About Jason Stallworth
Metal Guitarist. Songwriter. Creator of Heavy and Melodic Stories.
I’m Jason Stallworth — a solo metal musician and songwriter. I create both instrumental metal and songs with blended vocal styles.
Over the years, I’ve released several solo albums, combining the intensity of metal with melody-driven songwriting, and I’ve been part of multiple metal projects (and plan to continue all of this — even into the next life!).
Most people find me through my YouTube channel or the Jason Stallworth Guitar Academy, but at the core, I’m a creator. Everything I teach — whether it’s a riff, solo, or full course — comes from the same place I write and record my own music. It also ties into my bigger theme of encouragement: inspiring others to become the best version of themselves and embrace their own unique style.
My Story (the short version… sort of)
Music has been with me for as long as I can remember, but everything truly started in 1989 when I first picked up a guitar…
Early Influences
I was inspired by this headbanging dude on the bass who was always happy, air-drumming with his Walkman headphones. One day, I built up enough courage to ask what he was listening to. He said “Metallica,” smiled, and went back to air-drumming.
With $20 from mowing lawns, I went out and bought two cassettes (you know, those ancient devices where the tape got stuck in the deck!): Metallica’s Puppets and Justice albums. Right after that, I heard Joe Satriani’s Flying in a Blue Dream. That combination alone had a tremendous influence on my playing.
I also got into bands like Queensrÿche, Scorpions, and all the hair bands of the day. Those early years laid the foundation for my style.
Evolving Influences
As the years went on, my influences broadened. I was drawn into melodic death metal bands like Arch Enemy and Amon Amarth, and the symphonic sounds of Nightwish, Delain, Sonata Arctica, and Evergrey.
Discovering these bands later really shaped my music and took my writing into new territories.
Let’s not forget the Tampa metal scene — I became good friends with the guys in Siren, Nasty Savage, Oblivion, and Must Not Kill, and several other local acts in my area.
(Apologies for all the bands I missed… if I named them all, we’d be here all day writing a book together — which honestly wouldn’t be a bad idea!)
Metal Meets Church
Funny thing is, if we rewind a bit, even though I was headfirst into metal, I also played in churches throughout my early years. It was crazy — practicing Master of Puppets, then going to play along with old gospel hymns.
I had an early mentor, Ronnie Goodman, a blues/jazz guitarist in church (not my style, but I loved hearing him play). He really broadened my skills — pushing me to learn the fretboard, play in unfriendly keys like A♭ and E♭, and adapt to dynamics where the guitar wasn’t always the focus. Those challenges shaped my style more than I realized at the time. RIP, Ronnie.
First Bands & Pensacola Days
I’m not going to spell out my entire history here, but my first “real band” was a group called Palin Genesia (“a new beginning” in Greek). This was the mid-90s, and we were kind of an alternative rock band with solos (I would never agree to join a band that didn’t want solos!).
We played some notable shows within those few years, but as with most bands, it was short-lived. Not long after, me and the band’s manager — and to this day, a close friend — Eddie Gray, formed our own band called The Guys. Another close friend, Tom Sherman, joined us right before our major show at Springfest ‘99 in Pensacola, FL (my hometown). We played mostly originals, which all turned out to be melodic rock, if I had to label it.
Moving to Tampa & Dark Times
The Guys was also short-lived. I had made many decisions that didn’t align with my dream… and yes, it was always the dream to get that phone call from a label. But the phone never rang — and that was 100% my fault. I never truly went all-in.
Sparing the details, I moved from Pensacola to Tampa, FL, in 2000. I was involved with a few groups here and there, and I had also found a worship team to play in.
No matter what was going on in my life, I knew I needed to be active and playing live music at some capacity. Whether in a rock or metal band, or in the church I was attending at the time, music (and the gym… more to come on that in a minute!) were the two things that kept me from going completely over the edge during several years of extremely dark times.
