Jake (........)

Jake was born in Newark, NJ on Sept 18, 1981. Growing up with a father who listened to great rock and roll, music was always about rocking out. and constant subjection to Seger, Cooper, and Floyd. After going to school in Arizona and Washington, then graduating from a respected mechanic trade school, he worked as a diesel mechanic for a few years. His interest in creating music was sparked by a performer at a live concert in December of 2002. After that show, Jake had a strong desire to create music that was meaningful, that people could relate to and feel. “My brother, now also a musician, had an old cheap electric with 5 strings, I convinced him to let me buy it for 40 bucks,” Jake explains. “I’d get home from work and pick it up every night. Eventually I wasn’t getting enough sleep to do my job safely, and it became apparent I had to give something up.“Completely addicted to music, he quit his job and annoyed his roommates over 12 hours a day,
In 2004, someone heard Jake play that ended up having a major impact on his music and his life. Liam was a well know local musician in the Pacific Northwest, and after hearing Jake play on the street, invited him to an open mic later that night at the Main Street Ale House, in Kingston, WA. After riding the ferry back to Seattle, and getting home after a day of busking, the thought of playing in front of an indoor audience dug at him. So he headed back across the ferry to Kingston. This was a turning point in Jakes musical journey. Liam, after seeing the raw feeling in Jake's performance, undertook the job of refining of a street musician. “He was a constant source of criticism, encouragement, and support. He said I‘d have to give him 1% of everything I made” Jake says. As an incredibly gifted musician, himself, Liam had been playing and performing music for almost 50 years before he was killed in an sudden accident in 2007. After losing his mentor, and very close friend, echoes of advice that Liam gave still shape this performer. “Never pass an opportunity to play” he’d say. So whether its in your living room, a college campus, a show, or an open mic, at local coffeehouses or bars, Jake plays without judgment. His experience busking in the streets gave him the foundation for an intense and personable presence on stage, and his love for performing continued to grow as he connected with people through music. In April of 2009, “A transition of focus and awareness,” as Jake describes, pushed his creativity into a new clarity. Just two weeks after writing the words on paper, he started the recordings of Dandelions EP right here in Port Townsend. “I was mentioning to Dave Sheehan, of Rainshadow Records, that I had new songs and was looking to get them down. ‘He said whatever it takes lets get it underway.’ So we gave a call out to George Rezendes and booked time the same week. Dave helped finance the production and everybody lent musical insight to help keep production rolling smoothly. It was a really quick fun project,” said Jake. Participating in this project is Keith Anderson, contributing musical composition, drums, electric guitar, djembe, bass guitar, and background vocals. Also, on the EP is Ava Pane from Phoenix, Arizona, playing a wonderfully restored antique piano, and background vocals. Jakes desire to provide meaningful songs and connect with people through music is apparent on this first release. In the end, we all want to be meaningful. In the end, we all want to be a part of something that matters. Music is a bridge that connects people all over the world. It doesn't matter where you are, who you are, where you're from, or where you're going, there will be something in these songs for you. And that’s what this story is all about. Its About Jake, Its about music, and its about you. If you have anywhere you would like to see him play leave a comment in the Fan Notebook on the official website.