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XXXXA Kansan by birth, Jason was born in Wichita to parents who were accomplished musicians. When he was eighteen months old, the family relocated to Nashville, TN. Within a year he made his national television on a Candid Camera segment. By age seven he began studying piano, off and on, under the tutelage of his mother. In addition to the music of his parents, Jason grew up listening to Elvis and the Beach Boys, instilling in him an appreciation of performance, stage presence, and communicating with an audience.
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Multi-talented, Jason can play numerous instruments, (but not the harp!)
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XXXXEarly on, Jason felt a drawing to be in front of an audience, and became interested in possibly pursuing acting as a career. In his pre-teen years he appeared in several music related instructional videos, and by his early teens had secured an agent, and began working through the Nashville-based, Scott Miller Talent. It was a busy time of auditions for commercials and music videos. During this time Jason appear in video productions with such high visibility artists of the day as Ronnie Millsap and the Kentucky Headhunters.
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We all start out as little kids! • Jason at nine months • "Howdy. I'm a cowboy." • First visit to Wichita Zoo with Dad
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Playing duet with Dad after moving to Nashville • Stage debut in Christmas play • Taking a break at the now long-gone Opryland amusement park in Nashville • A happy visit to the Opryland petting zoo
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Checking beehives with Grandpa Couch in Arkansas • Starting Little League • In 1927, Jason's, Grandpa Seiler, played in the first Little League World Series in Philidelphia, PA
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XXXXIn his mid-teens, Jason joined the Plainsmen, with whom his dad was already working, supplying strings and bass guitar lines on keyboard and doing piano routines. Gospel music, and Christian music in general, was nothing new to Jason having grown up listing to the traditional sounds of groups like the Statesmen, Cathedrals, and early Oak Ridge Boys, and having developed an appreciation of such comtemporary Christian artists of the day as, Dallas Holms, David Meece, and Petra.
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Setting on Chac Mool in Chichen Itza, Mexico • On European trip, checking-out Olympic Village in Innsbruck, Austria • Always looking for an adventure... bungee-jumping in Florida on a dare!
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Hot air balloning • Whitewater rafting • Panning for gold!!! • Hunting for UFOs
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Ahhhh to be a teenager again • Looking cool with first car • Graduation with proud Mom • Check-out King Tut on YouTube
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XXXXNearing the completion of high school, Jason started focusing on continuing his education. On one hand there was the draw of acting, and on the other, that of music. A New York school had shown interest in having him pursue drama studies at their institution, but there remained a calling of music. The Nashville area is noted for its music related university studies. In part, due to the encouragement of good friend and gospel music icon, Jake Hess, Jason opted to enrolled in and later received a Music Business degree from MTSU.
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With Vestal and Howard Goodman • At Scotty Moore's home • With Charlie Walker at Jimmy Snow's studio, while doing a Ernie Couch & Revival taping for television (late-1990's)
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With Jake Hess and Hovie Lister at the Richland Country Club in Nashville • At SESAC brunch with Ray Walker of the Jordanaires • Doing MCG Records showcase with J.D. Sumner
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Singing at Larnelle Harris' home church • With Bill Gaither
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XXXXWhile in college, and having finished his time with the Plainsmen, Jason and his dad set about putting together their own group. Early in 1993, the newly-formed, Ernie Couch & Revival gave its inaugural concert in Nashville. In addition to helping run the day-to-day operations of the group, and serving as EC&R’s road manager, Jason began teaching himself to play bass guitar and drums, and was soon moving into songwriting. His first recorded composition, I Just Want To Say Thanks, appeared on the EC&R project, Ridin’ Fast. Jason's songwriting led him to open his own music publishing company its catalog containing, in addition to his own works, and those of his father, the complete catalog from the Jake Hess Music Publishing Company. In 1999, the EC&R music video, This Pilgrim Way, premiered featuring Jason.
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Wedding bells... after seven years of going together (June 23rd, 2000) • We're buds • Little Lisa in her Mrs. Beasley phase • Lisa taking a snack break from booking EC&R, and herding Memphis
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"In answer to your first question. Yes, your name really is, Memphis Ryder Couch. As to your second question. No, you do not have to wear the goofy hat out in public." (May 19th, 2008) • Sing-a-long • Turkey time in Tennessee • Drummer boy
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XXXXIn recent years Jason has become heavily involved in producing, and engineering much of EC&R’s recorded material. In addition, he shoulders the responsibility of securing, and working directly with the various guests who appear on EC&R projects. Having an eclectic musical background, Jason enjoyes interacting with other artists in all genres of music. Today he is recognized as one of the top baritone voices in Christian music.
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Jason and original Supremes member, Mary Wilson, who was a guest on EC&R's Christmas Songs project • Jason and Greg X. Volts in studio. Greg and other Petra members were guests on the EC&R Hanging On CD • Amy Grant and Jason
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Jason and the Oak Ridge Boys at The Factory • Steve Martin and Jason backstage at the Grand Ole Opry
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Jason with Kenny Lovelace, Jerry Lee Lewis' longtime music director and lead guitarist, who was a guest on EC&R's Watermelon Rinds instrumental project and Jason's Stands Alone solo project • The Temptations backstage with Jason at an EC&R Branson event • Jason in the studio with Patti Page, who was special guest on EC&R's, Today's Special project
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XXXAs to the more private world of Jason, in 2000 he wed his girlfriend of seven years, Lisa Bottoms. Lisa, a gifted singer and musician in her own right, worked in a bluegrass group in her teen years before going solo. Later she worked for several years overseeing the gospel music division of Century II, a well known Nashville talent agency. Eventually, she opened her own booking agency, Applause Central, representing various artists including, EC&R. In 2008, the family was added too with the birth of Memphis Ryder Couch. In January, 2009 Memphis made his stage debut.
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Jason in the historic Norman Petty Recording Studios in Clovis, NM, where the early Buddy Holly hits were recorded (Note: Jason is on the right) • At Fame Recording Studios in Muscle Shoals, AL where such artists as Aretha Franklin, Little Richard, the Osmonds, Alabama, the Gatlin Brothers, and many other music stars have recorded • Sun Studio in Memphis, TN, where artists like Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and others started their recording careers
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Just face it... on the road, sometimes you're hot, and sometimes you're not!
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A portion of Jason's library • The "look" for interupting Jason while reading on the road
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XXXXJason is an avid reader, and takes great pride in his extensive personal library. In addition to his book collection, he enjoys collecting historic vinyl recordings, and music memorabilia in general.
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