Behind every great singer is a band willing to put up with him. Though I will never same I'm "great", I will say that my band mates are. I would be nothing without this incredible band ministering right beside me. The current roster for the Jason Watson Band has truly been put together through the will of God. A little over a year ago, these band members didn't even know each other. However, God's plans were made clear as member by member entered my life and eventually the lives of each other.
Though this band has been in its current state since Dec of 2008, they play with the chemistry and tightness of a seasoned band that's been together for decades. So, I'd like to introduce you to one of the finest bands I've ever had the opportunity to work with.
Tim learned to read music at an early age through a weekly children's program at his home church in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He played numerous instruments over the years, but his love of the piano really started around age 12 when his parents bought a used upright for the living room. Piano lessons soon followed but only lasted for 3 months as Tim's appetite for new music was more ambitious than his teacher. After stopping formal lessons, Tim spent every cent of allowance money on new sheet music, always getting music beyond his current ability. This method of "self instruction" continued for several years until he had an opportunity to study jazz with Colorado Springs artist, Steve Barta. Barta's unique approach to music left a deep fingerprint on Tim's playing style as Tim went on to study music at college.
God led Tim to the Kansas City area in 1993 where he now resides with his wife and two children. When not out performing with The Jason Watson Band, you can find Tim serving as the keyboardist for The Lakeland House Band at Lakeland Community Church in Lees Summit, MO which has opened for national artists Third Day and Audio Adrenaline.
With a maiden name of Presley, Karin King was sure to fall in love with music and melodies. Karin grew up in southwest Missouri listening to the Beatles and Beach Boys and singing the tight harmonies with her dad. She started her vocal music experience at First United Methodist Church where congregation members commented that she was "poised and angelic." Karin's singing style has been influenced by her love of music from artists Martina McBride, Alicia Keys and John Mayer with a little edge from Kelly Clarkson and Lifehouse.
Karin has played leading roles in community theater including Guinevere in "Camelot" and Shelly in the original "Route 66" musical based in Lebanon, MO. She earned a degree in Recreation at Missouri State University, but it was the MSU Gospel Choir experience that led her to fall in love again with the Lord and His music.
Karin saw Jason sing at a Kansas City area church and was impressed by his ministry. Almost four years later, she met him at another church and Jason brought her in to continue his outreach in full force. She is inspired by her two young children to make music come alive and desires to find that quiet place to dust off old lyrics and write new ones to include in new Jason Watson Band tunes.
Daniel grew up in a small town in Arizona called Yuma. His family moved frequently before landing there because his father was a Marine. Daniel now lives in Lee's Summit, where his parents grew up, making him both a native by extension and a transplant.
Daniel's father played in numerous bands, which sparked his interest in music. He was given his first drum set for his thirteenth birthday. Daniel practiced obsessively and played in every available school band. Despite the din, his parents were always supportive and his mother even learned to nap while Daniel would practice.
After his parent's divorce, Daniel's interest in music took on new urgency. He began playing in a band called Small Town Tragedy, which broke up and partially re-formed as In the Fire. In the Fire did well in Kansas City, had a few flirtations with fame and eventually faded.
Brian began playing bass in 1987 in his home town of Humboldt, Iowa. He always showed in interest in music and performing for an audience. He started music lessons on the piano in elementary school and trumpet and French horn in junior high school. But his attention turned to rock-n-roll in junior high when he was influenced by pop radio. He started thinking about playing the electric guitar, but two of his friends already had guitars and the band they wanted to start needed a bass.
From then on he took bass lessons from his high school band director and played in jazz band as well as various small combo groups. Brian attended Northwest Missouri State to major in music education. He played all of the university bands including several small jazz groups and the Northwest Jazz Ensemble which performed around the Midwest from Wichita to Chicago.
Brian has played with area groups like The Ray Alburn Big Band featuring popular Kansas City vocalist Kathleen Holeman as well as the Classic Touch Orchestra. He as also played with local up and coming artists Shannon Dawn, and Lance Combs and has opened for Tim Suttle (Satellite Soul) and Cynthia "Mama J" Johnson. Brian has also been a sound engineer for Nashville recording artists T. Graham Brown and Doug Stone.<
