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Like most
entertainers who have reached stardom, Jana Jae’s success is the
result of hard work perfecting raw talent.
Musical talent
runs through the family. Her parents studied at the famed Juilliard
School of Music, New York City, and Jana was introduced to the
classical study of the violin, on a 1/8 sized instrument, at the age
of two. Then, thanks to the direction and inspiration of her
grandfather, an accomplished champion fiddler in his own right, Jana
also learned to love playing by ear. She virtually grew up jamming
with and learning from some of the best in the business while living
in western Idaho, not far from Weiser, the site of the National
Oldtime Fiddlers’ Contest. Soon she had honed her skill of fiddling
into a fine art and won the Ladies National Championship several
times.
She also
continued her classical training, winning scholarships to Interlochen
and the International String Congress. She graduated Magna Cum Laude
with a degree in music and studied abroad at the Vienna Academy of
Music.
She taught
music for several years until she felt inspired to take her unique
blend of music on the road. Jana and her trademark blue fiddle soon
took the world of country music by storm. She got her big break at a
Buck Owens concert in Redding, California, when she was invited to
take the stage and play "Orange Blossom Special." Buck was
one of the first "big names" to recognize her talents and
offered her a job as the first female member of his
"Buckaroos" band. She later became part of the regular team
of performers on the "Hee Haw" show and has appeared with
such country music greats as Chet Atkins, Roy Clark, Ray Stevens, The
Oakridge Boys, Mel Tillis, Ricky Skaggs and the Nitty
Gritty Dirt Band.
Jana has built a solid solo career, drawing upon her diverse musical
background. Her one-of-a-kind style blends country fiddling, western
swing, bluegrass, pop and the classics, producing thrilling
performances and critical acclaim.
But her
enthusiastic following isn’t limited only to this country. She has
consistently proved her ability to cross over into other genres and
has earned a reputation and large international following performing
at such renowned events as the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland
and the Wembley Festival in England as well as the New Orleans Jazz
Festival. She has toured Japan, the Philippines, Australia, Africa,
Brazil and continues to perform abroad.
Jana is a
consummate performer and despite her petite 5’ 3 1/2" size, is
a powerful whirlwind on stage. Her pure, clear voice, showmanship,
down-home friendly sense of humor and natural communication with any
audience combine for a dynamite concert. Her special talents have
enriched us all in the world of music.
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