A New Beginning
In 2008, everything changed. I met my soulmate and wife, Candy. She pushed me to start a YouTube channel, which I did in 2010, and encouraged me to pursue my music fully.
In 2013, I released my first album, Apocalyptic Dreams. This was an instrumental metal album that later inspired the Heavy Metal Workout series. After that, I began recording vocals and collaborating with other musicians.
Where I Am Today
Fast forward to today — I’m constantly writing new music and lyrics, running my own guitar academy, building my YouTube channel, and playing live solo acoustic shows (mostly 80s covers) around our area.
I’m beyond grateful to be doing what I love and to have the support I do. (And yes, sometimes I even make my wife sing with me… lol!)
Metal, Guitar, and Muscle
Let’s step back into the time machine for a moment (remember Peabody and the Wayback Machine?). About a year before I picked up guitar, I started picking up weights.
Backdrop: I was a skinny kid with zero self-confidence and got picked on a lot. Growing up on movies with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone, I started lifting. What began as a means to an end soon turned into a passion.
Oh, and I also thought lifting weights would help me get chicks. Massive misconception!
I never took it as far as competitive bodybuilding or powerlifting, and it took years to gain any real size. I was never naturally big or strong. But I didn’t let that stop me. Instead, I pushed myself to keep growing and becoming a better version of myself.
That’s the same encouragement I share with you: be your own person. That version of your true self is a gift to the world.
All that said, lifting became hard-coded into my system. Like playing guitar, it’s something I’ll continue doing into the next life.
Metal and weights just flowed together — a perfect marriage. (Like PB&J on roids… forgive the horrifically cheesy pun! 🤘)
Because music and the gym have always been my foundation, I wrote my first book in 2017:
And just so you know: I’m not a proclaimed intellectual who uses fancy words. It’s an easy-to-read book — Think of me as a metal version of Lynyrd Skynyrd – I’m a Simple Man.
Why I Started a Guitar Academy
Over time, I realized one of the things I enjoy most is helping others build confidence in who they are — because I struggled so much with that myself. When I got on YouTube, I found that I could do that through guitar lessons and content.
I know what it’s like to feel stuck, to lack confidence, or to think you’re “not good enough.” (Guitar… and in life, in general!)
When I started sharing lessons and riffs on YouTube, I was blown away by the response. Guitarists told me how much they appreciated the way I explained things, how approachable my teaching style felt, and how my encouragement helped them break through barriers.
That feedback eventually led to requests for a full course — which pushed me to create my first program. From there, I knew I wanted a place where I could serve guitarists with focus and depth. That’s why I built the Jason Stallworth Guitar Academy.
My biggest thing isn’t trying to play or sound like someone else. Sure, techniques and speed are great, but perfection — even if it exists — is boring. My thing is helping you discover and bring out your own style. That’s what the world needs… your authentic self.
🎸 You don’t need to compare yourself to others. Your style is already within you. My job is to help you build and expand on that.
Back to the Music
At my core, I’m a songwriter. That’s what I love most — creating riffs, progressions, lyrics, and melodies. It runs deep, and for me, music isn’t something to hold in. It has to be poured out and shared.
Whenever possible, I recruit musicians to bring my original metal music to the stage as a band. I also play solo acoustic shows on the side — they keep me sharp, give me a different way to connect with people, and remind me that music, in any form, is about sharing energy.
At the end of the day, my music — just like my teaching — is about connection. Every riff, lyric, or melody is a chance to reach someone and have an impact.
🎧 If you’d like to hear what I’ve created, you can check out all of my albums and singles on my Music page.
Let’s Connect
If you’ve made it this far, thank you for taking the time to hear my story. I hope it’s inspired you in some way — whether to pick up your guitar, chase your own passion, or simply embrace being your true self.
👉 Got a question or want to reach out? Head over to my Contact page.
👉 Curious about the business behind all this? You can learn more about Uncle Jason Productions, LLC, the company I run everything through.