Artist Information
JT witnessed numerous artists and producers including heavyweights like T-Bone Burnett, Michael Bolton and Delbert McClinton, all who left a lasting impression on him. His grandmother loved Conway Twitty; his mother loved the early rock of Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis and Buddy Holly; while Pops often praised artists like George Strait, Reba McEntire and Garth Brooks. All of this has contributed to JT now being the sultry country music artist with a little bit of attitude and a Texas-size personality.
In addition to the timeless classics he was exposed to at home, his musical influences also include Don Henley, Dave Matthews, John Mellencamp and Tom Petty. He considers these artists timeless, honest treasures. And it's this honesty that he carries in his own music.
"I started writing songs at an early age and was around such great music that it is naturally a part of me," he says. "Of course, I was interested in other things like sports as a kid, but music was always there."
After spending a few years in Los Angeles, where he met wife Kasey, JT moved to Nashville in 2010. He quickly caught the eye of some of the industry's most influential producers and managers. He signed with Show Dog-Universal Music in 2011 and released his debut single "Hunt You Down" from his self-titled album. The single charted on Billboard's Hot Country Songs. The follow-up single "Goodbyes Made You Mine" raced up the charts and the music video quickly racked up over 1 million views. The song continues to be a fan favorite. Another single off the album "Sleepy Little Town," spent two weeks at No. 1 on Sirius/XM's The Highway. That same year JT was nominated as a semi-finalist for the ACM New Artist of the Year award.
"I have respected country music all of my life and no matter where country music goes stylistically it will always be a lyric based format," says JT. "It's the kind of music where people want to hear a story and feel something real and honest."
