Jason Mraz
chris

Jason Mraz (born June 23, 1977 in Mechanicsville, Virginia) is a Grammy-winning American singer-songwriter. Mraz’s stylistic influences include reggae, pop, rock, folk, jazz, and hip hop.

A singer-songwriter originally from Mechanicsville, Virginia, USA, Mraz set out for the big city, attending a performing arts college in New York City. Realizing the competitive nature of the musical theater world he paired his innate desire to perform his own material, Mraz picked the guitar at age 18 and began panhandling on the streets of NYC. Rumor has it that Mraz ran into a ‘psychic’ in central park who told him something along the lines of “remember to follow your dreams”. Jason interpreted this as his sign to follow his heart all the way to the San Diego coffee house scene where a developing base of creative singer/songwriters was beginning to blossom. Mraz gained a following of fans on the coffee house circuit – most notably Java Joe’s, where he worked with percussionist Toca Rivera.

Mraz is most famous for his often poetic, sometimes tongue-in-cheek, pun-filled lyrics, and is inspired by hip-hop, rock, jazz as well as a number of other musical influences.

Prior to signing to a major label, Mraz self-produced and released five EPs and LPs: A Jason Mraz Demonstration in 1999, Live at Java Joe’s and From the Cutting Room Floor in 2001, Sold Out in Stereo and The E Minor EP In F in 2002.

Eventually, Mraz signed with Elektra and in 2002 released his major label studio debut Waiting for My Rocket to Come which produced the hit singles The Remedy (I Won’t Worry), You And I Both, and Curbside Prophet. In 2004 he released his major label live album Tonight Not Again/Live at Eagles Ballroom, which included a DVD of his full band performing live.

In 2005 he released his sophomore album, Mr. A-Z, a “pseudo-self-titled album.” Wordplay was the first single from the album and was well received, peaking at #5 on the Billboard charts. Geek in the Pink was released as the album’s second single.

As a live act, he’s been known to tour both with a full band, as well as only acoustic with a percussionist (usually Toca) accompanying him on stage.

He has toured with James Blunt, which raised his popularity in the UK by a great deal.

Mraz released his third studio effort, We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things., which he stated was ‘about humanity’, on May 13, 2008. The first single for this album, I’m Yours was wildly popular, as was lucky, recorded with Colbie Calliat.