & nominations
| Year | Award |
|---|---|
| 2002 | San Diego Music Award win for Best Acoustic |
| 2003 | San Diego Music Award win for Artist of the Year |
| 2003 | San Diego Music Award win for Song of the Year |
| 2005 | Grammy Award nomination for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical for Mr. A-Z |
See also
Killer Queen: A Tribute to Queen