As a Performer I've won many things - a living for my family, blessings through charity work and donating my shows, smiles from friends and new faces, standing ovations the world over from the owners of companies, celebrities, leaders, and those unsung heroes that walk among us giving their all in every day jobs that make our planet function.  And after 10 years of performing full-time I have never been nominated or even won any kind of award as a performer.  

Today I just found out that Best of State 2010 has awarded me the Specialty Act for this year. I am honored, thrilled , and grateful.  As I will be unable to attend the ceremonies due to a performance that evening I need to thank the many people that have influenced me along the way - you know who you are!  There have been many.   5 in particular stand out and must be recognized: 

1. Coach Tony Ingle - the first person to make me believe I could make a living as a performer and inspiring me to try.  "I love you more than you love me".  Thank you Coach.  

2. Chris Poulos - the man that took me from a kid with a dream performing Donald Duck impressions in his living room to doing halftime shows at the Huntsman Center, charity events for Alzheimers, and my first paid gigs.  "Two people can do anything if one of them's God" he always says, and it's true.  Chris remains a mentor and hero of mine to this day.  

3. My Dear Father, John Hewlett - for opening doors that never could have been without his help in the corporate world and with "Legends in Concert", for believing I could do anything as a performer and creating an environment in our home that made it possible to let my inhibitions go crazy, and for giving me the right books in my youth that taught me "The Secret" to success long before it came out.  

4. My Sweet Mother, Marsha Hewlett - for embracing me the day I came home from my first day of school crying that I was the weird kid and encouraging me to be different.  For her love and support of all my crazy dreams, even listening to me figure out the piano with Billy Joel's "Piano Man" on repeat for 3 straight years.  You are incredible my Mom! 

5. My Beautiful Wife, Tami Hewlett - for taking a chance on a guy without a job or direction, simply an unrealistic vision of what could be, that I might make a living for us someday AND live in Utah.  For supporting us financially during the first few years while I worked on Alvin & The Chipmunks,  figured out the guitar, created Butthead Bartholomew, my Speaking career, and put the act together.  For continuing to be my Dream Girl through all of this and my inspiration for improving daily.  

I am honored by this.  Thank you Best of State and especially the State of Utah for embracing me in my homeland I love.  What a blessing the Lord has given me to be able to do something so unique, that I LOVE, and hope to continue to do the rest of my days.  

~ Jason Hewlett

Testing out how to properly load images on my blog.

My friends, a momentous occasion for me has arrived.  I never thought in my whole life I'd have songs that I wrote, recorded in my own voice, on iTunes but I am now in the catalogue.  For me this is a great day and I am very excited.  

Please visit iTunes, type in my name, and download the first available version of my new single, "Travelin' Man", the song I open my shows with.  If you don't have iTunes click here.  

Friday and Saturday upcoming I am performing to SOLD-OUT audiences at The Desert Star and hope to see you there.  I am grateful you support my career and quirky imagination, the work of a lifetime in an hour and a half experience.  Thank you for letting me entertain you any way I know how and I promise to continue with my best efforts to give you something to think about, laugh about, and remember for a long time.  

I find myself being more grateful these days.  

I've always considered myself a person that feels much gratitude but when so many people come together to make wonderful things happen it makes me find a new level of grateful.  

Last Wednesday my fellow NSA Speakers of the Mountain West Chapter in Utah helped raise over $5,000 for the BSA Boy Scouts of America.  On Friday I teamed with the Haiti relief effort group, IASK International Aid Serving Kids, and APX Alarm to raise over $4,000.  To see people that can't afford to come to a fund raiser due to the economy showing up on a cold night to support these efforts makes me so happy.  

I appreciate the love you show me, the support you show me, the way you lift the world as you go along.  I'm grateful you might take time out of your schedule and money out of your pocket to come see me perform.  I am even more grateful when it is for a worthy cause that is greater than all of us but only possible WITH all of us.  

Thank you again, from a Grateful performer.  

~ jason

Hello Friends~

I have been asked by numerous organizations to perform Haiti Relief Fund Raisers in the past few weeks, this is the one I felt was most worthy as all funds are going toward the cause.  

The Show is held at the APX Alarm building in Provo, UT on Friday, March 19, 2010 at 7 PM, tickets are $15 and available HERE

I receive between 6-10 requests per week for donations of my show for different events in Utah alone, not including the rest of the Country.  I hope you will find this a worthy cause, as I have, even if you've already donated to these efforts elsewhere please come and enjoy a great night of laughs and family entertainment as a Thank You for your support!  

God Bless You~ 

jason hewlett

February was BUSY!  I had shows in AZ and Las Vegas in the first week of the month, re-wrote my ENTIRE Show for a very unique request the 2nd week (a show that will never be seen again, although I have implemented parts of it into my current show), then a FUN SOLD-OUT event at Desert Star in SLC, UT the next week where I tried out 20 NEW Impressions to rave reviews! 

Gnarls Barkley 

MIKA 

Blink-182

Owl City

Josh Groban singing Rap

Simon & Garfunkel

The Supremes

The 4 Tops

Lou Rawls

The Kingsmen

James Taylor

Stephen Still

CSNY

Snow ("Informer")

Elvis 

...and Many More! 

