Episode 368. Grayson C. Jenkins-Singer-Songwriter
***This MoxieTalk was taped on location
at the 2021 RailBird Music Festival***
Traditionally, a Railbird is a horse racing enthusiast known for sticking close to the action, hanging on the rail as each contender comes barreling down the track. For one special weekend in August, the term adds meaning during the 2nd Annual Railbird Festival. 2 days. 3 stages. World-class artists. All on the historic grounds of Keeneland.
GRAYSON C. JENKINS-
A native of rural western Kentucky’s rolling hills and coal mining communities, Grayson Jenkins is a singer-songwriter who now calls Lexington, KY, his home. After attending the University of Kentucky and working there for four years, Grayson walked away from his salaried job in 2017 to chase his dream as a full-time musician.
With his recent ‘Cowboy Dream’ EP, Grayson is poised to reach even more ears and hearts in the coming year. This release will be the first in a wave of new music recorded with an A-list band. The team included: Miles Miller (Sturgill Simpson), Jesse Wells (Tyler Childers), Nicholas Jamerson, Kenny Miles (Wayne Graham), and many more.
A late-comer to the music world by most standards – Jenkins played his first show and wrote his first song at 21. Now 28, Jenkins has two albums under his belt and feels more focused and energized than ever about his music. His lyrics are inspired by the words of Mark Twain, who always said, “Write what you know.” In keeping with this motto, Grayson’s songs pay homage to the things most important to him—family, friends, and a life without regrets.
John Prine, Kris Kristofferson, Tom Petty, Sturgill Simpson, Jason Isbell, and many others have influenced his unique brand of Kentucky country music. His latest studio album, Cityscapes & Countrysides, was released in April 2017 and has garnered attention from radio and the press in the region.
Grayson maintains a busy performance schedule of 125+ shows a year, both as a solo performer and with his full band.
As he grows as an artist and writer, look to see more great things from Grayson Jenkins.