Jake Blocker works to bring back classic country music

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Singer-songwriter Jake Blocker currently is focused on graduating May 27 from Stockdale High School. After graduation, he’ll refocus on his music, and penning more songs for his second album. COURTESY. Send photos to reader@wcn-online.com for possible publication.

The twang of a steel guitar and the sweet notes of a fiddle met with the sound of a music-hall piano. This is the classic country sound young artist Jake Blocker grew up listening to. “My grampa gave me a guitar when I was 8 years old,” said the 18-year-old singer-songwriter. “I’ve been playing ever since!” In fact, Blocker has been writing songs ever since, too.

The Stockdale native grew up listening to classic country songs written by the likes of Hank Williams Sr., Moe Bandy, Buck Owens, and Wanda Jackson.

“I was 8 when I first heard Hank’s music, and that’s when I decided I wanted to be a country singer,” Blocker said. These classic country icons have become strong influences on his songwriting efforts today.

Blocker got his start as a performer at Texas Pride Barbecue in Adkins, where he was asked by Clint Taft of the “Buck Wild Band” to sing something on stage. The then-9-year-old accepted, got on stage with the band, and sang Hank Williams’ “Jambalaya” for the crowd. “I was so nervous,” Blocker recalled. “But afterward, when the crowd applauded, that really made me feel good.”

Then, when he was in the sixth grade, he competed in the LV Shoestrings Stage Productions’ competition, Wilson County’s Got Talent.

“After the show, I was invited to be on [KSAT-12’s] ‘SA Live,’” Blocker shared. His first TV appearance aired soon after, and it was up, up, up from there!

“I got to sing with Moe Bandy a couple of times, once in 2019 and again in 2021,” the young performer reminisced. He attributes these opportunities to his grandfather — “He was best friends with Moe in high school!” Blocker’s times on stage with Moe Bandy are among his favorite memories, along with all the fun times he’s had writing and recording his songs.

Although he has gotten over his nervousness on stage, the way the crowd makes him feel after a performance hasn’t changed. He still gets a thrill from the audience’s appreciation.

Blocker currently has one album, “I Keep Forgetting.” At 14, he wrote the first song for this album, “It’s Your Turn to Cry.”

“That was the first song I liked enough to record,” said the singer/songwriter, who’s currently crafting more songs for his next album.

In the meantime, you can catch the young artist at his upcoming performances! He’ll be singing the national anthem for his hometown before the Stockdale Watermelon Jubilee Parade June 18. Blocker also will make an appearance at the place where it all began, Texas Pride Barbecue, on June 25.

Why would someone so young want to bring back something “old,” like classic country music? “That’s what I grew up around,” Blocker said. “I listen to other kinds of music, too, but country is just the kind of music that I can really feel.” And feelings have a lot to do with the music Blocker creates. “I’m not really good at saying my feelings,” the artist said. “But with music, I can really express those feelings.” His lyrics all find their roots in his heart.

His songwriting process usually starts with those feelings-derived lyrics, and then Blocker adds in the music. “But sometimes, the words and tunes come to me at the same time!”

The acoustic guitar is his usual lone companion on stage, though he occasionally is accompanied by house bands. However, when he records at Cherry Ridge Studios in Floresville, Blocker has a regular group of musicians who help — among them are Jake Hooker, Bobby Flores, and Tommy Detamore. When it comes to instrumentation, Blocker pays attention to the kinds of instruments used to record, in order to keep his music sounding as classic as possible. For example, before the electric bass was available, most country artists used the upright bass. “Jake Hooker used a 1940 upright bass in six of the songs on my current album,” the songwriter recalled.

What else keeps our young songwriter busy? In his spare time, Blocker enjoys fixing up old Farmall tractors, tending to his longhorns, and learning steel guitar. In fact, his steel guitar skills have made progress recently; he played steel guitar on the recording of one of his new songs! Blocker also plays bass guitar and electric guitar.

Although God may not have many literal placements in his lyrics, this faithful Catholic said that his faith in God has helped guide him on his journey to bring classic country music back.

Other exciting things in the young musician’s life include his recent nomination for the 2021 Academy of Western Artists Young Artist award, and graduating from Stockdale High School this month.

What are his big plans for after high school?

“I’m gonna go for it and do the best I can,” Blocker said.

He advises young musicians with dreams as big as his to do the same. “Just keep working at it, and keep being passionate about it.”

Songs take shape

Jake Blocker has been collaborating with Jim Newcombe, a songwriter from England, now based in Canada, who also wrote for and with the late rockabilly singer and songwriter Rayburn Anthony.

Two songs on Jake’s album “I Keep Forgetting” — “Now and Then” and “Blue Night” — were written by Newcombe and Anthony.

Newcombe has radio contacts around the world and has had a hand in promoting Blocker’s music over the years, getting the Stockdale artist’s music played on many radio stations, and helping the young musician find new radio contacts in the United States.