JASON BYRD
At 19 years old, Jason Byrd fulfilled a lifelong dream when he became the third generation to serve as a firefighter at the Tallahassee Fire Department. But at this same time, a new and unexpected dream began to consume him. It was to write and perform Country music. Raised in Tallahassee, Jason grew up on hymns and Country music. Deep appreciation for the music genre turned to profound ambition as his undeniable talent for singing and songwriting became clear.
It was in the nineties, that Jason found himself balancing his career in the fire service with a career in Music City. Traveling 490 miles each way, almost weekly, he was determined once again to turn a dream into a reality. They say Nashville is full of musicians who have spent years hoping to get in front of the right person. Someone who can change the trajectory of their whole career. For Jason, it was no different. But for him, that person was none other than legendary Country music artist George Jones. Unexplainable fate found Jason sitting in the living room of George and Nancy Jones, and his life and career changed forever.
The two began managing Jason’s music career and providing him with the mentorship that he needed to be successful in this ever-changing business. Small gigs at local bars and honkytonks turned into a long run of playing on stages across the United States and Canada opening for powerhouse artists including, but not limited to, Billy Dean, Joe Diffie, Tracy Lawrence, Confederate Railroad, Mark Chesnutt, Loretta Lynn, Dierks Bentley, and, of course, George Jones. Additionally, Jason has had several appearances on the world-famous Grand Ole Opry and The Nashville Network. Jones passing in 2013 brought a time of deep reflection for Jason, and he returned home to focus on family and his career at the fire department. But music was in his blood. In 2019, Jason left his position in the fire department after a distinguished 28 years of service. Eager to focus solely on music, Jason knew he wanted to re introduce himself to the world by paying tribute to the man who defined country music for legions of fans.
In 2021, Jason released his first single to country radio. A self-pinned duet with George Jones called, “Better Life.” Which was nominated for the 2022 “Single of the Year” by the Josie Music Awards. “I am humbled and honored to give George Jones fans the chance to hear him again on the radio and hear one of the last things he recorded before he passed. “I miss my friend and hope he is proud of me for “keeping it country”! I truly believe country music fans are starving for traditional country music, and I plan on giving it to them.”
Jason’s latest single, “She’s Coming Back Saloon” will be released On March 29, 2024. Additionally, in November, Jason and Award-winning Singer/Songwriter Billy Dean recorded and released a special Christmas duet of “There’s a New Kid in Town” written by the late Keith Whitley. Jason recently had two songs nominated for the 2023 Josie Music Awards “Song of the Year”, “Honkytonk and the Altar” and “No End in Sight”.
PBSF SONGWRITERS SCHEDULE:
THU OCT 3
5:00pm – Holiday Inn Beach Resort
FRI OCT 4
8:00pm – The Sandbar Sunset Bar & Grille
SAT OCT 5
7:30pm – Hilton Pensacola Beach
** All events are free, except where noted. Schedule is subject to change, please check back for updates.