Jason Marks and the Band placed first runners up in the WQDR/Kenny Chesney "Next Big Star" contest that took place at the Buckhead Saloon in Raleigh, NC on August 7, 2008. This win secured the spot of being an opening band for Kenny Chesney on his Poets and Pirates Tour stop at Raleigh's Walnut Creek Amphitheatre on August 23, 2008.

Jason and the Band were chosen to be in the top 4 finalists for the contest and performed against such well known local acts as Holland Marie and the Johnston County Line, The Johnny Orr Band, and Kevin Lee. Each band had to perform 4 songs in front of the Buckhead crowd as well as Steve Mahr from WQDR, Kenny Chesney's representatives, and a representative from Deep South Entertainment. Holland Lee took the stage and blew the place away with her renditions of hits such as Gretchen Wilson's "Here for the Party" and Miranda Lambert's "Gunpowder and Lead". The next band to take the stage was The Johnny Orr Band who came on and kicked some ass with his original songs including a great song called "The Rain". Next up to bat was Kevin Lee who showed the place what talent's made of when he kicked up his song "Hillbilly Cadillac" and others. Jason and the Band had the chore of bringing down the house by playing in the closing spot. The guys put everything they had into their performance tonight and had people up and out of their chairs moving to their original songs, "Whiskey's Advice", "Bottle of Wine", "Slow Down" and the finale, "Buzz", which really brought everyone to their feet. Check out the video on the homepage for the performance!

Congratulations to the Johnny Orr Band who took the winning title. Jason and the Band places first runners up and still scored the hottest spot on August 23rd's show in Raleigh. Jason and the Band get the chance of a lifetime to open for the country's hottest country star and thousands of screaming fans! Congratulations to all of the bands who were chosen to compete, you all did a phenomenal job and made it a great night at the Buckhead Saloon!

Hope to see you all from the main stage at Kenny!

Jason Marks has teamed up with TIDE Loads of Hope which helps provide laundry services to displaced families of the Katrina Hurricane disaster.

As a former nursing student, I recognized the demands that this course of study requires...making it difficult to find time to work and make ends meet. So, to help ease the financial burden just a little, I have established the Singing Nurse Scholarship.

This award is available to PN nursing students at Cape Fear Community College School of Nursing and is needs based. A portion of the revenue from my CD and merchandise sales will help fund the award. So, please help us help others...
Over time we hope to grow this award into an endowment of a million dollars but for now it will be a nominal gift!

Until next time, BE, DO, HAVE all that you want out of life. And make people smile when you can!!!