SIMPLY SIX: Jeff Jacob

Jeff Jacob is a singer/songwriter from Nashville.

1. For many artists, they cite a defining moment for themselves when they knew they wanted to be a singer. For many it was the appearance of Elvis on the Ed Sullivan show, to another generation it was the Beatles’ appearance on Sullivan half a decade later. Is there such a defining moment for you?

My defining "moment" would have been a combination of being in school musicals as a very young kid all the way up through high school, quiting piano lessons after 6 years in my early teens and then realizing I could just write my own songs. They were pretty bad back then, but I recorded some with the guys in the house band on a river cruise ship and then just kept going...It was all about getting in the studio and recording for me.

2. When you’re not creating music what are you listening to? Who are some of your favorites?

I love SO much of a variety. Favorites include - Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Bryan Adams, John Waite,early REM, The Beatles, The Stones....Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, John Fogerty, Dobie Gray, Ray Charles....Billy Joel, Elton John...Elvis, Steve Earle, Tina Turner....

3. What would you say is your greatest moment so far as an artist, either on record or live?

Generally speaking, I think there are small moments when people come up to me after a gig, or listening to a recording of mine and say how much a certain song moved them or meant to them. I have this song God Backwards, about a dog who has been put down by his owner as a humane choice, and the dog is talking through God back to his owner telling him how grateful he is....Only one time in the years I've been playing this song live, have I not had a least one person come up to me after wards and tell me how much that song meant to them because of their own experience with a loved pet.

4. Do you believe music can change the world or is just something to listen to? How much can music influence current events?

Music can change the world, because change and revolution really happen one person at a time, until a critical mass or one huge unified voice rises up and demands that things change, and music can certainly if not directly lead to change, help inspire, galvanize and unify that focus.

5. How has technology affected the music industry? How has technology affected your career as a musician?

Technology has been killing the commercial recording studios for the past 6-7 years at a very fast pace, but on the flipside here we indies have all sorts of digital avenues to promote and sell our products and gigs...that's pretty great. I really need to get more with that!

6. Now for my Barbara Walters question: If you were a pair of shoes what type of shoes would you be?

It's a battle between an old pair of "Chucks" and a comfortable pair of flip-flops these days. Check with me in the next few years...If I move to the beach as I'm hoping to do in the near future....you'll know which shoe wins!