Editing Jason Ringenberg

{{promotion |date=September 2023}}
{{short description|American singer-songwriter}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
| name = Jason Ringenberg
| image = Jason Ringenberg 2015 by Brian Mansfield.jpg
| alt = Jason Ringenberg performs at Music City Roots in Franklin, Tennessee in 2015
| caption = Jason Ringenberg performs at Music City Roots in [[Franklin, Tennessee]] in 2015
| background =  solo_singer
| birth_name = 
| alias = Farmer Jason
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1958|11|22}}
| birth_place = [[Kewanee, Illinois]] U.S.
| genre = [[Country rock]]<br />[[Alt-country]]<br />[[Americana (music)|Americana]]<br />[[Cowpunk]]
| occupation = Musician<br />singer-songwriter
| instrument = Guitar<br />voice
| years_active = 1980–present
| label = [[EMI]]<br />[[Mammoth Records]]<br />[[Yep Roc Records]]
| associated_acts = [[Jason & the Scorchers]]
| website = {{URL|jasonringenberg.com|JasonRingenberg.com}}<br/>{{URL|farmerjason.com|FarmerJason.com}}
}}
'''Jason Ringenberg''' (born November 22, 1958) is an American musician, singer-songwriter, and guitarist and the lead singer of [[Jason & the Scorchers]]. The band had several hits, including "Golden Ball and Chain" and a rock version of [[Bob Dylan]]'s "[[Absolutely Sweet Marie]]."

==Early life and education==

Ringenberg was born in [[Kewanee, Illinois]], and grew up in nearby [[Sheffield, Illinois]], where his parents owned a family hog farm that bordered the [[Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad|Rock Island Railroad]] line.<ref name=jurek>{{cite web|author1=Thom Jurek|title=Jason Ringenberg: Biography|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/jason-ringenberg-mn0000223060/biography|website=Allmusic|accessdate=October 8, 2014|year=2014}}</ref> He started playing in rock, alternative rock, and country-bands while in school at [[Southern Illinois University Carbondale]].<ref name=school>{{cite web|author1=Brent Stewart|title=Coming full circle: Jason Ringenberg returns to Southern Illinois, for album release party at the Liberty Theater|url=http://thesouthern.com/entertainment/feature/coming-full-circle-jason-ringenberg-returns-to-southern-illinois-for/article_8f77ae94-e03c-58a6-9433-a836dbe5bf83.html|publisher=The Suuthern Illinosan|accessdate=October 30, 2015|date=January 11, 2008}}</ref>

== Career ==
In 1981, Ringenberg moved to [[Nashville, Tennessee]], where he soon formed [[Jason & the Scorchers]] with Warner Hodges, Jeff Johnson, and Perry Baggs.<ref name=jurek /> They used a mix of punk rock and country.<ref name=jurek /> [[Rolling Stone]] has commented that they "singlehandedly re-wrote the history of rock'n'roll in the South." They won critical approval with the release of several albums and live performances.<ref name=epiphone />

Ringenberg was influential in the early to mid 1980s when the indie country/rock movement was at its height.<ref name=school /> His music, along with similar bands, founded the emergence of the [[alternative country]] and [[Americana (music)|Americana]] genres within [[indie rock]] music.<ref name=indyweek>{{cite news|author1=Chris Parker|title=Reap or Sow: Five words with Jason Ringenberg|publisher=[[Indy Week]]|pages= 25, 26|date=November 26, 2014}}</ref>

In 2008, [[Jason & the Scorchers]] received the [[Americana Music Association]]'s Lifetime Achievement Award in the Performance Category.<ref name=AMA>{{cite web|title=Lifetime Achievement for Performance: 2008: Jason & The Scorchers|url=http://e2.ma/message/lxvmf/1hqo2f|website=Past Lifetime Achievement Winners by Category: Americana Music Festival and Conference|publisher=Americana Music Festival and Conference|accessdate=November 26, 2015|date=2013}}</ref><ref name=examiner>{{cite web|author1=Emily Cary|title=Jason and the Scorchers bring a hot sound|url=http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/jason-and-the-scorchers-bring-a-hot-sound/article/91140/comments|publisher=[[The Washington Examiner]] (D.C.)|accessdate=November 26, 2015|date=September 28, 2010}}</ref><ref name=epiphone>{{cite web|title=Long Time Epi Player Jason Ringenberg To Be Honored With Jason and the Scorchers|url=http://www.epiphone.com/News/Features/News/2008/Long-Time-Epi-Player-Jason-Ringenberg-To-Be-Honore.aspx|website=Epiphone|accessdate=November 26, 2015|date=June 18, 2008}}</ref>

Ringenberg has also seen success as a solo artist. He has released five solo records and toured as a solo artist. ''The Times'' (London) called him "one of the most exciting performers of his generation." He now performs both solo as Jason Ringenberg and as his children's music character, Farmer Jason, often performing as both personas in the same day.

