The Champ Jaxon Band

Champ Jaxon is a twelve year-old aspiring blues-rock musician based out of Southwest Florida. Champ was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts in 2010 and his family relocated back to their hometown in Florida in 2013 when he was three years old.

Champ has performed over 120 gigs with The Champ Jaxon Band in nine different states. He first performed on Music Row in Nashville in 2021 when he was just ten years old and Beale Street in Memphis a year later, representing the Southwest Florida Blues Society at the International Blues Challenge. He appeared on “The Ellen Show” with guest host Brad Paisley in December of 2021 and made his acting debut on NBC’s “Ordinary Joe” a month later. Champ also performed at the 2022 Young Artist Academy Awards in Hollywood, California, where he took home the “Outstanding Instrumentalist” honors.

In May of 2021, a video of Champ performing The Marshall Tucker Band’s “Can’t You See” went viral and was seen by the band, which led to them inviting Champ to a show and calling him up to perform that song with them. Two months later, they asked him to fill in on lead guitar for an entire set in Birmingham, AL, opening for the band Alabama at Oak Mountain Ampitheatre.

Champ has also been called up to play alongside The Allman Betts Band, Eric Gales, Chris Andersen (Outlaws), Scott Sharrard (Gregg Allman Band, Little Feat), Damon Fowler, and Frank Bang, among others. Additionally, The Champ Jaxon Band has been a supporting act on bills that included Gov’t Mule, Blackberry Smoke, Old Crow Medicine Show, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, and more.

The Champ Jaxon Band’s debut album, “The Grove”, was released in December 2021 and includes six original songs and one cover. The album was recorded at Farmadelica Sound in Bokeelia, FL and includes two songs that have music videos. In addition to a organically grown following at live shows, Champ’s social media pages (Facebook, Instagram, Youtube) have over 85,000 combined followers and millions of views.

Champ’s signature guitar is a 1959 Les Paul Special he bought at Carter’s Vintage in Nashville. He also has a Gibson Flying V and Gibson SG, along with a Brad Paisley signature Telecaster gifted by Mr. Paisley himself on “The Ellen Show”, where they jammed together to end the episode. Champ also plays two custom-built Blind Armadillo guitars, Red Bear & Apollo, handmade for him locally in Venice, FL, by luthier Victor McGuire. Regardless of the guitar he decides to pick up, he plays them all through his Harry Joyce Custom 30W amplifier and speaker cabinet.

Champ is an honor student and citizen, having performed at various local charity events, including benefits for the community free health clinic and Hurricane Ian recovery. He also donated his earnings (along with a venue match) from a show last summer to his school’s music program, which resulted in $3,500 being spent on new recording equipment for the students to enjoy. Champ wanted the funds to go to something besides just instruments so that students who may not be musically inclined could be included.

The Champ Jaxon Band also includes Champ’s father, Nate Winkler, (manager/rhythm guitar), Brent Adam (drums), and Nick Rosado (bass). Champ has been a student at The Rock Box Music School & Stage in North Port, FL, since 2019 and has also studied under Scott Sharrard. When he’s not performing, Champ is a normal kid who enjoys video games, Legos, Star Wars and Marvel movies, and spending time outdoors.