Jason Ringenberg (born November 22, 1958) is an American musician, singer-songwriter, and guitarist and the lead singer of Jason & the Scorchers. The band had several hits, including "Golden Ball and Chain" and a rock version of Bob Dylan's "Absolutely Sweet Marie."
In 1981, Ringenberg moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where he soon formed Jason & the Scorchers with Warner Hodges, Jeff Johnson, and Perry Baggs.[1] They used a mix of punk rock and country.[1]Rolling Stone has commented that they "singlehandedly re-wrote the history of rock'n'roll in the South". They won critical approval with the release of several albums and live performances.[3]
Ringenberg was influential in the early to mid 1980s when the indie country/rock movement was at its height.[2] His music, along with similar bands, founded the emergence of the alternative country and Americana genres within indie rock music.[4]
Ringenberg has also seen success as a solo artist. He has released five solo records and toured as a solo artist. The Times (London) called him "one of the most exciting performers of his generation." He now performs both solo as Jason Ringenberg and as his children's music character, Farmer Jason, often performing as both personas in the same day.
Ringenberg created his children's music character, Farmer Jason, in 2002 to entertain his own daughters.[2] He then released his first children's record on the Yep Roc Records label; A Day at the Farm with Farmer Jason, in 2003.[1] The character remains popular and has become the most successful project of his career. As Farmer Jason, he sings songs about farm animals and the appreciation of nature. His PBS mini program called "It's a Farmer Jason" has earned four Emmy nominations and one Emmy win. He has recorded four records and a DVD as Farmer Jason. The fourth album, Christmas on the Farm with Farmer Jason, was released in December 2014.[4]
His album Stand Tall (2019) was written while he was Artist in Residence at Sequoia National Park. Recorded at his old college haunts in Southern Illinois and also in Nashville, the subjects of the songs range from John the Baptist to The Ramones to a disillusioned Confederate draftee.
