Universal Ramblings

Jared Ashley came from Hobbs, New Mexico. He plays the guitar, the bass and the tuba. Previously, he performed with famous artists such as ZZ Top, Blues Traveler and Tracy Lawrence. The former US navy has toured more than 10 countries around then world.

Moreover, Jared became part of Season 4 of Nashville Star as one of the contestants. Unfortunately, he was eliminated on Week 6.

Seamlessly amazing fans with the unparalled energy of his live shows and his honky-tonk country sound, Jared Ashley has been packing them in every weekend for more than two years at Nashville’s World Famous Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge performing with the Dirty South Band. A long list of well-known recording artist and musicians have frequently jammed with Ashley on the stage of the famed Lounge including Merle Haggard, ZZ-Top, Blues Traveler, Toby Keith, Joe Nichols, and Tracy Lawrence, to name a few. Born in Hobbs, New Mexico, on May 16, 1976, Jared and his family relocated to Newnan Georgia at age three where he spent most of his childhood.

At barely five years of age, Jared received his first guitar for Christmas. The gift, which sported a picture of Mickey Mouse, quickly became his favorite “toy.” When Jared was in the 10th grade, his family returned to Hobbs and Jared found himself honing his skills playing guitar and writing music in his spare time. After graduation from high school, Jared joined the US Navy where he served for four years in Yokosuka Japan.

Following his dream to play music, the charismatic, handsome sailor played weekend gigs at George’s Country Bar in the Honchu district of Yokosuka fronting the house band. While in the Navy, Jared also played two Persian Gulf DOD tours for over 20,000 military personnel and toured in more than ten countries around the world. Making new friends and accumulating fans in Japan, Ashley met a friend who became extremely interested in his music and offered to introduce him to his grandfather.

With fate working Ashley’s way, the young man’s grandfather, Everett Zinn, was well known in the music business in Nashville and had helped many a rising star, including George Strait. Everett heard a demo of Jared and asked him to come to Nashville to meet a partner of his named Howard Fields, manager of Arista Nashville recording artist, Rebecca Lynn Howard. With only one year left in the Navy, Jared planned a trip to Nashville to meet Fields and Zinn.

After the meeting, Fields sent him off with advice that would change the country singer’s life. Following his advice, and after completing his Navy creer, Jared made the big move to Nashville, once in Nashville, Jared picked up the house gig at the World Famous Tootsies Orchid Lounge and signed a management deal with Fields. Jared eventually caught the eye of Doug Johnson, former president of Giant Records and currently the head of A&R for Curb Records.

Impressed and supportive, Johnson took Jared into the studio and cut four songs. Later, Jared recorded a four-song demo which included the infectious “The Next Glass.” The impressive ballad has become a listener favorite on one of Nashville’s top radio stations, WSM FM, and is quickly creating a buzz about the new artist throughout the music industry. As Jared continues to win critical praise for his brand of high-energy country rock, his fan base continues to grow. It is only a matter of time before this talented young artist adds his name to the roster of a major record label.