March has me running all over, including an exciting trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, then a show in Los Angeles, and fill in the blanks with corporate dates in Utah.  

March started out with one of the most rare of opportunities in my career ~ I had the privelege of performing at a Bar Mitzvah for a friend's son.  I figured it would be like most little private parties; kind of cute, kind of pathetic set-up, but my goodness was I surprised to show up and find a world-class sound system, stage, 3 big screens, lighting galore, and about the nicest set up I've seen for an event outside of a corporate event with a million dollar budget.  This family went all out and it was awesome.  I just love when events are done right, done well, and turn out beautifully.  So congrats to my new buddy, Evan Welsh, on his special day! 

It's a wonderful time to be an Entertainer, I look forward to entertaining you and your friends at your next event!  

Ahhh, the sound of a Standing Ovation after a Show is music to my ears after an hour of giving my best performance with literally thousands of hours of practice, preparation, and years of creation leading up to that one moment!  (Click HERE to watch my New Promo)

Yes, one hour's work took me almost 25 years to create.  So it's always a bittersweet thing when you receive the standing ovation and everyone is thrilled but then the inevitable questions begin, "Hey, why don't you do....(fill in the Blank) Elvis, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, The Teletubbies (yes that's a real request), Cyndi Lauper, Britney Spears..."

The most painful part is when people ask me why I don't do impressions I just did in the show.  Me: "Did you have a good time?" Audience Member: "Oh yeah, it was great, but why didn't you do some of my favorites, like sing as Michael Jackson, or play "Piano Man" by Billy Joel?  That would be really cool if you put those in because it seems like you could do both".  I don't have the heart to tell them I did both and wonder if I'm in a time-warp or if they are meaning to insult me... It would be like me asking them if they were really standing in front of me at that moment or if it is just their annoying brother.  Actually worse than that is when they say, "But I loved your impression of Neil Diamond (whom I don't do)" and I just stand there and say, "Well, I'm glad you enjoyed...whatever show you just saw". 

This week has been a busy one, I haven't stopped working, traveling, eating beef and cheese sticks from vending machines in motels because it's the healthiest choice.  All the while I'm coming up with new material.  It's tough to know what to add, when, what to take out, trying out new material in front of a high paying client's audience doesn't seem fair but sometimes I'll try it out if I'm feeling confident (like the Journey parody I added last year that has turned into one of the favorites WATCH here).

Right now I am working feverishly on Beach Boys, James Taylor, more Motown such as the Supremes, Four Tops, as well as today's hits by Gnarls Barkley, Owl City, and others.  I don't know if I can even pull these voices off, but I'm working at it.  The most requested is Elvis, I have a whole thing worked up with his cousin Pelvis Resley and am not sure when or where I should debut it.  So keep an eye out, you will see more from me, it just takes a while when you run the whole Show as well as every aspect of the business as well.   But I love the creative process, drives me crazy and keeps me polished.  Now if only I can convince that audience member that I already did his favorite impression.

Happy New Year friends!  I hope 2010 is treating you well and is better than that year we just finished!  

For whatever reason I thought things would slow down in January but luckily for me they have not.  JHE has been inundated with gig requests worldwide, including a gig in Cabo San Lucas that will be my first gig in that beautiful part of the world for March.  2010 is booking up fast, I already have a few dates booked for December and at least one gig booked every month of this year so far!  What a blessing! 

I am in Helena, MT this week, I perform for their 120th Annual Banquet tonight as a part of a new experiment involving Chambers of Commerce and changing things up for their annual shindigs...no more keynote speakers, now it's about the fun show for the public and these things are awesome!  If you want me to come to your town and do this please let us know.  We expect over 1,000 people and at $20 a ticket for the show or $65 per ticket for dinner and show, that makes for a pretty great night for the Chamber's fundraising efforts! 

I hope to see you at the next show, please follow me on my Social Networks like Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube where I always update where I will be next.  New Shows are being posted for the public to attend as you read, including my return to the beautiful Desert Star Theatre in SLC, UT in Feb and in the works are some shows there in April as well.  So please come out!  You are the BEST, thank you for your support and keep laughing til it hurts! 

I'm in the middle of my craziest time of the year, running from venue to venue in my home State of Utah where I am performing for Holiday parties galore!  It has been very fun with most of the companies, a couple were a bit stale but that's just what you get on cold wintery nights, but all in all it's been incredibly fun, and so far I've received standing ovations at all but one. 

Here is my NEW Happy Holidays video - please click here and Rate, Comment, and Share with your friends to spread the joy and laughter of this unedited video by yours truly. 

Also, enjoy my 2010 NEW Promo Video and let me know what you think - it's a quick 4.5 minutes compared to the old 8 minute one from 2007.  

People ask me how I stay healthy during this time of year when I'm performing multiple times a day sometimes, as well as keeping my throat and voice from giving out on me.  It's simple, I eat a strict diet of chocolate and candy canes topped with In-N-Out burgers Animal Style after every show :) Actually, this is my healthiest time of the year, as it is so busy I have to pack food with me, veggies, fruits, only drink water, etc.  It's a fun time and I'm grateful to be so busy.  

