Jacob Powell

Contemporary country artist Jacob Powell is a musician whose music has two faces -- his lyrics reflect a Southern man's interest in beer, women, and the great outdoors, while his music is informed by rock, pop, and hip-hop influences. Powell grew up in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, a quiet town about 90 miles from Nashville. He was raised in a family of music fans; his mother liked old-school country artists like George Jones and George Strait, while his stepfather favored Southern rock and classic rock, in particular the Allman Brothers Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and AC/DC. Powell was taught to play guitar by his stepfather, and he developed a passion for the instrument. When he was in high school, Powell started writing and playing his own songs. Music became a sideline for Powell once he enrolled in college, where he was in a premed program at Tennessee Tech. But Powell never stopped writing and playing, and at the age of 21 he decided a career in medicine wasn't for him, and he put his focus on music. Powell left Tennessee Tech and transferred to Middle Tennessee State University, where he studied music business. Powell was playing a gig at a bar when he met Ben Daniel, a fellow singer/songwriter who thought Powell had potential. Powell began writing songs with Daniel and Brandon Kinney, and word of his talent began to spread. Powell settled in Nashville, Tennessee, and landed a publishing deal with Sony/ATV Music. In 2013, Powell released the single "Put It in a Koozie," which enjoyed regional success, while "Short Cuts" followed in 2015. By this time, Powell was hitting the road on a regular basis, playing up to 100 dates each year and sharing bills with artists such as Florida Georgia Line, Travis Tritt, Dustin Lynch, Charlie Daniels, David Nail, and the Cadillac Three. In 2016, Powell struck a new deal with ole Rights Management as a songwriter and recording artist, and a steady stream of singles followed in 2017 and 2018, including "That Ain't Me," "The Bridge," "Bourbon on a Broken Heart," and "Loud." ~ Mark Deming