Jason Dodson
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| Jason Michael Dodson, Sr. | |
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| Background information | |
| Born | October 2, 1976 Columbus, Ohio, U.S. |
| Genre(s) | Funk Soul |
| Occupation(s) | Musician Producer Social Activist Political consultant Counterculture HUMINT Advisor |
| Instrument(s) | vocals, synthesizers, keyboard |
| Years active | 1992-Present |
| Label(s) | The New Funk Order Parable Productions Spooky Action Heroes 2020 Vision Recordings |
| Associated acts | Zeta Spooky Action Heroes Flashpointe |
| Website | [2] |
Jason Michael Dodson, Sr. (born October 2, 1976) is a professional consultant, musician, Freemason, theologian, and conceptualist artist/writer, D.D., born in Columbus, Ohio. Dodson founded The Parable Institute[1], a non-profit sociopolitical advisory organization in 2001, and founded the online funk musician's community "The New Funk Order" [2] in 2003. He is known for his musical works, writings, and sociopolitical advisory work. Jason is a former Chairman of the Carbondale Democracy For America group, an ordained Universalist minister, a Master Mason at the Saline Masonic Lodge #339, a member of the Rosicrucian Fellowship, a member of The Phylaxis Society[3], a former senior member of the Marion, Illinois group Concerned Citizen's Council, a former advisor to the Ron Paul 2008 US Presidential campaign [4], and a contributor to the John Locke Foundation [5]. Currently, Dodson resides in Southern Illinois.
Dodson charted numerous #1 songs in the Funk genre on the former MP3.com and has charted many #1 songs in the Funk genre on Soundclick.com.[6] His songs have been featured and requested on Phoenix, Arizona's KXEG radio, Columbus, Ohio's 88.7 Radio U, Columbus, Ohio's 1580 WVKO (AM), and Carbondale, Illinois' 91.1 WDBX FM. Dodson's recent collaboration titled Cosmopolitan Lover[7] with the funk band Bumper has reached #41 on the JunoUK charts for Electro-House singles and is being played in many locations in Europe.[citation needed]
Jason has been married to his second wife Kari since 2001, and has two children, Jason Jr and Carter.[8]
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[edit] Personal history
Dodson was raised on the Southside and Southwest sides of Columbus, Ohio. Growing up, he and his family lived in a lower-class neighborhood that many would consider a "ghetto". He lived two city blocks from the Lincoln Park projects for most of his young life, having many friends of many different cultures and backgrounds. Many people in the community were subject to gang violence and drug or alcohol abuse. Some of his friends died as a result of such circumstances. Dodson's mother Rhonda (a school teacher and political campaigner) and his father Michael (an industrial factory worker), made sure that Jason did not get involved in such activities and encouraged him to help others make it out of poverty. Dodson and his parents were members of Washington Avenue United Methodist Church.
Dodson's maternal Grandfather, Paul S. Abdon, was a veteran of World War II and the Korean War, an Eisenhower Republican, 33 Degree Scottish Rite Freemason, and a Shriner. Dodson's father Michael was a US Navy shipman and worked on the Ronald Reagan presidential campaign from 1979-1980. Michael is a Paleolibertarian- Paleoconservative while Rhonda is a left-leaning Democrat. Rhonda worked on many campaigns, including the campaigns of Jimmy Carter, Walter Mondale, Michael Dukakis, and Bill Clinton, along with many other local Columbus and Ohio candidates. Jason helped as a youth volunteer on all of the campaigns that his parents participated in.[9]
Oddly enough, Jason (on his mother's side) is the once-removed 5th cousin of George W. Bush on Bush's father's side (George E. Walker is their common ancestor)[10].
[edit] Education
In elementary school, Dodson received the Presidential Academic Fitness Award from President Ronald Reagan in 1986. In 1993, Dodson was selected as the sole delegate to represent his high school at the Buckeye Boys State political preparation camp in Bowling Green, Ohio at Bowling Green University. The annual event features the best youth political prospects from all over the state of Ohio. This led to his election to student council by his peers as a senior at Marion-Franklin High School in 1994. He graduated with specialization in computer-aided drafting and machining in 1995. After years of hard work in warehousing, Dodson received an Honorary Doctor of Divinity from Quest Seminary of the Universalist Church in Elk Grove, California in 2007 after nearly six years of online religious studies. He also possesses a degree in Pastoral Ministry from Cathedral University and a certificate of Evangelism Ministry from Mercy St. University. He was raised a Methodist, but went through a period of transformation where he learned Pentecostal-Apostolic, non-denominational, National Baptist, and United Church of Christ teachings before finding that he has the most in common with Unitarian-Universalist interfaith teachings. Dodson is, however, a proclaimed personal believer in Jesus Christ.[11]. His universal beliefs led him to become a Freemason and join the Masonic Temple in 2007.
