Jesse Jervis of Bellefontaine is featured on NBC’s America’s Got Talent audition episode Tuesday, which airs at 8 p.m. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
Several years of playing gigs in Nashville and spending the last year performing around the U.S. with country music singer-songwriter Kylie Frey has paid off in a very rewarding way for local bass player Jesse Jervis, who appears in tonight’s America’s Got Talent audition episode accompanying Frey on the stage.
Local viewers can tune in at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 1, to the NBC hit show, to hear Frey sing the heartfelt, “Horses in Heaven,” a tribute to her grandfather, who taught her the rodeo ropes and many other valuable life lessons.
America’s Got Talent released a clip of Frey’s audition over the weekend, just ahead of the show, but viewers will have to to watch the episode to find out the judges’ reactions and to learn if Frey and her fellow musicians, including Bellefontaine resident Jervis, will be advancing to the next episodes this season, competing against contestants of all ages for a $1 million prize.
“She is great, a real deal cowgirl, born and raised in Louisiana,” Jervis said of Frey. “She has really been building the momentum this past year, and putting in the time to get to bigger and bigger stages.”
A 2009 Bellefontaine High School graduate who also works locally as a fourth generation family member of Neer’s Sand & Gravel, Jervis said he has spent the last year performing with Frey, whom he met through his time spent in Nashville.
They have performed in locations across the country, from California to Washington, Colorado, Nevada, and in Texas, “where they take their country music very seriously,” Jervis noted. Frey’s songs have garnered seven number ones on the country music charts.
“Kylie has kept me very busy. I’ve only missed three shows,” said Jervis, who is now taking some time at home to spend with his family. He and his wife, Jennifer, just welcomed their fourth child, a baby boy named Jesse Jr., on Friday, to their family of three daughters.
Not too long ago, Jervis said he received a phone call from Frey, informing him that they had been invited to try out for America’s Got Talent.
“That was one of the best phone calls I’ve received. My immediate response was, ‘Of course I want to do that,’” he said.
Participating in the filming of America’s Got Talent in Los Angeles was rather surreal, the city resident related.
“It was such a cool experience. You’re there in front of those judges who you’re so familiar with,” he said of the judges, Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel and Sofia Vergara and host Terry Crew for the 18th season of the show.
Jervis grew up playing music alongside his brother, Billy, “playing just about any instrument” in his younger years. However, when Billy was a senior at Bellefontaine High School, the soccer star and musician tragically passed away in 2007 as a result of a car crash. Because of those difficult circumstances, Jervis said he needed to take a break from music for awhile.
During the last three years, Jervis started playing gigs in Nashville, and often stretching himself to get there at a last-minute opportunity.
“I’d head down for a late night show at 11 p.m., and then I’d head back home,” he said.
While he has now performed nationally and on the America’s Got Talent stage, Jervis said there is a special concert he is especially looking forward to — a Nov. 16 show just announced in the new season line-up at the Holland Theatre, where he will perform with Kylie Frey.
“I’m very excited for the Holland Theatre show, where a lot of my family and friends will be able to join us to see what we’ve been up to for the past year. We’re hoping to really pack out the house, with the recent America’s Got Talent exposure. It’s going to be so special to me.”
Jervis said his wife and high school sweetheart, Jennifer, deserves a lot of the credit for all that he’s been able to accomplish in the music industry.
“I’m so blessed to have my wonderful wife. She has been so supportive in holding down the fort at home.”
While the family is enjoying getting to know their new addition, Jesse Jr., there’s likely to be some music interspersed during their time together in the upcoming weeks as well.
“Some of my very favorite gigs are at home with my three girls,” Jervis said of Zoe, Dori, and Tilly, with Jesse Jr. likely to be added to the mix in the not-to-distant future.
Jesse Jervis, second from the right, performs on the bass guitar on the stage of NBC’s America’s Got Talent, in a pre-released clip for the episode that airs Tuesday night. (SCREENSHOT VIA AMERICA’S GOT TALENT FACEBOOK)