No second chances?… Yeah well don’t tell that to Jason Carter McCord, but you can call him “JC.” This Boston based singer/songwriter continues to work hard and persevere at finding the right audience for his songs. Music has been at the very heart and soul of his journey through life from his early years singing church hymns in southwestern Pennsylvania, to singing his original songs at the famous Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, TN, and opening for legendary bands such as Marshall Tucker Band, Three Dog Night, and Grandfunk Railroad.

At 12 years old, JC was selected to sing in the Pittsburgh Boychoir, performing classical music in over 40 states and Canada, and appearing on multiple television and radio shows in Pittsburgh, PA. When JC was 13 years old, he went on vacation with his family to Orlando, FL at Disney World’s newest attraction, Disney-MGM Studios. On a whim he performed, America the Beautiful for a live studio audience of about three hundred people and received a standing ovation. A woman from Great Britain visiting the theme park that day waited as the crowd was leaving to shake his mother’s hand and give her a heartfelt admission of that being the most beautiful version of the song she had ever heard. This eventually led to an audition for the New Mickey Mouse Club of which he made it through several rounds before being cut. Ironically, at 15 he placed as a finalist in the Jude Pohl Showcase in Pittsburgh, the local version of the “America’s Got Talent” losing to 9 year old phenom and future Mickey Mouse Clubber, Christina Aguilera.

JC’s parents divorced when he was young and he would periodically spend summers in Texas with his dad, Marvin. JC recalls spending long hours riding alongside his dad in a Mack 18- wheeler picking up milk from multiple dairy farms. On weekends they would ride horses and JC recalls one time, getting thrown off a horse. His dad stood there and said, “Well, what are you gonna do now, lie there or what?” This was an important lesson JC never forgot.

His mother,Virginia, equally strong but with a softer touch always encouraged her son to pursue his music. She would clap and holler when JC would run into the living room to sing her the newest song he had written. Afterwards she would often tell him, “Work hard, dream big!” After highschool, JC enrolled in the prestigious Berklee College of Music on scholarship. He studied everything from popular music to jazz composition and music production and engineering studying alongside notable upcoming artists such as Natalie Maines of the Chicks and John Mayer. JC loved more than anything to spend time in the recording studios at Berklee. This is where you could find him most nights between the hours of 10 PM – 2 AM when no one else would book session time. He spent hours experimenting with his sound and learning all about the recording process. JC also sang in a country ensemble where he met and performed with Clay Cook who went on to become a member of Zac Brown Band.

After graduation, one of JC’s professors at Berklee, Pat Pattison, convinced him to move to Nashville and Pat was instrumental in introducing JC to some top music insiders . JC quickly found work as a demo singer and made the rounds in local clubs like Printer’s Alley, Broken Spoke Saloon, and he even performed at the famous Bluebird Cafe. Hanging out in these writers’ circles, JC developed a deeper love and respect for songwriting. He attracted the attention of Songwriter Hall of Fame member, Dean Dillon, who helped him develop his skills. JC also credits Mike Doyle, an ASCAP representative at the time, for helping him find his voice as a songwriter.

Ten years of grinding it out in Music City, USA took its toll and JC decided that he needed life experience elsewhere but he wasn’t sure what direction to take. He moved out of his apartment, rented a storage unit and boxed up his belongings, then flew to Japan where he spent four months backpacking through the country. Along his trek, he visited Buddhist temples, discovered murder hornets, got chased off with a shotgun by a shitake mushroom farmer, entertained a bar full of patrons in Osaka with some “American-style” karaoke, stayed at a monastery in Kyoto, studied karate in Tokyo, and experienced a whole lot of kindness and compassion from strangers. This once in a lifetime trip changed JC profoundly by awakening a shift in his consciousness and he started taking a closer look at finding opportunities to contribute to society.

JC set his music aspirations aside for a minute and drove north towards Dixville Notch, NH where he spent a year in the mountains working as a counselor in an outdoor residential treatment program for at risk teenage boys. JC helped play a role in helping the boys build self-confidence, develop respect for others, accept personal responsibility and make good decisions through experiential learning. After an arduous day of chores and therapy, the campers would settle into their bunks for the night. JC would often grab his guitar and sit outside on a stump near the tents and sing songs to help the boys calmly get to sleep. Some boys would even mention that this was their favorite part of their time there.

After his tenure at camp, JC returned to Boston, MA and earned his teacher’s license in special education. He has been teaching in the public school system for a little over ten years now. This continues to be a most rewarding profession for him and he finds joy volunteering his time in programs like Special Olympics and Best Buddies. JC still keeps his “musical chops” sharp by performing his own music, and singing in groups like the rock band, Roadhouse Strangers. No matter which roads he travels down, his compass always points him back home to his roots in country music. Through his music he expresses his heart, his experiences, and lessons he’s learned, and shares great optimism for what’s to come.