Jason Manning

Born and raised in Corsicana, Texas, Jason Manning got his start in music at the age of four on piano, which he studied for ten years. When he reached high school, he took a break from music to be more involved in sports, although he was known to perform in a talent show or two. While in high school he also studied and excelled in classical and modern voice, earning all-state alternate spots as a tenor and bass. He was offered several choral scholarships to continue at the college level, but he was determined to study architecture at Texas A&M University instead. When he arrived at A&M he picked up the guitar since his dorm room was too small for a piano. In the winter of 1991, he and friends Ken Monk, Kyle Clark, and Russell Friesz formed a band called Touch ‘N Go.  For the next four years, while still in school, they toured the state and became one of the most sought after bands in the college circuit playing a wide variety of music ranging from country to classic rock, dance, and modern rock of the 80’s and 90's.

After finally graduating from Texas A&M with a degree in Speech Communications, Manning wrote and self-produced two independent albums, Texas Avenues and Writing On The Wall, which both garnered state-wide distribution and received airplay throughout Texas and the Southwest.  He toured with his band, Texas Avenues, all over Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona in support of the two releases. Several trusted contacts, one being Robert Gallagher (Billy Bob’s Texas), encouraged him to re-locate to Nashville, spurring his move there in 1996.

Soon after arriving in Nashville, Manning was taken under the wing of legendary songwriter/producer Buzz Cason. Cason soon became a good friend, mentor, and golf partner.  During his stint in Music City, Manning collaborated with hundreds of writers from all over the country, developed his skills as a producer, and played tour dates with several major label artists.

Longing to be back in Texas, Manning returned to his hometown in 2005 to join a business venture with his best friend from childhood, although continuing to write and record whenever possible. Two years later, he was asked to play the role of Glenn Frey in the national touring act Tequila Sunrise: A Tribute to the Eagles. The production was hailed as “The Greatest Eagles Tribute on Earth” by Rolling Stone magazine. During the next two years, Manning also re-connected with an old friend from his college years, Jason Dickson, and they started writing songs. After the two clicked as writing partners, they decided to start North Texas Music Group, a publishing Company in DFW. What has evolved from those writing and recording sessions is what has become the band Manning-Dickson.   

Although he does still occasionally tour nationally with the Eagles show (now called 7 Bridges: The Ultimate Eagle’s Experience),  Manning’s true musical calling lies in performing and sharing his original work with the Texas/Red Dirt music scene and hopefully soon with the rest of the world.  Outside of music, his other interests also include golf, real estate, historic preservation, antiques, and traveling.

He currently lives with his wife, Rachel, and their golden retriever, Kinley, near downtown Fort Worth, where he looks forward to raising a family.