Who is "JayMc"?

I grew up in Spearman, Texas. I moved to Salt Lake City in 1993 and that is when I began to write songs. After living in Utah for 15 years, I moved to Florida in December '08.

My cousin, Michael Smotherman, played piano for Roger Miller and Glen Campbell. In fact, Glen Campbell recorded an album of songs written entirely by Michael.

Many other recording artists have recorded his music. He is still actively writing and performing in Nashville. I still remember his grandmother and mother playing the piano.

My dad grew up in Erick, Oklahoma, home to Roger Miller and Sheb Wooley. If you are ever in Erick, Oklahoma, drop by the Roger Miller Museum. The people of Erick have done a wonderful job putting this all together. My mother grew up just north of Erick in Sweetwater, Oklahoma. Famous songwriter, Jimmy Webb, who is also a cousin of mine, through marriage, grew up just sixteen miles away in Sayre, Oklahoma. My uncle sang in a gospel quartet with Jimmy Webb's dad. I lived in Erick until I was five years old. Then, I moved to Sayre, Oklahoma. I still get down to that part of the country a few times each year to see my family.

I've written poetry most of my life but always found it to be quite different to put words to music. I still remember watching American Bandstand every Saturday when I was a kid. I loved pop,rock and soul music. My dad always listened to country. At the time, I didn't like country music too much but now I do and I really enjoy the old "real" country. To me, country is just so real! I also enjoy Americana, modern jazz, pop, rock and Christian music. I sang in a gospel quartet and did a duet with some friends in the Houston area before moving to Utah.

I began playing guitar around 1987. I was pastoring a church in Texas and we needed someone to play an instrument so I traded a pistol at a pawn shop for a cheap guitar. I would play until my fingers bled but I learned the major cords. I eventually traded that guitar in for a Martin Sigma DM-2 12 string. I've had that guitar for over eighteen years now!

I currently lead the praise and worship team for the Celebrate Recovery Program at the First Baptist Church of Orlando, Florida and have done that for a couple of years. I also play various venues in the Orlando area.