2010 is coming up fast, the companies are calling for their events and bookings are steady.  We have also received much interest in Public Events which will be posted on the Events page of the site as they come along.  I look forward to seeing you at the next event and entertaining you and your friends!  

Happy Holidays & Merry Christmas!

This year, 2009, will go down as one of those years that I can look at right now and say this year changed my whole life!  Outside of the struggles we experienced during the "downturn/recession/scary-time" during the first part of this year it pales in comparison to the reality check of LIFE that knocked me into a new dimension in my thinking this calendar season & for the remainder of my life. 

"Change can be Good..."

Friends:
If you are a guy you have a good amount of associates, a bunch of pals, and a smaller circle of people you call Friends.  My circle of Best Friends is so small people wonder if I have any friends at all sometimes... but it's a rare thing to bring someone into that Best Friends circle. For women it's a whole different thing, NO attempt to explain their friend circles!

Heroes:
As a boy you have Heroes, usually your Dad, Grandpa, Brothers, sometimes Athletes, Church Leaders, a Coach, Teacher, maybe a great Scout Master or cool Neighbor.  When I first saw a guy named Danny Gans perform in Las Vegas in August 2000 my whole life changed in an instant - my NEW Hero - the Standard to which I hoped to become as a Performer.  Obviously my dream never materialized because Gans was the Greatest Performer I've ever seen LIVE, and no one will be able to impersonate him.  I never met the man, but I idolized his incredible gifts turned to strengths through hard work and the way he lived his good life.   Danny Gans, along with others I never met but tried to emulate (Michael Jackson as a Performer) passed away in 2009 and it has been a pain to my soul.  

My Cousin Kyle: 3 months ago my dear cousin, in perfect health and vibrant life, Kyle Redford, fell and hit his head skateboarding and died instantly.  In the prime of his young life it was a shock to us all.  I had the privilege of sharing special experiences with this young man and a very close bond of friendship.  He played his guitar and wrote music in his room, while I was 2,500 miles away doing the same on my piano.  We were blood.  He had that light that lights up every room and every memory he entered.  Such a tragic passing, yet in his hour of ending he changed many lives by doing a simple thing: He put YES on his license for Organ Donation.  He gave sight to the blind, a heart to the dying, organs and blood and perfect everything to those in need...throughout the country!  He changed lives while he was here and changed more in death by giving LIFE! What a gift my cousin Kyle is as well as being one of my Heroes!

My Best Friend Paul:

Paul Berg was not the first friend I had in his family...it was his incredible wife, Tiffany.  She is amazing.  Here is a woman that can do, and has done, pretty much everything!  We met at an Alzheimer's Association charity event and clicked right away.  Next thing I know she and I are writing my book, "Signature Moves" together and she made a major contribution to my career with her outstanding work.   And THEN I met Paul...

"The Gift of Change"

Paul changed my whole life.  I don't know what else to say, except for the fact that I considered but 2 people my best friends through my whole life to that point, 2 guys I'd grown up with and were friends for life, and Paul somehow weaseled his way into that impenetrable circle in a very short amount of time.  I think about 50 different people considered Paul their best friend, too, and that's understandable.  The guy just made a difference everywhere he went.  His sense of humor, his attitude and perspective, this Peace he had with God, even with this curse of cancer ravaging his body...who could be so positive?  Paul was always positive, amidst the greatest of affliction. 

Paul pushed me to write better songs, helped me to find my own voice, made me laugh when I should have been his shoulder to cry on.  We went on "man dates", out to listen to unknown musicians, to hear his band play in scary bars in cities named after ancient prophets (Lehi), and caused a raucous wherever we went with our quips and comedy.  The greatest show I've ever performed was the time he and I shared the stage together - what an honor - he came out and ended my set and I couldn't have asked for that show to end any other way.  Sick, energy depleted, time ticking away, there he was - laughing, smiling, joking, loving his family, giving his all - while building a 1965 Shelby Cobra from scratch as a hobby and tuning pianos to support his family, all self taught!  

He wrote a few songs before he passed into the next life.  Here is something that might change your perspective as it's changed mine.  Tumors pressing into his vocal chords the man made one of the great songs ever written on his death bed, and his legacy and memory lives on in all of us.   Tonight I watched a video of Paul with his wife and some friends as we sat and laughed, cried, and shook our heads at the answers to life's questions this great man so candidly and philosophically answered with the sun possibly not rising for him the following day... Yes, Paul is my Hero. 

2009 has made me change a lot of things.  I live my life fuller, I feel relationships deeper, I hug my children tighter.  It has been a sad and tough year, one that has seen more tears from these eyes than ever before shed, but that's not a bad thing.  Change is Good, Change is a Gift. I believe that and hope you do too.  But Change must start within us, in our own hearts, and to close I quote the saint of a man himself, Ghandi: 

"We must be the change we wish to see in the world"

Peace Be Unto You My Dear Friends~ 

jason