Encompassed by open ranges vast enough to satisfy the most restless
spirit, the American West has been recognized as an icon of opportunity
for centuries. Among the picturesque landscapes, traditions were born by
courageous men and women who traversed the rugged terrain in search of a
new beginning. Though we are far from the time when a good horse was fast
transportation, the influence of yesteryear persists still today. Having grown
up in the modern West, Jared Rogerson is the product of a
generation learning to thrive in midst of ever changing surroundings.
Rodeo, Mountains, Education
Jared has written songs from a young age, but his pursuit of rodeo and
education has been in the forefront. In high school, he was active in the
in FFA and rode bareback and saddle bronc’s on the rodeo team. He went
on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Zoology at Weber State University in
Ogden, Utah supported by rodeo and academic scholarships. Jared competed
as a bareback rider at the College National Finals Rodeo and continued
at a professional level while earning a Master’s degree in Biology from
the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Raised up in vicinity of the mighty
Rocky Mountains, naturally, some of Jared’s fondest memories from his
youth are of riding horses and mules on pack trips in the back country. “I
learned things you can’t learn in any classroom.” Ironically, it was his
college education that has since provided the opportunity to enjoy more
time traversing remote ranges for both work and pleasure. “We all have
experiences that put the big picture back in perspective. Every time I’ve
stepped down in the chutes or climbed up in the saddle, that’s when I’ve
really lived.”
Chris LeDoux
Besides bronc’ riding and mountain exploration, Jared has certainly been
influenced by a variety of musical styles. “When you’re rodeoing, you spend
most of the time just driving and listening to the radio. We listened to
everything. It didn’t matter, as long as it kept you awake.” The resulting
line-up of some of his all time favorite artists includes George Strait,
Brad Paisley, Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams, Bob Dylan, and the Grateful
Dead. “Oh, and Bon Jovi.” Despite the broad spectrum of musical tastes,
there is one artist that has undoubtedly influenced Jared Rogerson’s life
and music most- Chris LeDoux. “I’ve always gone back to his music. It
really shaped who I am today.” More recently, Jared has discovered music
of similar artists such as Brenn Hill. Jared credits Chris LeDoux for “clearing trail for artists like us to have a place for our songs.”
Timing is Everything
Although Jared has always been fascinated with songwriting,
it wasn’t until his sophomore year of college that he purchased his first guitar. “It cost me fifty bucks brand new, but I figured it could teach me
to play.” Though he casually learned new chords over the next several
years, it was a rodeo injury in 2007 that spurred him into taking his music
more seriously. Now, Jared sports an L-shaped scar on the inner joint of his
riding arm where the biceps tendon was re-attached. Certainly not the worst
of his injuries, but it occurred at a pivotal moment in his life. “I like this
scar, it was good timing. It gave me an opportunity to escape with my life
and chase a different dream.” The pursuit of a career in music had been
weighing heavy on his mind for years. “One thing I’ve learned over and over
is you can’t deny your dreams. Some things you were just meant to do. I
remember pulling myself up off that arena dirt and thinking, it’s time.”
Beyond the Comfort Zone
In early 2008, Jared Rogerson independently recorded and released his first
single, Boomtown, centered around the socioeconomic issues of
his community in Wyoming. "More broadly, it was about the death of a small
town and the birth of a city, which I have personally witnessed throughout
the West.” Shortly after, Jared had the opportunity to perform on international television
for a story on western boomtowns. "That was new for me. I love
finding myself in situations that get me out of my comfort zone. In
fact, I thrive on it!” Jared spent 2009 independently producing and
recording his first full-length CD, Bad Hay, which he released in 2010.
It includes 12 original works built around rodeos, mountains, and life
in a small town, and was aired on local stations, western music programs
throughout the country, and landed him a spot for a live performance on
Wyoming PBS' Wind River Music Showcase. “That CD was as homemade as it
gets. I’m proud of the result considering the circumstance.”