Ringenberg created his children's music character, Farmer Jason, in 2002 to entertain his own daughters.<ref name= school /> He then released his first children's record on the [[Yep Roc Records]] label; ''A Day at the Farm with Farmer Jason'', in 2003.<ref name=jurek /> The character remains popular and has become the most successful project of his career. As Farmer Jason, he sings songs about farm animals and the appreciation of nature. His [[PBS]] mini program called "It's Farmer Jason" has earned four Emmy nominations and one Emmy win. He has recorded four records and a DVD as Farmer Jason. The fourth album, ''Christmas on the Farm with Farmer Jason'', was released in December 2014.<ref name= indyweek />

His album ''Stand Tall'' (2019) was written while he was Artist in Residence at Sequoia National Park. Recorded at his old college haunts in Southern Illinois and also in Nashville, the subjects of the songs range from John the Baptist to The Ramones to a disillusioned Confederate draftee.

==Personal life==
Ringenberg lives near [[Bon Aqua, Tennessee]], with his wife Suzy; daughters Kelsey, Addie, and Camille; and a barnyard full of animals. <ref name="school" />

==Discography==
===Jason & The Scorchers===
* ''Reckless Country Soul'' (Praxis, 1982). [[Extended play|EP]]
* ''Fervor'' (Praxis, 1983), rereleased in 1984 for [[EMI]].
* ''Lost & Found'' (EMI, 1986).
* ''Still Standing'' (EMI, 1986).
* ''Thunder and Fire'' (A&M, 1989).
* ''Are You Ready for the Country: The Essential Jason & The Scorchers. Volume One'' (EMI, 1992)
* ''A Blazing Grace'' (Mammoth, 1995).
* ''Clear Impetuous Morning'' (Mammoth, 1996).
* ''Both Sides of The Line'' (EMI, 1996)
* ''Midnight Roads and Stages Seen'' (Mammoth, 1998)
* ''Rock on Germany'' (Courageous Chicken Music, 2001)
* ''Wildfires & Misfires: Two Decades of Outtakes and Rarities'' (Courageous Chicken, 2002).
* ''Halcyon Times'' (Courageous Chicken, 2010).

===Solo===
* ''One Foot in The Honky Tonk'' (Liberty, 1992)
* ''A Pocketful of Soul'' (2000)
* ''All Over Creation'' (2002)
* ''Empire Builders'' (2004)
* ''Best Tracks and Side Tracks'' (2008)
* ''Stand Tall'' (2019)
* ''Rhinestoned'' (2021)

===As Farmer Jason===
* ''A Day at the Farm With Farmer Jason'' (2003)
* ''Rockin' In The Forest With Farmer Jason'' (2006)
* ''Nature Jams'' (2012)
* ''Christmas on the Farm with Farmer Jason'' (2014)

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Jason Ringenberg|nowrap=yes}}
* {{URL|jasonringenberg.com|JasonRingenberg.com}}
* {{URL|farmerjason.com|FarmerJason.com}}
{{Jason & the Scorchers}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ringenberg, Jason}}
[[Category:1958 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Kewanee, Illinois]]
[[Category:American country rock singers]]
[[Category:American rock guitarists]]
[[Category:American male guitarists]]
[[Category:American male singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American rock singers]]
[[Category:American rock songwriters]]
[[Category:American children's musicians]]
[[Category:American alternative country musicians]]
[[Category:Southern Illinois University Carbondale alumni]]
[[Category:Singer-songwriters from Illinois]]
[[Category:Guitarists from Illinois]]
[[Category:20th-century American guitarists]]
[[Category:Country musicians from Illinois]]
[[Category:20th-century American male musicians]]