In Search of a Song: Jason Wilber

JASON WILBER: BROADCAST  1 / 14 / 2012
IN SEARCH OF A SONG originates in BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA and is sponsored by: THE BLUEBIRD NIGHTCLUB,  AIRTIME RECORDING STUDIO,  and VISIT BLOOMINGTON.COM
Jason Wilber is a journeyman guitarist, singer, and songwriter, travelling the world accompanying John Prine as his longtime lead guitarist. He has also played extensivley with Greg Brown, Iris DeMent, Todd Snider, and Hal Ketchum, as well as his own concerts. In the insightful and sometimes humorous songs featured on his solo CDs he manages to meld his rock, folk, jazz, and country influences into a unique sound that’s been described as “Van Morrison meets Wilco”. From Carnegie Hall to Red Rocks to Massey Hall and the London Palladium, Jason’s performed in all 50 States, and globally all over Canada, Europe, and the UK.

Jason Wilber’s work with John Prine includes the Grammy Award winning CD Fair & Square, and the Grammy nominated CDs Live On Tour and In Spite of Ourselves (which spent 32 weeks on the Billboard Country Charts). John Prine's penchant for duets has put Jason in the enviable position of accompanying him on recordings with Emmylou Harris, Lucinda Williams, Josh Ritter, Patty Loveless, Iris Dement, Trisha Yearwood, and Sara Watkins. Other wonderful artists Jason has worked with live or in the studio include Tim Grimm, Krista Detor, Greg Trooper, Carrie Newcomer, Kim Fox, Bill Wilson, and Over the Rhine.

Recently, Jason co-produced the compilation CD Coal Country Music featuring Willie Nelson, Gillian Welch, Ralph Stanley, Jason and the Scorchers, Kathy Mattea, Justin Townes Earle, Natalie Merchant, Diana Jones, Tom T. Hall, Bonnie Raitt, John Prine, Jean Ritchie, and other artists, who all contributed their talents to benefit the Alliance for Appalachia'swork to stop Mountain Top Removal in rural Appalachia.

Jason Wilber’s TV and radio appearances include: Sessions At West 54th Street, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Grand Ole Opry, Live with Regis and Kathy Lee, CNN’s Entertainment Week, The Road, Mountain Stage, E-Town, and Austin City Limits, and The Late Show with David Letterman.

Topics discussed include: Early record listening in Ft. Wayne, Indiana of Disney records, becoming intererested in Tom T. Hall, and Johnny Cash, moving to Bloomington, Indiana, playing in bands as a teenager, taking guitar lessons, early songwriting attempts, his fortunate introduction to John Prine and subsequent years as his lead guitarist, writing Down in Russel Square while on tour in London. Then Rich Reardin and Jim Manion discuss more about Jason as a songwriter, and guitarist, as well as discussing the In Search of a Song show and his proficiency as a host.

Musical selections include: The Last Meeting of the Quakertown Optimist Club, If I Fell In Line, Something Somewhere, Lay Down When You're Done, Down In Russel Square. It's Not Saturday, The Ballad of Amazing Grace and Sideshow Dan.

This program is "Evergreen" and not date specific.

For more information, visit In Search of a Song.com