Meet Jonathan Sachar of Mt. Juliet

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jonathan Sachar.

Hi Jonathan, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born in Plano, Texas and my dad was a corporate attorney who oddly enough quit and became a preacher. He bought a bunch of property in Rosebud, Arkansas and started a church. It was honestly a great way to grow up, but it was super rural and most people in the church lived on the same property. I definitely lived a very sheltered life, but good. There’s no music in my family and honestly sports who is the main thing I was interested in. Just to help you understand how rural Rose Bud actually was my graduating class I think it was around 25 people. My music interest came very late in life when I was in late high school into college. I played drums for a little while, bass guitar, then moved to Guitar and started singing. I was enrolled at Arkansas State, but hardly attended 😂 I was definitely more interested in music. I learned quick and definitely on my own. You have to remember this was the mid 90s so no YouTube videos and definitely no professional lessons going on in rural Arkansas. I just had to spend thousands of hours sucking to learn. I eventually got a single gig at a place called midnight oil in Searcy Arkansas, where I would play for pastries, hot chocolate (I didn’t drink coffee and I still don’t) and tips. That was my first taste of earning money with just a talent. I work to mediocre jobs for years with zero interest while trying to play gigs. eventually my dad quit the church and became an attorney again and we all moved to Greenville, South Carolina. This is where music really begins for me.

I bought a sound system and started actually gigging. I played all over the upstate and up to 200 shows a year. This is where I really started to understand Music. There was something special to me about being green and learning through failure. This eventually led to me wanting to push to have more success and better options in music. So I sold all my music gear, a guitar and a dobro in order to pack up, move to Nashville and pretty much start from scratch. I don’t even think I understood back then how Ballsy of a move that actually was. Nashville was scary, but I started bands and had a lot of success. Eventually got signed with a guy I met from Alabama by Little entertainment company called Cornfed. Bob Titley, the Manager of Brooks & Dunn and Kathy Mattea was also trying to help us push in the right direction. We played some decent shows and traveled all over the country. I started multiple bands and did very well which eventually led me to playing for a girl that came off the show The Voice. We open for Kansas, Marshall Tucker band and played some really amazing shows around the US.
I have to say there is a lot more juicy details to the story. It’s just a lot to say in this little box. Lol

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Massive struggles…self doubt is a major one. Also, the guy that I was successful with in Nashville overdosed. He lived, but has had three heart surgeries before the age of 40 because of drugs… It completely disintegrated our career together… also back to the self-doubt thing… Nashville is the king of music so you don’t just move here with no music background or schooling and dominate lol I was always good on stage but had to learn how to chart, tab and structure music, the Nashville number system, after I moved here. While still trying to play gigs to make money.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I would definitely say my voice and stage appeal has always been my strong point… I don’t specialize in anything lol I play drums, bass and guitar, but I’m not necessarily a pro at any. I’ve had a long career. (25 years) probably due to my personality and voice.

A most proud of the people I’ve met along the way and the places I’ve been. I used to think Music was my island but now I realize that it’s the boat… it got me to all these places and the people I’ve met. That’s what I’m mainly proud of…my friends and the people.

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
that’s a hard one… You get older and you get jaded so you look at the industry way different. Nobody gets older and loves the direction of something. They’ve been a part of for 25 years. I just try my best not to be jaded and realize that maybe it’s time for somebody else to have their spotlight. And try to just be thankful for the career I’ve had and the places I’ve been.