When they took their name from a mule traders' ad in Western Horseman, the members of MAMMOTH JACK (meaning “large muleâ€) thought it the perfect name for themselves. The characteristics they share with their crossbred namesake are obvious: outstanding ears for a song, a hybrid of musical influences, and a stubborn streak to help them persevere on the crowded streets of Music City, U.S.A....
There are five accomplished musicians in MAMMOTH JACK - Matt Rossi (lead vocals/guitar), Clay Davis (bass/harmony vocals), Willie Vanhook (fiddle/harmony vocals), Tom Irwin (steel guitar), and Jim Evans (drums).
As a New England-native and Texas-transplant, Matt was honing his songwriting skills (including a 1998 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association album title cut, "Cowboy Up") after arriving in Music City, while fellow-Texan, Willie, worked as a touring musician backing up major-label artists. Originally from Florida, Clay worked the bar scene on Downtown Nashville's Lower Broadway where he met Matt and Willie. Tennessee native Tom Irwin and Jim Evans from Ohio made the line-up complete. The group bonded over their varied musical influences ranging from Merle Haggard to Keith Whitley, ZZ Top, to The Eagles, all of which notably share a salt-of-the-earth appeal.
MAMMOTH JACK went to the studio to record with Bobby Terry, a well known producer, songwriter, and musician in Nashville, TN having either produced, written, and/or played on recordings by many major artists, including: Trace Adkins, Faith Hill, James Otto, Tim McGraw, Anthony Smith, Brad Paisley, Montgomery Gentry, Trisha Yearwood, Hank Williams Jr., and many others. The pairing of Mammoth Jack and Terry created the self –titled project, Mammoth Jack .
The members of Mammoth Jack reject the attempts to categorize their music as anything but “real.†That is who they are. Their live shows are like a big party that the band is obviously proud to host.
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