Born in Houston, Texas and growing up in everything from big city Dallas to a country farm in North central Texas, Jayson Starkey has had the good fortune to be surrounded by a variety of musical perspectives his entire life. From early school art and music classes that afforded opportunities for him to arrange, conduct and coordinate the music for stage plays, to everyday exposures through the availability of the piano in his grandparents’ den and the constant sound of the jazz greats wafting from the radio in his grandfather’s garage. There was the ever-present rock influences of his uncle that are welded into his passions after losing that special relationship at an early age through a rare illness. In 2001, Starkey joined Fernando Braxton and his band Junior Pride to collaborate on several great Americana and Indy efforts. He began writing and recording songs with Braxton, who helped him realize his full potential as a songwriter and musician. Upon Braxton moving to New Orleans to further his music career, Starkey was offered a position with the Oliver White Group in 2004, and joined with that team of musicians which expanded his abilities to sharpen his craft. He would go on to play with several area bands, even recording with several of them. Sadly, he would not have the chance to collaborate or perform with his friend and music mentor again, as Fernando Braxton passed away in 2009. Starkey entered the local music scene as a solo artist in 2018, and never looked back. Playing venues in several states, including gigs at venues such as Love and War in Texas, Grady’s 66 Pub, Mill Street Tavern, JJ’s Alley and many more. He has opened for such acts as Wade Bowen, Matt Hillyer, Ray Wylie Hubbard, The Wight Lighters, Jason Eady and more. As well as his solo performing career, Jayson also performs with area acts The Oliver White Group, Wasetta Switch and Ben Mckenzie.