[edit] Political career
He began his political career as an advisor for the Democratic Party of Ohio in 1996. A true independent, Dodson also worked on the campaign of Republican Congressman John Kasich in 1996. In 1999, Dodson opposed U.S. military action in the Kosovo conflict and led a petition drive in Lancaster, Ohio where he obtained over 3,000 signatures against the war, during which time he officially registered affiliation with the Ohio Republican Party. After working for the party for about one year, he ended his support of the party when they nominated Texas Governor George W. Bush as their candidate. Thereafter, Dodson has worked on the campaigns of Al Gore, Barack Obama during his Illinois State Senate run, and Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich during his first term. From April 2007 to January 2008, he worked as an advisor for US Congressman Ron Paul's Presidential campaign in Southern Illinois, supporting a Republican candidate for the first time in nearly a decade. Dodson is the Founder and CEO of a nonprofit organization called "The Parable Institute" which includes his newly founded political and social think-tank organization called the "Council of Twelve".[12]He considers himself a Libertarian but will independently support any candidate or policy that supports the United States Constitution and upholds the rights of the people. His favorite U.S. Presidents are Dwight Eisenhower and Jimmy Carter and has personally been referred to as a Barry Goldwater Conservative.
"People probably think that I have a lot of money based on my experience", says Dodson, "but since I advise people for free, I keep a day job. I volunteer my efforts and concepts freely because I want what is best for the common people". He goes on to say that "maybe one day, someone will elect me and pay me for doing this type of thing".[13]
[edit] Music career
Dodson began to play the piano and keyboard at age 6. He began to record music with a heavy metal rock band in 1988 at the age of 12 and started a hip-hop band in 1990. From 1993-1995, Dodson and his rap group called "Underground Cartel" performed at local high schools and won various talent shows. They were promoted and recorded many demos. In 1995, he started another group called "The Unknown" and recorded many more demos. These demos reached the hands of Tupac Shakur and influenced him on at least two songs, including Only God Can Judge Me.[14] They recorded demos at studios in Dayton, Ohio with funk band Zapp's Roger Troutman. Dodson and Phoenix hip-hop artist Vocab Malone (John Mark Rieser) recorded tracks and produced songs for the hip-hop compilation "Midwest Funk, Volume One"[15] by the Columbus Mob and Ratti Records. Dodson and Rieser produced beats for Ratti Records and the Columbus Mob but didn't prefer the messages in the music, so they began making Spiritually minded hip-hop. After 1997, he recorded solo projects and other demos until 2000, when he obtained better recording equipment.[16]He then focused on recording political and spiritual funk music, dance music, and R&B. His 2003 brainchild the "New Funk Order" musician's community and worldwide collaboration project received an official letter of endorsement from former President Bill Clinton[17]. Jason has released the discs listed below, many of which have charted #1 on various internet charts. His highest popular charts position was his 2007 compilation track titled "Cosmopolitan Lover" with the electrofunk band "Bumper" in The Netherlands, reaching #41 on the international JunoUK Electro-House singles chart.[citation needed]
[edit] Discography
- The New Egypt Crusade, 2001
- The Mysterion of Love, 2001
- The Test, 2001
- No Color, 2002
- Realeyes, 2002
- Sounds From the Radical Middle, 2003
- Dogstar, 2003
- Thessalonica, 2004
- The New Constitution, 2004
- X, (Projected release, January 2008)
[edit] Releases under other names or recordings on compilation CDs
- Hairy White Ass- CaCa, 2000
- Flashpointe- Love Is, 2003
- Flashpointe- 2020, 2003
- New Funk Order, Project 1- 2003
- Flashpointe- 7 Days, 2004
- New Funk Order, Project 3- 2005
- Flashpointe and Bumper- Cosmopolitan Lover, 2005
- Zeta- First Light, 2006
- Spooky Action Heroes- Drive Me, 2006
- Bumper (Featuring Flashpointe) - Cosmopolitan Lover, 2007 (2020 Vision Records)
[edit] External links
- Parable Institute Website
- The Council of Twelve Libertarian Think-Tank Website
- The New Funk Order
- Jason Dodson on Myspace
- Dodson's Band "Zeta 7"
- Jason Dodson Solo Projects
[edit] References
- ^ The Parable Institute
- ^ ::: History of Funk :::
- ^ The Phylaxis Society, The Primary Prince Hall Masonic Research Organization http://www.thephylaxis.org
- ^ Southern Illinois For Ron Paul 2008
- ^ John Locke Foundation
- ^ [1]This reference is from the archives of a 2003 Southern Illinoisan newspaper article that officially documents the charts positions. You must purchace an archive pass to view the whole article.
- ^ 2020Vision - Cosmopolitan Lover by Bumper listen and buy online
- ^ Illinois One Multimedia interview, May 2006
- ^ Illinois One Multimedia interview, May 2006
- ^ RootsWeb's WorldConnect Project: Dodson-Abdon-Bush-Walker
- ^ The Southern Illinois Weekly Review, September 2002
- ^ http://www.counciloftwelve.org
- ^ Quoted from interview with Robert Sanchez of Illinois One Multimedia, July 7th, 2007
- ^ Alcotraz (Jason Dodson) is referenced in the liner notes on 2Pac's "All Eyez On Me" album as an influence on the song
- ^ Midwest Funk Soundtrack Volume 1 by Columbus Mob on Napster — Play and download music by Columbus Mob without paying per song
- ^ From Carbondale's Nightlife Magazine interview, October 2005
- ^ News:
