LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Jason Aldean: Lawrence Mathis
built 208 days ago
A month after moving to Music City, Aldean was offered a recording contract but was subsequently dropped. He signed with another label but again was dropped in 2000. Various showcases failed to bring him a contract. Finally, Lawrence Mathis spotted Jason at one of the showcases at The Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville. Mathis signed as Aldean's manager. Still frustrated and discouraged with his struggling career, Aldean gave himself six months before planning to leave Nashville and return home to Georgia.
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Aldean’s music has been influenced by such greats as Ronnie Milsap, Tracy Lawrence, and John Mellencamp. He ... plays the guitar, thanks to his father’s encouragement. He was discovered after he sang at the Wildhorse Saloon. A guy simply appeared from the crowd and walked up to him. The man’s name was Lawrence Mathis who talked to him in straightforward fashion, asking Aldean for a year to work on his career. Jason said he did not have a year to spare, but he might consider six months.
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Both parents encouraged young Jason as he progressed musically. From age 14, after watching the country-music awards on TV, he wanted to perform on stage. With his mother's help, he performed at the local VFW hall in Macon. He sang John Anderson's song "Seminole Wind" and Tracy Lawrence's "Sticks and Stones". He would later say that the entire audience — all ten — applauded, and that he almost had to be dragged off the stage because he was hooked on performing. He began performing at area talent contests and local fairs. At 15, he joined the "house band" at the Macon nightspot Nashville South.
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Mathis decided to approach Aldean after this particular showcase and asked the singer if he was being managed. Aldean threw him a roadblock, telling Mathis he didn't have a manager, but didn't like them anyway.
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Lawrence Mathis