Centerville graduate shares story behind gun-violence song he performed on ‘Songland’

Credit: NBC

Credit: NBC

A Centerville High School graduate is in the spotlight this week for two big reasons.

Chris Jobe, now a Los Angeles resident, was recently featured in a Billboard magazine article. The singer-songwriter also appeared on NBC’s “Songland” last week.

“Songland” has undiscovered songwriters pitch their original creations to top recording artists and a panel of music producers. Featured guests on the show include the Jonas Brothers, Charlie Puth, Meghan Trainor, will.i.am, OneRepublic, Kelsea Ballerini, Macklemore, Aloe Blacc, Old Dominion, Leona Lewis and Springfield native John Legend.

>> Here’s what happened at John Legend’s special show at Blind Bob’s

During Wednesday’s episode, Jobe pitched to Macklemore his original song “It Could’ve Been You,” an anti-gun violence ballad.

The song wasn’t about Dayton’s shooting. This season was actually filmed months ago. Perhaps eerily timed, the episode aired just a little over a week after the Dayton shooting.

The song written by Jobe and friend Pink Slip (Kyle Buckley) was inspired by a mass shooting in Nashville at a Waffle House over a year ago, he said in a phone interview after the show aired.

The sister of one of Jobe’s friends was killed in that mass shooting, and he frequented that same Waffle House on Sunday nights following volleyball games.

“I couldn’t help thinking it could have been me, my family or any of my friends,” he said.

The song has an even deeper meaning now, he said.

“It literally is happening in my hometown, 15 minutes from where I grew up,” Jobe said. “I used to go to Ned Peppers. I have friends who go there. I was really lucky I did not lose anyone that day.”

The song ultimately was not chosen by Macklemore, but Jobe said the response to the song has been incredible.

Songland’s Shane McAnally tweeted about it.

“For people to heal, people have to come together,” he said.

The son of Joe Jobe and Valerie Jobe, Chris Jobe is a former member of Centerville High School’s contemporary a cappella group Forte.

In a Billboard magazine piece posted to the Internet Thursday, Aug. 8, Jobe received high praise for his new song “Make It All Better,” featuring Abigail Rose. The song is about addiction.

According to Billboard: The concept (from the song) was taken from real life, as he and producer/co-director Olivia Timms have both dealt with addiction in their families. The couple put the concept of the video together during a drive from Nashville to Dayton.

>> John Legend makes surprise visit to Oregon District to show support in aftermath of shooting

** ORIGINAL REPORT: Aug. 14, 2019: Centerville grad to appear on NBC singing show tonight

The hits keep coming for a Centerville High School graduate.

Chris Jobe was recently featured in a Billboard magazine article.

The Nashville-based singer-songwriter will appear on NBC’s “Songland” at 9 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 14.

>> A Centerville grad is SICK of the internet and more than 1 million people have watched his rant 

“I'm so excited for you guys to hear a very REAL original as I share it with the world,” Jobe says on his Facebook fan page.

“Songland” has undiscovered songwriters pitch their original creations to top recording artists and a panel of music producers.

Featured guests on the show include the Jonas BrothersCharlie Puth, Meghan Trainor, will.i.amOneRepublicKelsea BalleriniMacklemoreAloe BlaccOld DominionLeona Lewis and Springfield native John Legend.

Legend was in Dayton Sunday to encourage support of the the Oregon District and its businesses in the wake of the mass shootings there in the early hours of Sunday, Aug. 4.

Credit: NBC

Credit: NBC

Legend and Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley also held a press conference on gun control.

>> WATCH: John Legend’s full performance at Blind Bob’s to honor Oregon District shooting victims

   

The son of Joe Jobe and Valerie Jobe, Chris Jobe is a former member of Centerville High School's contemporary a cappella group Forte.

In a Billboard magazine piece posted to the Internet Thursday, Aug. 8, Jobe received high praise for his new song "Make It All Better," featuring Abigail Rose.

The song is about addiction.

According to Billboard: 

The concept (from the song) was taken from real life, as he and producer/co-director Olivia Timms have both dealt with addiction in their families. The couple put the concept of the video together during a drive from Nashville to Dayton, Ohio.

About the Author