Community Corner
Meet Michael Jasper, Composer, Singer, Musician
Jasper is carving out his own musical career with a debut CD.
Whiz Kid: Michael Jasper
School: Senior at John Jay High School
Whiz Kid Accomplishment: Following in his famous father’s footsteps, 17-year old Michael Jasper is giving R & B/pop fans an original sound that they can groove to. He performed vocals and played the keyboards and synthesizer.
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His first CD entitled “Addictive,” is a mix of techno-pop dance music, including a song called Farewell, which is dedicated to military personnel who must leave their loved ones when called to service.
Click on this link to hear a sample of Jasper's music.
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Whiz Kid’s Key to Awesomeness: Growing up in South Salem with a Dad who was a member of the famous Isley Brothers, in a house decorated with gold and platinum albums, has been pretty inspiring for Michael Jasper.
His father is Chris Jasper—the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and member of the Isley Brothers. But for Michael, expressing his own creative talent has been an extremely fulfilling pursuit. “My Dad was a big influence,” he says. “Watching him make music in the studio has had a strong effect on me—it has made me very interested in learning about the business.”
He has played piano since the age of three, Michael says, but the turning point came for him after taking music theory and music technology classes at John Jay High School.
“These classes made such a difference for me," he said. "I learned computer programs and production techniques and was taught how to make my own music on a professional level.”
He continued creating music at home and began writing in earnest. His father co-produced the “Addictive” album and it was released last fall. The up-tempo dance tracks are now heard in clubs across Europe and have been played on some local radio and Internet stations.
When he is not working on his music, Michael plays several different sports and even has a first-degree black belt in Kung Fu. He plans to attend Fairfield University next year.
“I feel so grateful growing up here in this town,” he says. “It has given me all the things I need—educationally and extra-curricular opportunities too. I would not want to be anywhere else.”
