Jody Aaron
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A southern-bred soulful singer-songwriter with convoluted acoustic guitar stylings and a contemporary flair for melodic tunes. Few artists can take rock, alternative, and pop and mix them all into a new sound, but Jody Aaron does this with ease.
Grammy Nominated Recording Artist Shawn Mullins says of Jody's 2004 release: "The singing, musicianship and production on "est. 1980" are very good. Jody's writing style reminds me of David Lowery from Cracker/Camper Van Beethoven, and also of Ben Folds...I am enjoying it a lot." (2005)
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[edit] About
Jody Aaron Friedman was raised near the white sands of Clearwater, Florida. Jody's natural surroundings helped shape his relaxed, and honest sound. Growing up only an hour from DisneyWorld, Jody’s imagination has been stretched with no limitations. He has been writing music since he was 14, when he realized that writing was the easiest way to express his thoughts. He began to emulate musicians such as Harry Chapin, Sarah Mclachlan, Dave Matthews, Bob Dylan, Ben Folds to name a few. Jody’s songs evoke universal emotions of love, hate, hurt, loneliness, and self-struggle while addressing today’s world issues. Jody has taken his folk roots, and his love for Pop melodies, and Alternative music, and created his own unique sound which he self-brand’s as “Pop-Rock for your Soul”. Jody released his first self-titled EP in 2002, recorded with Atlanta Rock Band, Y.O.U. In 2003, Jody won First place in CNN’s International Talent Search, landing him high acclaim from viewers, and $12,000, which he used to relocate to New York City to continue pursuit of his dream. This led to being invited to CNN's Aaron Brown Newsnight to perform "The Prompter Song" in front of a national television audience.
Jody has since written music for CNN's Nancy Grace and VISA, and has been seen and heard at venues across the U.S. Massive Internet exposure has helped him gain hundreds of fans worldwide. In 2003, Jody's distinct sound won him first place in CNN's Intn'l Talent Search and the following year, he was brought in as the opening act. In 2004, he was a Finalist in VH-1's Intn'l "Song of the Year" Competition. 2004 brought more success as Jody's song; "All I Wanted" was chosen as “Song of the Day” on Garageband.com. Jody's release, “est. 1980”, is receiving int'l airplay.
2005 kicked off with Jody's CD release, "est. 1980", recorded in the East Village with Producer, Matthew Chiaravalle (Josh Joplin Group, Jeffrey Gaines). The CD was released to high acclaim, and is available on CDBaby, ITunes, Burnlounge, Amazon, Target, Best Buy, and all over the internet. In fact, Jody’s internet presence reaches far and wide. His web site averages about 20 hits per day, and new fans around the world are signing up for his mailing list daily. "est. 1980" is currently receiving airplay on U.S. college radio, and in Europe, Africa, Italy, The Middle East, Latin America, Russia, Japan, France, and Australia.
In July, 2005, Jody expanded into new territory, and licensed his music for CNN’s Nancy Grace Legal Show. Jody was commissioned to write the orchestral score for an independent film entitled, “BloodShot”. Shooting begins in Long Beach, CA in August 2006. Jody’s single, “All I Wanted” is currently hitting college radio stations throughout the U.S. as is the accompanied music video shot in New York City and directed by Great Expectations Video (Guster). Jody has been seen playing major venues around the U.S. – The Tabernacle in Atlanta, Knitting Factory in NY, Arlene’s Grocery, and The Sidewalk Café in New York City to The Watershed in Asheville, North Carolina, and in Century City, Los Angeles to name a few. He was invited to play the 35th Annual New Jersey Folk Festival in 2006. He has shared the stage with New York artists such as Granian, Annie Keating, Joanie Leeds, Josie Crosby, and Atlanta Rock Band, Y-O-U.
Jody has lived and gigged around NYC for the past two years, playing 20+ live shows a year, and has recently made the move to Southern California to explore new opportunity out west. He was recently honored with the ASCAPPlus Award in the Jazz and Popular Division. Jody is spending his time doing what he was destined for; composing, gigging, and recording his next album release, due out in Summer 2007.
Exclusive Interview with Jody Aaron
[edit] Awards & Certifications
ASCAP-PLUS Award in the Jazz and Popular Division
Finalist in VH-1's International Song of the Year Song Competition
Grand Prize in CNN Search 2003 for writing and performing "The Prompter Song"
"All I Wanted" was nominated as "Track of the Day" on Garageband.com
[edit] News
(12/2/2006) "Out of the City" to be used on "Australian Idol"
(12/2007) Commission to write theme music for VISA
(12/2/2006) "All I Wanted" to be used on TV show, "Chris and John to the Rescue"
[edit] Tours & Concerts
Dec 08, 2006 9:00 PM Portfolio Coffee Long Beach, CA
Nov 30, 2006 8:00 PM Talking Stick Santa Monica, CA
Nov 28, 2006 8:00 PM Martini Blues Cafe Huntington Beach, CA
Nov 21, 2006 9:00 PM Blue Cafe Long Beach, CA
[edit] Announcements
Currently, Jody is working to develop his band, Innertune in Orange County, California
[edit] Discography
03/2005 - "est. 1980" - Recorded by Matthew Chiaravalle in East Village, NY
02/2002 - "Jody Aaron Friedman" - Recorded by Pairadeez Productions - Atlanta Rock Band Y.O.U.
[edit] Albums
 Released: 2005 Label: UNSIGNED |
 Released:2002 Label: UNSIGNED |
[edit] Other artists
[edit] Similar artists
[edit] Influences
[edit] Contemporaries
[edit] Trivia
- In 2003, Jody was seen on National Television as a Grand Prize Winner performing "The Prompter Song" for CNN Search, CNN's version of American Idol.
[edit] Reviews
"The singing, musicianship and production on "est. 1980" are very good. Jody's writing style reminds me of David Lowery from Cracker/Camper Van Beethoven, and also of Ben Folds...I am enjoying it a lot." (2005) -- Shawn Mullins
"A Southern-Bred Soulful Singer-Songwriter with convoluted Acoustic Guitar stylings and a contemporary flair for melodic tunes. Few artists can take rock, alternative, and pop and mix them all into a new sound, but Jody Aaron does it well. " --Bruce C. Long Island Podcast
""Just to let you know y'all, you need to have this great CD "est 1980" in your collection. We play this music on our radio show, too good!!! I can't wait to see this performer live. For all music lovers, no excuse to not have this CD right now on your CD players." --Gi Dussault, Upper Room with Joe Kelley Radio Show - 88.5 WVOF in Connecticut
