LDS Musician Struggles to Balance Road with Home (Road-Weary Jackman Is Happy to Be Home)
Salt Lake Tribune City Lights 9Dec99 A2
By Dan Nailen: Salt Lake Tribune

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH -- LDS folk musician Shane Jackman has figured a way to return to Utah. Jackman, 35, has put a lot into his career, traveling a half-million touring miles and playing more than 1,000 concerts. Now, Highway Records, a unit of LDS record company Excel Entertainment.

After graduating from Brighton High School, Jackman tried hard to become a serious professional singer/songwriter. He wrote a song a day, read constantly and played shows around town. But opportunities to play were few and Jackman started traveling to shows like the Kerrville Folk Festival in Texas. There someone suggested that Jackman move to the East Coast. Jackman soon agreed, "I found it was pretty difficult in Salt Lake City, and Boston is kind of a hub for the singer/songwriter," Jackman said.

With his wife and newborn daughter, Jackman moved to Boston where his music career picked up over time. Jackman's sound proved more popular in the East than in Utah, and he was soon playing shows around New England.

Jackman then released two albums on the now-defunct Bonneville Communications label, Bonneville Worldwide Entertainment, "Rhythm of the Land" and "Looking West." On tour, Jackman played shows with acts like Peter, Paul and Mary, The Mavericks and Shawn Colvin.

But Jackman ended up on the road more and more, playing more than 200 days each year during 1997 and 1998. And Bonneville pressured him to continue, looking for another 200 days this year. "I cut my hair in open rebellion." But then Bonneville closed down the label and Jackman found himself free.

Several other labels expressed interest, but Jackman found a match in Highway Records because he was able to return to Utah. Jackman tours at his own pace with the new label, and Highway will soon re-release his "Rhythm of the Land." He is also recording a new album for release early next year.

He is very pleased with the change, calling it "a perfect solution" to his concerns about mixing family life and a music career. "I wanted to be in the West. That's just home," said Jackman. "I love the East, but I love it as a place to visit."