K&K's Artist of the Month: Jamie Carroll
February 2005
Jamie had a love for music and art at a very early age. He would make up songs and sing them to his mother and as he grew older he began to write. Jamie grew up listening to early country and rock music greats like Kenny Rogers, Alabama, Journey and The Who to name only a few. When Jamie would visit his father for weekends or summers and holidays he would listen to Charlie’s records of Pink Floyd, Jimmy Hendrix, Heart, Jeff Beck and Boston. He also loved to sit and listen to his father playing his old gold top Les Paul through and old “Music Man” Amplifier. “There was something about that sound…and the smell every time dad would open his guitar case… it would just captivate me and I did not want him to put the guitar away..” Jamie states.
At the age of 16 due to a good friend’s encouragement, love and support Jamie decided that faith was something he wanted to look into a little deeper. Shortly thereafter he began singing in Church for the first time. “I had never even cared to go to church and now there I was singing in them…”
Between the years 1993 and 1995 Jamie recorded his first two cassettes. The first entitled “Handle with prayer” was a musical and lyrical display of Jamie’s new and very young faith. The second entitled “Change” contained all original written songs by Jamie. This album was more rock influenced with lyrics telling stories of friends, family and everyday life.
In 1996 Jamie started a band with long time friend Martin Moore that they called “The Deaf Hearing”. The Deaf Hearing opened for bands such as Skillet, Satellite Soul, Bleach, All Star United and more. They recorded their first CD which was self titled. Once again all the songs were originally written and composed by Jamie with help from Nathan Caparolie, Martin Moore and Jesse Cox completing the music of the band.
In 1999 The Deaf Hearing disbanded and Jamie became a solo artist once again.
He began leading modern praise and worship and continued writing new songs.
Jamie tried to re-form The Deaf Hearing for a short while in 2000 with a new drummer named Josh Griffith and a new bassist by the name of Andrew Rawls. This version of TDH was a more aggressive rock sound than the original acoustic rock sound they began with. The new TDH went into the studio to record a new full length album that was amazing in content, but would never see the light of day. This CD was entitled “CLONE”.
In October of 2004 Jamie began recording the newest CD entitled “DARK”.
Once again with help from Gray Burchette, Scotty Prevette and the addition of Piano/Keys and Stringed Orchestra by newfound friend Keary Reid, Jamie Carroll brings us honest, stripped down acoustic/rock music that demands attention to every written word and sound. His performance remains energetic and passionate. “I have no hidden agenda… I only want to meet new people and hear their stories as they have so graciously listened to mine for so many years… I just want to sit at your table…”
One of Jamie’s favorite things to quote is the short phrase, “love, not judge…”
“Music is my life… my wife and kids are my life… and if you are in front of my stage… then you become a part of it as well….” Through the love and support of many wonderful people Jamie has been writing and performing music as a career since May of 2004. He currently has enough material written for over four full length CD’s.
Jamie uses the K&K PowerBlend Pure, with the Quantum Blender: "I use the K&K Pure Western and FanTaStick pickup systems together with The K&K Quantum Blender. The pickups were installed into my Handcrafted Burchette Guitar by Gray Burchette, the carpenter behind the miracle with six strings. I used to play directly through a SWR California Blonde Amp and then direct out into a PA system. With the K&K pickup system running through the Quantum Blender I have no need for any other stage amp. In fact I do not even own an Acoustic amp any longer. The Quantum Blender is also amazing while recording as you can have a true stereo sound. In fact, if you want a really huge Acoustic sound, you can run three different singles to three different channels on the mixing board PLUS mic you guitar as well for a total of four different ranges!! We used K&K on my last two albums and the outcome was amazing. People comment daily to me on the sound of my guitars on CD and in concert. I have played through small PA Systems and large ones and The K&K products have delivered the PUREST, FULLEST and LOUDEST sound possible. K&K also stays true to my guitar's natural tone. In my book there are no other Guitars than Burchette and no other pickup systems as K&K."
http://www.jamiecarrollacoustic.moonfruit.com/