With a voice filled with grit and soul, Carly Jo brings the heat of the Florida sunshine to all she does.
Music is a magical art form, capturing and reflecting every emotion. It is that collection of feelings Carly Jo Jackson taps into when she sings. Her smokey, fluid voice takes you on a poignant journey through life’s moments — from the simple yet empowering choice of sleeping in a car instead of letting someone else own her to the deep melancholy of realizing a love affair is not meant to be. There’s heft to the notes coming out of her mouth, a weighty-ness in her sound that delights and surprises.
The Florida native began writing music at age 16, playing guitar and singing live at Orlando-based coffeehouses that same year. By 17, Carly Jo had signed a recording contract, cutting her first CD, World at My Feet. While she would go on to perform at festivals and local clubs, it was her turn on AMERICA’S GOT TALENT, where she advanced through two judgement rounds that pushed her onto the broader stage and makes it possible for those of us not kicking it in America’s southernmost coast to hear, see and experience her magic.
That charm caught the attention of musical luminary Chris Pelonis who signed Carly Jo to his recording label, Lost Coast Records in a joint venture with Jimmy Buffett’s Cherry Bomb Records. This collaboration led to the recording of ten tunes primed for release, songs that include some vocal backing from iconic Michael McDonald — check out I SLEEP IN MY CAR — who was so riveted when he heard Carly Jo, he jumped at the chance to be a part of her musical journey. What started on the streets and local stages in Florida has grown into a vibrant, fertile talent that is reaching ears across the nation, going viral, and prompting some of the most respected musicians around to encourage and join this wonderfully unstoppable train of gorgeous sound.
Carly Jo may still be in her 20s, but there is a lot of life to be heard in the rich, honest notes of each strum of her guitar, every song she sings. And in those tones, those explorations of human emotion and experience, it’s easy to see that riding shotgun on her lyrical road and discovering where it takes her will be worth every golden-throated moment.
To experience more of Carly Jo, check out her website, http://www.carlyjojackson.com/, or follow her on Instagram.
Some Music from Carly
Listen to previews of Carly's music below
Song Credits
Sleep In My Car
Carly Jo Jackson; Guitar, Vocals
Michael McDonald; Vocals
greg Leisz; Lap Steel Guitar
Chris Pelonis; Harmonica, Vocals
Randy Tico; Bass
George Pendergast; Cajon
Christian Pelonis; Drums
Clipped Wings
Carly Jo Jackson; Guitar, Vocals
Michael McDonald; Vocals
Chris Pelonis; Vocals, Guitar, Piano, Wurlitzer, B3, Shaker
Randy Tico; Bass
George Pendergast; Cajon
Christian Pelonis; Drums
All The Way Down
Carly Jo Jackson; Guitar, Vocals
Michael McDonald; Vocals
Chris Pelonis; Vocals, Guitar, Shaker
Randy Tico; Bass
George Pendergast; Cajon
Christian Pelonis; Drums
Johnny P
Carly Jo Jackson; Guitar, Vocals
Michael McDonald; Vocals
Greg Leisz; Lap Steel Guitar
Chris Pelonis; Harmonica
Randy Tico; Bass
George Pendergast; Cajon
Christian Pelonis; Drums
Trouble
Carly Jo Jackson; Guitar, Vocals
greg Leisz; Slide Guitar
Chris Pelonis; Shaker
Randy Tico; Bass
George Pendergast; Cajon
Christian Pelonis; Drums
Produced, Recorded, Mixed and Mastered by Chris Pelonis at Beyond The Rabbit Hole/Lost Coast Records.
Additional recording engineering; Sven Holcomb