A New Beginning
Jared
realized that if his songwriting was to have further reaching impacts,
his recordings would have to rise to a whole new level. He contacted singer/songwriter Brenn Hill because of his similarity in music style
and
song subject matter. “I was searching for a producer who could help
me make my songs the best they could be, without taking away from them.” Brenn responded almost immediately and the two began making plans for
Jared’s next recording in the Fall of 2010 in Nashville. “Brenn is the real deal. I’m so fortunate he agreed to work with me on this.”
Now, the only two things Jared urgently needed were songs and money. He
began writing songs at an average pace of
one per week for several months. “I had no shortage of material to
write about. With a life full of adventure I’ve been so blessed with, everyday
is a song.” In addition to his own songs, Jared was honored to co-write with Brenn Hill, as well as introduce the talent of another Wyoming songwriter,
Nate Curry. “Honky Tonk Halos is a strong song that fits what I do
perfectly. I am grateful to Nate for it." He continues, "I wasn’t
sure where I was going to come up with the kind of money I would need
for that level of recording, but I said I
could do it.” Thanks to a close network of friends, family, and a small
but supportive community, Jared was able to reach his goal of obtaining
about one-half of the recording costs through fundraising and
sponsorship. “We had all kinds of fundraisers, including our town’s first ever
bachelor and bachelorette auctions! What an amazing showing of
community support that I never would have expected… very humbling.
That’s the kind of togetherness that music is really all about.”
Peace, Love & Horses
During song selection for this record, Jared strived to ensure each piece
was worthy enough to stand alone. The end result,
Peace, Love and Horses, is a collection of 12 unique works produced by Brenn
Hill of Hooper, UT and Larry Beaird of Nashville, TN. A modern cowboy-flavored vibe, it is lyrically embellished with character and an honest
edge, and deepened by the unmistakable tone of genuine experience. “In
the studio I was a concerned about the musical direction each song
might take. My fears dissipated early as I found that lyric dictated sound.
Every song felt just right!” Musicians on the project included some of
Nashville’s finest: JT Corenflos, Jonathan Yudkin, Eddie Bayers, Howard
Duck, Larry Beaird, Dan Dugmore, Russ Pahl and Eli Beaird. “Having that
much talent in one room discussing a particular line you wrote is very
gratifying.”
Western Country
With seventeen years of rodeo under his belt, thousands of mountain
horseback miles behind him, and a diverse college education, Jared is
outfitted to deliver what he calls “Western Country Music” with refreshing
originality. “For me, it's about living everyday life in a western
circumstance. The West has raised-up its very own cowboys and hippies
and everything in between. It’s my hope to capture all of it. You can’t have
this type of record and not write songs about cowboys and rodeos. It would
feel unnatural and for me it would be almost criminal. I’ve ridden bronc’s for
about half of my life and it’s so much of everything I know, but there’s still
so much more to the story. I feel that singing about all these different
subjects
really paints a better picture of the West and what I’m all about.” Promoting rodeo,
education, and western tradition, teaching life’s lessons, and bringing forth a
greater awareness of our wild surroundings are all part of a role that Jared is
proud to fill.
Opportunity
We live in a world where economic chaos, natural disaster, environmental
catastrophe, and international strife wallpaper our television screens
daily. Even worse is the loss of a sense of purpose for millions. Like the
courageous men and women who traversed the rugged landscapes of the
American West 150 years ago, great challenges face us all. Though the West
has changed, the underlying theme remains- opportunity. “Now is the time
when every single person can make a huge impact on the world. For me,
it is music. My hope is to inspire others to dream big and then chase down
those dreams. Even if it’s the kind of inspiration where they say, heck, if that
guy can do it, I can do it. I’ll take it- that works for me.” Jared Rogerson
has made tremendous strides with his music in a very short time. When
asked where he finds the motivation, he responds, “You have to live life in
a way that makes you feel alive. The phone isn’t going to just ring- you have to
make things happen. We’ve only got one shot. Life’s too short to ride a slow
horse.”
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