Jeff Carson
Country Singer
Jeff Carson, a country music artist, shares insights into his musical journey. He talks about the artists who influenced his songwriting and the spiritual elements present in his work. Carson also recounts his early experiences forming a trio and singing demos.
Jeff Carson
“Real Life” & “The Car”
About Jeff Carson
Jeff Carson, born Jeffrey Lee Herndon, was a country music singer and songwriter from Tulsa, Oklahoma. He achieved commercial success in the mid-1990s with the number one hit "Not on Your Love" and top ten singles "The Car" and "Holdin' Onto Something." He won the Academy of Country Music Award for Video of the Year for "The Car" in 1996. Carson released three studio albums before retiring from music in 2009 to become a police officer with the Franklin, Tennessee Police Department.
In this interview
- Recalls forming his own trio and singing demos for other songwriters early in his career.
- Cites Merle Haggard, John Conlee, and Vern Gosdin as major influences on his music.
- Credits James Taylor's writing and chord progressions as shaping his songwriting approach.
- Discusses the spiritual tone present in both James Taylor's work and his own songs.
“I just always loved his writing and his pretty chords and remember getting the chord book of his.”— Jeff Carson, in this interview
Since this interview
Carson retired from music in February 2009 and served as a full-time police officer with the Franklin Police Department. He returned to music in 2019, signing with MC1 Nashville and later Encore Music Group. Jeff Carson died on March 26, 2022, at age 58 in Franklin, Tennessee.
