Singer-songwriter Jake Gunter pours emotions born from authentic experience into Ghost, his debut 5-song EP. Praised by the media for his “smooth, timeless” style and “deft lyrical hand,” Gunter blends the essence of Americana and indie rock with folk and country sounds for a soulful style that’s all his own.
Raised in Zachary, Louisiana, Gunter received his first guitar for Christmas at age 8 and fell in love with bluegrass and banjo after being inspired by musician Brian Sims. “I’ll never forget the lightning that crashed through my existence,” Gunter recalls. “I was a boy truly in love.”
Early songwriting efforts centered on Gunter’s troubled childhood, and when he later served in the U.S. Coast Guard, his songs inspired by Coast Guard life became popular among fellow servicemen. Back in civilian life, Gunter co-founded the successful Baton Rouge band Common Ground in 2007 and later moved to Knoxville to immerse himself in the world of bluegrass as a member of The New Good Old Boys.
Upon returning to Baton Rouge, Gunter rose above challenges including substance abuse and abusive relationships to become a popular solo artist, thanks to his talents as a vocalist and on instruments including mandolin, upright bass, banjo and dobro. With wide-ranging influences including James Taylor, Alison Krauss & Union Station, and Sam Beam, he knew it was time to write an album based on honesty and authenticity, and in July 2018, he recorded Ghost at Cloverland House Studios in Nashville. The album, heralded as a “comfort blanket for heartbroken folks everywhere,” was released online in its entirety in December 2018, and songs from the EP have been featured on multiple Spotify playlists and music blogs.
Gunter is currently the lead singer of Nashville country band Big 50.