American jazz pianist
Musical artist
Jason Carroll (born November 12, 1985), known professionally as Skinny Hightower, is an American jazz pianist.[6] In 2020, his album Blue Moon finished as the 14th overall smooth jazz album on the Smooth Jazz Year End Top 100 Album Chart.[7] In the same year, his single "Bittersweet" finished as the sixth overall single on the 2020 Billboard Year-End charts for Smooth Jazz Airplay Songs.[8] Two singles from Blue Moon, the title track "Blue Moon" and "Now or Never", finished 36th and 38th respectively on the 2021 Billboard Year-End charts for Smooth Jazz Airplay Songs.[9] Hightower was also the number seven artist on the 2021 Billboard Year-End Smooth Jazz Airplay Artists list.[10] Hightower's singles "Blue Moon," "Now or Never," and "Taboo" all reached number one on the Smooth Jazz Airplay Billboard charts.[11][12]
[13] "Blue Moon" also reached number one on the Smooth Jazz Network Top 20 singles chart.[14]
Early life
Hightower was born in Wichita, Kansas on November 12, 1985.[1][15] Hightower's interest in music began at age two when he would sit on his father's lap and play the drums.[1][15][2] His involvement would continue as he later developed a mild interest in piano at age eight and began playing bass at the age of 12.[1] Jazz and gospel were his primary musical influences at the time.[15] Hightower later attended Wichita South High School where he played as a percussionist in the marching band, pep band, jazz band, and concert band.[2]
Music career
2012–2017: Military service and Cloud Nine
In 2012, Skinny Hightower enlisted in the United States Army where he served for five years and was promoted up to the rank of Sergeant.[1][2] He deployed to Afghanistan during the War in Afghanistan for a few months. Four years into his military contract, he recorded and released his first studio album Cloud Nine.[1]
Name origin
Hightower's pseudonym originated as a nickname given to him by his fellow servicemembers.[2] Upon learning that he was a jazz musician, his Army friends called him a skinny Mr. Hightower (played by Steve Harvey) in connection with the 1996 sitcom The Steve Harvey Show.[2]
2020: Blue Moon
In 2020, Skinny Hightower released Blue Moon which spawned the second and third number one Billboard singles of his career.[11][12] The production of the album consisted of the recording of 100 songs of which 24 were selected by a team of 10 individuals.[15][16][17]
Discography
Studio albums
Album title
|
Release year
|
Record label
|
Ref(s)
|
Cloud Nine |
2016 |
Vein Records |
[4]
|
Emotions |
2017 |
Trippin 'N' Rhythm Records |
[4]
|
Retrospect |
2018 |
Trippin 'N' Rhythm Records |
[4]
|
Blue Moon |
2020 |
Trippin 'N' Rhythm Records |
[4][5]
|
Mind Over Matter |
2023 |
Trippin 'N' Rhythm Records |
[18]
|
Singles
Collaborations
Year
|
Artist
|
Release
|
Additional information
|
Ref(s)
|
2018 |
Lin Rountree |
Stronger Still |
Featured artist, piano |
[3]
|
2019 |
Cindy Bradley |
The Little Things |
Bass, vibraphone |
[3]
|
Festivals
See also
Music
Lists
Other
References
External links