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"Mraz
switches easily between soft-spoken rap rhymes and a boyish,
pitch-perfect tenor that could carry a Broadway musical" |
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CD: Waiting for my Rocket to Come
Take one of our Rock and Roll walking tours in New York City--click here!
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1995: Mraz's lifelong passion for music sees him travel to New York City, where he spends a brief period studying theatre at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. Ultimately, Mraz opts to return to his hometown of Mechanicsville, Virginia, where he can devote his energies towards developing his guitar and songwriting skills. March 1999: Mraz leaves Mechanicsville and heads west to pursue his musical dreams. After a month in San Francisco, he travels south to San Diego where he immediately finds a home on the city's thriving coffeehouse acoustic scene. Before long, Mraz has earned local acclaim and the beginnings of a fervent fan following. 2001: Mraz self-releases his eponymous first CD, an acoustic set recorded live at his performance homebase, Java Joe's in Ocean Beach. 2002: A second self-issued CD &endash; dubbed "SOLD OUT (IN STEREO)" &endash; arrives, again recorded live at Java Joe's. The collection highlights Mraz's distinctive vocals along with his magical musical relationship with percussionist Toca Rivera. 2002: After being wooed by numerous record labels, Mraz signs with Elektra Records. Upon signing, he returns to his native Virginia to begin work on his full-fledged debut album. October 2002: "WAITING FOR MY ROCKET TO COME" is released. The album &endash; produced by John Alagia (Dave Matthews Band, O.A.R., moe.) &endash; immediately establishes Mraz as one of today's most vital and ingenious singer/songwriters. Driven by a series of chart-topping singles &endash; including "Remedy (I Won't Worry)," "You & I Both," and "Curbside Prophet" &endash; the album is certified RIAA platinum. 2003: An indefatigable live performer, Mraz plays over 260 shows, mostly a series of headlining tours, as well as support slots with Coldplay, Bob Dylan, Dave Matthews Band, Jewel, David Gray, and others. Spring 2004: Mraz sets out on a unique solo acoustic road show, "The Tour of the Curbside Prophets." Inspired by Mraz's beginnings as a street musician, the tour plays to SRO houses &endash; and critical acclaim &endash; across the country, including a very special performance at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, marking the first-ever pop event to be held at the acclaimed Frank Gehry-designed venue. August 2004: A two-disc CD/DVD collection, "TONIGHT, NOT AGAIN: JASON MRAZ LIVE AT THE EAGLES BALLROOM," is released. Filmed and recorded at Milwaukee's Eagles Ballroom in October 2003, the set sees Mraz joined by his imaginative band, the Take It Easy Buddies &endash; Toca Rivera: percussion, background vocals; Bill Bell: lead guitar; Ian Sheridan: bass guitar, background vocals; Eric Hinojosa: keyboards, banjo; Adam King: drums &endash; along with some very special guests, including Blues Traveler's John Popper and the world-famous Chicago Storm/Ohio Players Horns. Included are expansive renditions of Mraz's best-known material, along with five previously unreleased songs &endash; four penned by Mraz, plus a solo acoustic rendition of Elton John's classic "Rocket Man." Fall 2004: Mraz gets to work
on his second studio album, with legendary producer Steve
Lillywhite (U2, the Rolling Stones, Dave Matthews Band,
Peter Gabriel, Talking Heads, et al) behind the board.
Sessions begin at Allaire Studios near Woodstock, New York,
with the finishing touches added at Mraz's home studio in
San Diego, California. April 2005: Mraz hits the highway once again, playing a string of college dates to road test songs from the new album, "MR. A-Z." The shows find Mraz playing in a variety of musical combinations &endash; from duo gigs with Toca Rivera to full-band shows. May 2005: "Wordplay," the first single from the new album, makes its radio debut. June-July 2005: Mraz crosses North America with Alanis Morissette on her "Jagged Little Pill Acoustic Tour." July 26, 2005: At long last, "MR. A-Z" is released.
Order Jason's latest CD: Mr. A-Z
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Daytrippin' P.O. Box 114
Edgewater, NJ 07020, USA
June
23, 1977: Jason Thomas Mraz is born. 
