Jason Schmidt’s passion for drums began as a baby. He would play on anything he could to make rhythms and sounds such as pots, pans, cans, and cookie tins. Jason got his first kids drum set at age 3. After years of persistence and asking his parents, and with the urging of his elementary school music teacher, Jason began formally playing drums in 1985 at age 11.
He began his training in the public school music programs in New York, North Carolina, and Maine by participating in marching, concert, jazz band, and jazz combo. His early music career kicked off at George Washington Elementary School in West Hempstead, NY where Jason was a member of both the Marching and Concert bands in the mid-1980s before joining the Marching, Concert and Jazz Bands at West Hempstead Middle and High schools. He was a member of the Marching Band at Wake Forest High School in Wake Forest, NC before moving to Old Town, Maine where Jason was a member of the Marching, Concert, Jazz Band, and Jazz Combo from 1990-92 at Old Town High School.
In addition to the many teachers he studied with during his school years, Jason also studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. Jason has studied with and taken master classes from Napoleon Revels-Bey, Jim Chapin, Rick Latham, Walfredo Reyes Sr., and John Ramsay. Jason has participated in festivals and competitions at both the high school and college level. He participated in the University of New Hampshire’s Jazz Festival, and Berklee College of Music’s Jazz Festival Competition while still in high school.
Jason’s extensive performance resume stretches from New England to Nashville with many highlights along the way. Currently, Jason is working with Big Machine recording artist and songwriter Darryl Worley, as well as Josh David. Prior to his time with Worley, and David, he was drummer/percussionist/band leader and tour manager for Jason Michael Carroll from 2000-2006 and 2016-22. He was drummer/percussionist/ for Pam Tillis and Ray Scott in 2018. From 2014-16, Jason played for and was tour manager for Lindsay Ell. He was drummer for Jon Pardi on “All Time High” Headline Tour with Brothers Osborne in 2015, as well as Pardi’s Album Release Tour for “Write You a Song” in 2014. From 2013-16 Jason was drummer/Band Leader/Production Manager for Brian Davis. From 2010-12, Jason was drummer and percussionist with Florida Georgia Line where he performed on tour dates, the radio tour for the release of the single “Cruise”, as well as performing at the Grand Ole Opry and at the Ryman Auditorium in 2012.
Jason’s skills can be seen in a number of music videos, including Pardi’s 2015 live video recording shoot for “Head Over Boots;” percussion on The Huckabee Show with Keni Thomas, played drums on WGN Chicago TV with Pardi; percussion for TV taping of CMT’s Concrete Country with Brian Davis in 2013, as well as playing percussion on YAHOO Music Web Series with Miss Willie Brown in 2012. Jason played percussion on Florida Georgia Line Album “Here’s To The Good Times” as well as the drummer in the band’s video and lyric video for “Cruise,” the Best Selling Country Single of All Time with more than 168 million YouTube views.
When he’s not touring, Jason is working on countless other projects. His 2000 self-released album, “Banged Oddities”, is an eclectic blend of multi-drum and percussion compositions, which were all written, performed, and produced by Jason. Performer and producer, Kalani (kalanimusic.com) says, “Jason’s compositions show skill and discipline…good music to lose, or find oneself.” Jason is finishing his second album, “Earth Tones” to be released late 2025. Besides composing for his own projects, Jason has also composed for other artists and for independent films. Jason also does freelance work both live and in the studio, and can be heard on many artists’ albums as an experienced drummer and percussionist. He built his own full production studio, Stillwater Sound, where he does remote drum tracking, programming, and full production recording. Jason is also a current professional member of National Musicians Union AFM Local 257, BMI, and the Percussive Arts Society.
Jason exclusively plays and endorses Pearl Drums, Paiste Cymbals, Aquarian Drum Heads, Innovative Percussion Drum Sticks, Humes & Berg, Rhythm Tech, Moravian Percussion/Box Kit, ProLogix Percussion, Adam Argullin Mallets, Roc-N-Soc, Grover Pro-Percussion, QwikStix, Westone Music Products, Pinstripe Pedals DI’s, Sledgepad, Cympad, Slug Percussion Products, Kelly Shu, Creative Percussion, Great Leather Stick Bags, and Drum Fun.