Jason Isbell Biography

Singer-songwriter Jason Isbell was born in 1979 in Green Hill, Alabama. Isbell initially rose to prominence as a member of the group Drive-By Truckers, but long before that he grew up largely influenced by his grandparents, who often served as his caretaker while his parents were at work. Jason’s grandfather taught him to play a number of instruments, including mandolin, and as a child Isbell was largely influenced by bluegrass and gospel music.

By the time Jason Isbell was fifteen, he’d started his own country-oriented cover band, and he played at the Grand Ole Opry for the first time when he was only sixteen years old. After spending a few years as a songwriter, Jason Isbell joined the Drive-By Truckers in his early twenties. From 2001 to 2007, Isbell remained with the group, performing and writing music for three of their albums. In 2007, he left the group to pursue a career as a solo artist, releasing the album Sirens of the Ditch in the summer of that year. Around the same time, Jason established the band Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit.

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit released a self-titled debut in 2009. The album spawned the hit single, “ Alabama Pines,” which earned the group a Song of the Year Award from the Americana Music Awards. Since that time, Isbell has performed and recorded both with the 400 Unit and as a solo artist, releasing the additional albums: Here We Rest, Southeastern, and Something More than Free, the latter of which rose to the top of the country, mainstream, and rock charts shortly after its release. The album also earned Jason his first Grammy Award, for Best Americana Album.

Clearly, Jason Isbell is a star on the rise and one to watch in the coming years. He recently performed his latest single, “The Life You Choose,” on the television show Later With Jools Holland. He also recently earned three nominations from the Americana Music Honors & Awards, for Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, and Album of the Year.