Spotlight Corner: Meet Mike Jason
Ever stop to wonder who comes up with the lineup on the Country Music Cruise? Not only does it take a deep knowledge of classic country music, it takes a person with the experience and relationships to book these stars to come on board and have the time of their life with you. Meet StarVista / Time Life Country Music Cruise Executive Producer Mike Jason.
Q: You are now in your second year programming The Country Music Cruise. What goes into your thought process as you develop the lineup? How do you decide who to have on each year?
MJ: I start with the stars of the era that our guests grew up with and work with those still touring actively, that have really strong live shows and that have the type of personality that works on board – comfortable mixing and mingling with their fans. Thankfully, country music has a wonderfully fan-focused culture, and the stars love to interact.
Tell us a little bit about your background. How did you get started in music?
I have been in the “record” business for 30 years working at RCA and Sanctuary among other labels producing, marketing and promoting music in various capacities, the last ten years with Time Life. I have had the great fortune to work with superstar artists in rock, R&B, Gospel and country. The incredible country music songs have always especially pulled me in.
You have a Grammy nomination in 2010 for the “Hank Williams Box Set-The Complete Mother’s Best Recordings…Plus!” What was that like?
There was a huge treasure trove of unreleased Hank Williams recordings from 1951 that we were able to secure the rights to, painstakingly restore and craft into the definitive box set, working very closely with Hank’s Estate. It took many years of effort. Hank was effectively the house band for a morning radio show for a few months in 1951 and luckily they recorded for broadcast. We always said that if you weren’t listening to the radio those few mornings in 1951, you have never heard these performances. It really was mind boggling, and we were able to increase the available Hank Williams catalog by 50 percent when we released the box set! While we didn’t win, I feel blessed to be a small part of bringing Hank’s music to millions of new fans. The box set is really a work of art, as well as a special way to really get to know Hank.
Is selecting a great entertainer for our cruise different than selecting entertainers for other live events, in your opinion? Is it number of hits/size of their catalog? Personality of the artist? All the above?
All of the above. Of course we need artists that people remember and whose songs have a special place in everybody’s memory, but they also have to understand what we have here – a community that grew up together and wants to honor those times and feel young again. They need to be the kind of person or persons that wants to share all those same feelings with the cruisers and be part of that community and hang out and visit that special time with 2,000 like-minded friends.
Have you ever been star struck by one of the artists you have brought on these cruises?
I know many of them and have seen them perform many, many times. And yet, when you see a Kenny Rogers, Vince Gill and Martina McBride (to name just a small few) perform in such intimate settings, you can’t help but feel incredibly fortunate to see genius at work.
Any special moments from the first cruise you would like to share?
As you know, country legend George Jones passed last year, and I thought it would really be nice to invite the artists cruising with us to come up on stage, tell a George story and sing a George song or two. We put a band together and had probably six or seven artists perform. The stories were hilarious, touching and full of the deepest respect for George. I had invited Nancy Jones to join us on the cruise, and she graciously came up on stage and let the fans show their love. It was a very special moment. It will be hard to top that in this upcoming cruise but a combination of great artists, wonderful fans and a beautiful environment tends to make really nice things happen.
Any artists you are looking forward to having on board this year?
Well of course Martina, who had a great new album “Everlasting” out this year. The Oak Ridge Boys who will be appearing at our Gospel Hour (along with the Gatlins – wow!) in addition to performing for all the cruisers in their own show. Charley Pride – we couldn’t fit all his hits in a week of performances. And the list goes on. We have a special salute to Texas day this year and Asleep At The Wheel will be with us. I could go on, as we have 16 artists who are all great.
If I have any suggestions for a great addition, do you take suggestions?
Happy to hear any and all suggestions.
Thanks Mike! We are all looking forward to seeing the fantastic lineup you have assembled this year and can’t wait to hear that 2016 lineup announcement soon!
Don't miss seeing the artists Mike Jason has booked on The Country Music Cruise 2015. Start your reservation.