Jason Alexander Cruz (born February 6, 1974) is the American

lead singer The lead vocalist in popular music is typically the member of a group or band whose voice is the most prominent melody in a performance where multiple voices may be heard. The lead singer sets their voice against the accompaniment parts of th ...

and

lyricist A lyricist is a songwriter who writes lyrics (the spoken words), as opposed to a composer, who writes the song's music which may include but not limited to the melody, harmony, arrangement and accompaniment. Royalties A lyricist's income de ...

of punk band

Strung Out Strung Out is an American punk rock band from Simi Valley, California, formed in 1989. They are known mainly for their musical style, which fuses aspects of melodic punk rock, progressive rock and heavy metal to form their primary sound. They ...

, which formed in 1989 when he was 15 years old. He is also an artist, and a poet and fronts his roots Americana band 'Jason Cruz and Howl'. His personal website showcases his various forms of original artwork (paintings as well as graphic design and photography).

Early life

Cruz grew up in and around Los Angeles. He focused his energies on art and creative writing in school and began playing with

in 1991 in Southern California. Jason's major influences include classic artists such as

Tom Waits Thomas Alan Waits (born December 7, 1949) is an American musician, composer, songwriter, and actor. His lyrics often focus on the underbelly of society and are delivered in his trademark deep, gravelly voice. He worked primarily in jazz during ...

, Jimi Hendrix,

Hank Williams Sr Hank is a male given name. It may have been inspired by the Dutch name Henk,The Origins of 10 Nicknam ...

William Burroughs William Seward Burroughs II (; February 5, 1914 – August 2, 1997) was an American writer and visual artist, widely considered a primary figure of the Beat Generation and a major postmodern author who influenced popular cultur ...

Charles Bukowski Henry Charles Bukowski ( ; born Heinrich Karl Bukowski, ; August 16, 1920 – March 9, 1994) was a German-American poet, novelist, and short story writer. His writing was influenced by the social, cultural, and economic ambience of his adopted ...

, and

Bob Dylan Bob Dylan (legally Robert Dylan, born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Often regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture during a career sp ...

and visual artists Robert Mcginnis and Jean-Michel Basquiat. He has said that he was influenced by the desert, dirt road swap meets and the melancholy music that his mother used to listen to when he was growing up.Apicella, Vinnie. "Strung Out: Jason Cruz; Girls, guns and caffeine bombs"
CounterCulture.co.uk
Accessed June 12, 2006. The first concert he ever went to was Depeche Mode in 1986 when he was 12 years old then graduated to punk rock shows and skateboarding. Jason apprenticed as a tattoo artist for two years then took up oil Painting under the moniker 'Amerikan Blackheart' and has been showing regularly in L.A. and southern California for the past four years as well as performing with his band Howl. In addition to being a songwriter, musician, and artist, he has also published 3 original poems, which can be found in the collection entitled ''Revolution On Canvas: Poetry From The Indie Music Scene''. Cruz provided lead vocals and wrote the lyrics for T4 Project, a band made up of many well-known punk musicians, for its 2008 "Story-Based Concept Album." On August 21, 2012, Cruz self-released his first solo record titled ''Loungecore'' under the name Jason Cruz and Howl. Jason currently lives in Ventura,

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the ...

. In July 2010 Jason welcomed daughter Sydney Echo Cruz.

Discography

Strung Out

''See

for full list'' *'' Another Day in Paradise'' (1994) *'' Suburban Teenage Wasteland Blues'' (1996) *''

Twisted by Design ''Twisted by Design'' is Strung Out's third album with Fat Wreck Chords. The album was released on May 5, 1998. The album was the last with former bassist Jim Cherry, who left the group one year later, replaced by current bassist Chris Aiken, and ...

'' (1998) *'' The Element of Sonic Defiance'' (2000) *''

An American Paradox ''An American Paradox'' is the fourth album by punk band Strung Out, released by Fat Wreck Chords. The album was the band's first to debut on the ''Billboard'' 200. This is their first album with current bassist, Chris Aiken. Background and pr ...

'' (2002) *'' Exile In Oblivion'' (2004) *'' Blackhawks Over Los Angeles'' (2007) *'' Agents of the Underground'' (2009) *''

Transmission.Alpha.Delta ''Transmission.Alpha.Delta'' is the eighth studio album from American punk band, Strung Out. It was released on March 24, 2015, through Fat Wreck Chords. The album is their highest charting to date, reaching number 144 on the Billboard 200 ...

'' (2015) *''

Black Out The Sky Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white have o ...

'' (2018) *'' Songs of Armor and Devotion'' (2019)

T4 Project

*''Story-Based Concept Album'' (2008)

Jason Cruz and Howl

*''Loungecore'' (2012) *''Good Man's Ruin'' (2014) *''Wolves'' (2023)

References

External links

Jason's websiteRevolution On Canvas
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cruz, Jason 1974 births Living people American punk rock singers American male singer-songwriters American rock songwriters 21st-century American singers 21st-century American male singers