JB Strauss ’10 has never followed a traditional path, but that is part of what has made his journey as a singer-songwriter so rewarding.

After graduating from Stratford, JB attended Birmingham-Southern College, where he planned to play football. An injury ended his football career, and he eventually began playing cover songs in local bars. He quickly realized that music was something he had a real talent and passion for.

His first time singing in front of a crowd actually came years earlier during a Stratford talent show.

After college, JB followed in the footsteps of several family members and attended Mercer University’s Walter F. George School of Law. While he enjoyed law school, he found himself spending more and more time writing songs. He formed a band with several law school friends and began to believe that music could become more than just a hobby.

After graduating from law school, JB moved to Nashville without knowing anyone in the music industry. He played writers’ rounds, met other artists and industry professionals, and continued working on his craft. Within three years, he had a songwriting cut with Travis Tritt on “Ghost Town Nation” and was opening shows for bands such as Blackberry Smoke and The Steel Woods.

“That was when it really clicked that I could do this,” JB said.

Life as an independent artist does not come with a set schedule. JB has learned that success requires discipline, consistency, and the ability to create his own structure. He tries to treat songwriting like a regular job instead of waiting for inspiration to strike.

The music industry has also changed greatly with the growth of social media. Artists are now expected to be songwriters, performers, producers, and content creators. JB admits that learning how to use platforms such as YouTube and TikTok has been one of his biggest challenges, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic.

While he considers himself an old-school artist, JB continues to adapt to an evolving industry while staying true to the kind of music he wants to make.

What he enjoys most is still the music itself. He loves performing original songs for people who appreciate them and spending time in the studio creating a sound that is his own. One of his favorite places to record is Capricorn Sound Studios in downtown Macon.

JB credits his family with giving him the confidence and support to continue pursuing music. His mother, Jeanie Mays, and grandmother, Eileen Jackson, have believed in him from the beginning, along with the rest of his family.

His 5-year-old daughter, Savannah, is also a big reason he continues chasing the dream.

“She loves music, and I want to show her that doing what you are meant to do is worth pursuing,” JB said.

JB also believes his time at Stratford played an important role in shaping who he is today. His stepfather, longtime Stratford coach Walt Mays, along with coaches such as Coach Collins, Coach Bailey, Cater Pierce, Coach Farriba, Miles Pippin, and Ed Smith, taught him the importance of hard work, character, and toughness.

He also remembers the influence of teachers including Dr. Katz, Mrs. Flemming, Mr. Lawson, Mr. Ethridge, Mrs. Ferrari, and many others.

“The people make an institution, and there was no greater example of that than the Stratford that I knew growing up,” JB said. “When I write a song, every pen stroke goes back to the way I was taught to think curiously and without boundary. It’s inseparable from what I do.”

For young musicians, JB shares advice he once heard from legendary songwriter John Prine: Make sure you like what you are writing because you may have to sing it for the rest of your life.

He also encourages artists to be themselves.

“Nobody can write or sing like you do,” he said. “Chase the real you in your music relentlessly. At the end of that journey, you’ll have a body of work that nobody can replicate. It’s yours, and it’s honest.”