Jason Aldine Williams, knon professionally as Jason Aldean, was born February 28, 1977 in Macon, Georgia. He has recorded four albums on the independent Broken Bow Records label: [Jason Aldean] (2005), [Relentless] (2007), [Wide Open] (2009) and My Kinda Party (2010). These albums have accounted for ten singles on the [Billboard Country Singles Chart,] including the #1 hits "Why," "She's Country" and "Big Green Tractor." His first album is certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA),{1} while the other two are each certified gold.

Early life: Aldean's parents, Barry and Debbie, divorced when he was three. He was raised by his mother, mainly in Macon, Georgia. During the summer he would spend time with his father in Homestead, Florida. Before going to work during the day, his dad would map out guitar chords on notebook paper to show Jason where to place his fingers to play the chords. Jason sat and practiced all day while his dad was at work. When his dad got home, he got out his own guitar and they played together. Soon, after hearing a song only a few times, he could play it. Both parents encouraged young Jason as he progressed musically.

From age 14, after watching the Country Music Awards (CMA) on TV, he fell under the spell of country music. With his mother's help, he performed at the local VFW hall in Macon, Georgia, where e sang John Anderson's song "Seminole Wind" and Tracy Lawrence's "Sticks and Stones." He would later say that the entire audience, "all ten, applauded," and that he almost had to be dragged off the stage because he was hooked on performing. He began entering area talent contests at local fairs and at 15, he joined the house band at the Macon, Georgia nightspot Nashville South.

Musical career: Aldean began pursuing a music career on a full-time basis following his graduation from high school and, with his father as a booking agent, was soon gigging in college towns throughout the Southeast and up and down the Eastern Seaboard. Aldean privately financed an eight-song CD during this period to sell at shows, recording it in Nashville in 1996.

In 1998 he performed an original song, co-written by Justin Weaver, at a showcase staged by Atlanta nightclub, [The Buckboard.] He was approached by Michael Knox, then of the Warner-Chappell song-publishing company and was offered a recording contract that was subsequently dropped. He signed with another label but again was dropped again in 2000 for postponing his recording sessions repeatedly. Various showcases failed to bring him a contract. The last straw was an attempt at the [Wildhorse Saloon] in Nashville, Tennessee, where the promised talent scouts never showed up.

Finally, Lawrence Mathis spotted Jason at one of the showcases at the [Wildhorse Saloon] and Mathis signed on as Aldean's first manager. Still frustrated and discouraged with his struggling career, Aldean gave himself six months before planning to leave Nashville and return home to Georgia. Then five weeks later, he was offered a deal from Broken Bow Records in Nashville. Shortly after the release of his first album, Jason picked up his new (and current agent), Bimal Patel. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ {1}The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a group which represents the recording industry distributors in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors, which the RIAA says "create, manufacture and/or distribute approximately 85% of all legitimate sound recordings produced and sold in the United States." The RIAA participates in the collection, administration and distribution of music licenses and royalties and is responsible for certifying sales silver (100,000), gold (500,000), platinum (1,000,000), and diamond (10,000,000) albums and singles in the USA.