Jake was born on February 29, 1980, in Sudbury, Canada.
Inspired by the singing and guitar playing of his mother,
he developed a passion for music and songwriting at an early age.
After penning his first song as a 7 year old,
Jake began singing and songwriting in earnest as a high
school freshman, and spent most of his spare time
performing with local rock bands and church music groups.
Eventually devoting his time exclusively to solo gigs,
Jake quickly established a reputation
throughout Northern Ontario as a promising singer/songwriter.
Jake's journey wasn't without struggle, however.
After suddenly becoming ill as a high school senior,
Jake spent many months in pain and discomfort
before liver dysfunction nearly claimed his life in 1998.
Doctors later diagnosed this complication to be a symptom of an
autoimmune disease, known as Lupus. Rebounding from the ordeal,
these experiences became a catalyst for many of Jake's songs,
and culminated into his first studio recording in 2001,
entitled "I Still Believe." The album earned Jake local
radio play and recognition, and awarded him a 2001
Artistic Excellence Award in Northern Ontario
for "Rising Star of The Year".
After spending a year promoting and performing songs
off his debut release, Jake turned his efforts to creating
another album. These efforts would soon be put on hold,
however, as he once again began to face physical pain.
Several more attempts at a new album were made in the following
years before Jake took a break from music and concentrated
solely on his struggling health.
After spending time in Vancouver, British Columbia,
and then relocating to Kitchener, Ontario, Jake finally
entered the recording studio again in 2010, this time
with Covenant Award-winning producer Andrew Horrocks.
Not surprisingly, many of the songs Jake would record
reflected issues such as hope in the midst of pain,
and determination in the face of defeat.
On June 28, 2011, Jake released "Welcome Home",
a brand new album featuring 11 tracks, including a reprise
of his previously-released single, "Who We Are".
Through his life and music, Jake's goal is to encourage
others in painful and challenging circumstances,
and to remind all listeners of a truth he believes passionately:
God loves us...unconditionally, sacrificially, eternally.
