Biography

Born in 1975, Justin Thomas was raised in Chicago, IL. Since childhood, his father would bring him to their farm in where he would play in the barn while listening to country and bluegrass music. Being well interested in music, Justin started to play guitar, keyboard, and sing in 1992. He began to learn songs from Merle Haggard, Alan Jackson, Patty Loveless, and others, and was soon encouraged to play bluegrass. "My musical interests were growing exponentially and I started listening to as many different types of music as possible," Justin explains.

After learning some chords on the guitar, Justin began to write his own songs. "I am drawn to country and bluegrass because of its realism. There is energy above and beyond the notes that one hears, which allows me to sing from my heart and to express myself in ways that relate to people everywhere." He writes a unique style of country music that demonstrates a mastery of many of the different forms comprising both the traditional and contemporary "country sound".

Justin’s first album, Autumn Breeze, was a milestone when it was released on September 18, 1998. With the completion of this album, Justin proved himself as a determined, inspiring artist, songwriter, and producer. Within a collection that featured heartfelt ballads, a couple bluegrass-influenced tunes and personal approach to country music, one will find a distinctive voice and music that comes straight from his soul. "This project started as a personal aspiration to produce a compilation of my early works," he proclaims. Due to financial constraints and the desire for challenge, Justin recorded his album in his home studio. He took the project from start to finish learning all of the procedures of producing and recording as he went. His hard work and determination is evident in the exceptional quality and care that can be heard on the album. His first airplay was on 95.7 FM, WCRC, in Effingham, IL, which featured the song On The Farm, on September 26, 1998.

Justin has since played different venues and songwriter nights around town and has collaborated on new songs. He has released his second album on September 5, 2003, titled a hint of bluegrass. This album encompasses Justin’s own acoustic style, with a bluegrass flavor. He plays all the instruments on the self-produced album that he recorded in his home studio. He is also currently finishing a new twelve song record, recorded at Omni Studios in Nashville, due to be released in early 2007. This record is co-produced by Justin and Denis Kiely and contains original and collaberative material. The release of his first single from this album, Valentine's Day Blues, has also led to the creatiion of his first music video.

"Music will always be a big part of my life," says Justin. "I believe this is something God brought into my life so I can touch other people’s lives. I will continue to put forth all of my effort to write and sing with the pureness of love He bestows upon me."

Some of his influences include: Merle Haggard, Alan Jackson, Patty Loveless, Hank Williams Jr., Clint Black, Randy Travis, Pasty Cline, Linda Ronstadt, Bill Monroe, Alison Krauss, Jimmy Martin, Osborne Brothers, and Ralph Stanley.