Did you know the answer to our Morning Trivia Question:
Q: What Christian singer/songwriter had to change his last name because it was getting flagged as porn by spam filters?
The answer is …
Jason Gray.
Jason’s latest album, All The Lovely Losers, released last year. It’s a great album, one of those projects that everyone should hear but few will, at least without looking specifically for it, because he’s not one of the select few who hit the Christian radio jackpot and have their music added to airplay.
With a handful of spots open to new artists, radio stations are looking for any reason to not play a song, and when your name is Jason Gay …
That’s right. For his whole life, Jason Gray was actually Jason Gay, and believe it or not, that caused him some problems in the Christian music industry.
Early on, a few people suggested he change his name, but he refused. He didn’t think it was a big deal, even though it did seem like at every turn, he was explaining that, indeed, his last name was Gay but it had nothing to do with anyone’s sexuality.
Annoying? Yes. Career ending? No.
Then he realized some people would avoid coming to his shows because they thought he was a gay rights supporter. Other people would come expecting him to blast homosexuals. A few radio stations didn’t want to play his music because they’d have to say the word “gay” on the air.
“You’d be amazed how many people lack common sense,” Jason told me during a chat in Nashville.
But when spam blockers started blocking his newsletter emails to his fans, and people were having trouble accessing his website because the word “gay” was included in the address (gotta love that family-friendly internet protection) it took the problem to a new level, business-wise, and he finally agreed to change his name.
So Jason Gay is now Jason Gray.
But honestly, that’s not really what he wants to talk about.
For his entire life, Jason has struggled with a stuttering problem. When he felt the call to public ministry, like Moses he reasoned with God that He’d chosen the wrong man for the job. Instead, God kept putting Jason in places where he had to speak, and rather than pretend to be strong, Jason just let God work through his speech problem.
“The main thing I explore in all of my music is the idea that God calls us not in spite of our weakness, but because of them,” says Jason. “It’s in our weakness that his strength is perfected. And yet we are so afraid of being weak.”
His weakness, his stuttering, isn’t something he can hide. He takes his time when speaking, as the words can sometimes come out reluctantly. (He jokes that the hardest word for a stutterer to say is “stutter,” and someday he’d like to meet the guy who came up with it.) As a result, he’s gentle and soft spoken and very calming to be around. He’s relaxed about his speech problem, so you can be, too.
He hopes his own transparency helps others understand that God can do big things through someone with a willing heart, regardless of how weak he might seem to others.
“Our strengths are only good, I think, for impressing each other and ultimately intimidating each other,” Jason adds, “whereas our weaknesses make us a safe place for each other.”
Well said, Jason.
Jason Gray’s latest album, All The Lovely Losers, is in stores now. Visit him online at www.JasonGrayMusic.com
posted July 2, 2008 at 9:05 am
Ooh ooh I won, what’s my prize. Seriously, I met Jason last year and echo every nice thing you said about him. This is a guy who needs to be heard.
God bless,
Dave from A.M.O.K.
posted July 2, 2008 at 10:37 am
LOL You get bragging rights for the whole week!
Joanne
posted July 8, 2008 at 9:35 pm
I myself am also a PWS (person who stutters) so I was thrilled to learn their is a Christian singer who shares my problem. PWS make up 1% of the total wordwide population, so you can be sure that every denomination has people in their ministry that struggle with this speech problem.
A few months ago I stumbled upon a fascinating list of “Famous People Who Stutter” on the website of the nonprofit Stuttering Foundation (www.stutteringhelp.org. There several singers on the list, such as Carly Simon and Mel Tillis – just to name a few.
This article was definitely inspiring and I am going to e-mail the link to an e-list I have of people at my church.
Thanks for making my day!
posted July 9, 2008 at 11:10 am
Maurice, thanks for the nice comment! Jason Gray is such a sweet, humble, talented man and I know he’d be be happy to know his story encouraged you.
Joanne
posted July 9, 2008 at 2:46 pm
I agree with every single thing that you said in this interview. Jason is seriously one of my favorite musicians! I love that he is so willing to make friendships instead of forgetting about you. It’s very apparent when you first meet him. Thank you for doing this!
posted July 9, 2008 at 11:47 pm
Hey Maurice, thanks for posting – good to meet a fellow stutterer! I’m grateful to hear you connected with my story. I love how God uses our weakness to show his glory, and also how weakness brings us together!
Blessings,
Jason Gray
posted July 11, 2008 at 4:06 pm
I have talked with Jason before, and never realized that he stuttered. Jason, you must be doing a good job if I didn’t notice.
And All The Lovely Losers is a great album.
posted July 14, 2008 at 10:22 am
Jason,
I attended the service you did at Peace Lutheran church on Sunday July 13th. You were very inspiring to me WOW even though you had little sleep it was great and I loved the message and the music alot.
I don’t know if you ever heard this but my pastor once said to me I plan the message and never know who it may affect or not however you don’t know me but you so were talking to me and that’s what made your message even better for me.
Sometimes I feel weak but you are right I always feel like I should be strong as a single mom of 2 kids I need to be strong for them.
Thank you so much and hope you continue great things.
I will check the website for updates and see what’s happening!
God’s Blessing
posted July 15, 2008 at 7:31 pm
Euphrony – Sometimes I’m more fluent than other times, I can go a whole day with little trouble at all, and then the next day I’ll hardly be able to put two words together without having trouble. you got me on a good day!
JGray
posted December 25, 2011 at 2:54 pm
I didnt realise that his name changed and I got one of his older cds Jason Gay “Live Volume 1 Hope” I also got the Jason Gray “Accoustic Storytime” at the same time.
When they got in the mail and I opened the package i was like did i accidently purchase from 2 seperate Artists?
When i organize my songs on the mp3 player i changed the old cd to Gray just for convenience (I do want them all under one artist). The old CD’s are a bit rare now.
I just did an Amazon.ca search with Jason Gay(because i was only searching Gray before) and alot of stuff comes up (not related to his music at all)…lol Lots of Artists change thier name though for various reasons.
However the accoustic and live stuff is really strong music. I look forward to more of that.