| Jason Mraz Biography | | | | At the same time, Mraz met drummer Toca Rivera |
| Singer/songwriter Jason Mraz hails from | | | | and the two began performing together ¡ª Mraz on |
| Mechanicsville, VA, where he grew up as a fan of the | | | | acoustic guitar, Rivera on djembe ¡ª honing a live |
| Dave Matthews Band and local roots musicians the | | | | show that featured as much comedic banter between |
| Agents of Good Roots. But it was Mraz's interest and | | | | the two as music. |
| participation in musical theater that was his first | | | | Over the next two years, Mraz's following grew |
| introduction to music. Mraz moved to New York | | | | outside of San Diego to Los Angeles, garnering the |
| following high school to attend the American Musical | | | | attention of record labels. In early 2002, Mraz signed to |
| and Dramatic Academy but dropped out a year later | | | | Elektra Records and returned to Virginia to write and |
| when he took up the guitar and began to focus on | | | | record his debut album, working with producer John |
| songwriting. Nonetheless, Mraz's training as a vocalist | | | | Alag¨ªa (the Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer) |
| would show itself on his debut album which is marked | | | | and his high school heroes, the Agents of Good Roots, |
| by the pure clarity and range of his vocals. | | | | as his backing band. The resulting effort, Waiting for |
| After busking around New York, Mraz eventually | | | | My Rocket to Come, was released in November of |
| returned to Virginia; but, in 1999, he ultimately made his | | | | 2002. The album blends Mraz's early influences and |
| way West, settling in San Diego, CA, known for its | | | | coming-of-age by combining country and roots rock |
| coffeehouse scene and support of singer/songwriters, | | | | with the poeticism of coffeehouse folk, elements of |
| most notably Jewel. Mraz began playing local shops | | | | jazz, and the rhythmic charge of hip-hop. |
| and landed a weekly slot at local hot-spot Java Joe's. | | | | |