How does a kid who grew up on an ostrich farm in Georgia end up singing, playing guitar and writing songs in Key West?
His grandfather inspired him.
Jason Lamson attributes his musical interest and career to his Georgia grandfather, Russell, “or, as some called him, ‘The Reverend,’ despite his less than holy ways,” Lamson says.
“The Reverend taught me about creativity in music,” Lamson said. “He was always singing old standards and hymns and had a habit of changing the lyrics to suit his mood or make a more entertaining version. He was a natural storyteller and a loyal friend, husband, father and grandfather.”
Lamson describes the Reverend endearingly as a man who “didn’t take no s–t from nobody.” The Reverend died in 2009, but his music and legend live on in his grandson, who has played nearly every stage in Key West.
The Jason Lamson Band will take the stage at Key West Theater on Saturday, June 18 at 7 p.m. for a downhome mix of good music. In addition to Southern vocalist Lamson, the band features Andy Westcott and Rick Fusco on electric guitar, Claire Finley on electric bass and Randy Morrow on drums as part of Key West Theater’s Summer Sounds: A Local-ish Concert Series running from June through August.
Lamson is described as a “soul-filling, Southern vocalist fusing island style, down-home soul, and a touch of funky personality to create a unique sound filling the live music scene of Key West,” states his website – jasonlamsonmusic.com.
“A fan of both old and new music, from classic rock to reggae jams to country standards to hip-hop beats, Jason’s style is a collective representation of these genres and more. His musical style doesn’t fit into a box: it’s fluid, one sound lends itself to the next, like one emotion leads to another until you’re immersed in sound and feeling.”
He and his wife arrived in Key West in 2014, when Lamson was hired as in-house musician and head of entertainment at the Green Room bar, where he worked for a year. He and his wife even lived above the music venue for a few weeks when their first Key West apartment fell through.
Lamson made a name for himself in the Key West music scene playing at the Green Room almost every night of the week for a year. When his contract ended, he was ready to do his own thing.
“Now I’m writing songs,” he said, “coming into my own, and really finding my groove with my music.”
