Bolt is himself a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. He will speak to the WCHS student body earlier Friday at the schools’ annual Veterans Day program. He will talk about his concert later that evening, about his own songwriting and performing, encouraging students to “follow their instincts – to lean into them,” and to do whatever they choose in life to the best of their ability.

Jerod, a 2003 graduate of WCHS, was encouraged to do the concert by music teacher Patrick Schuttrow whom he recently visited when he was home for a 20-year class reunion. The singer says Schuttrow was a tremendous inspiration to him. “He had such an impact on my life. He taught me to “push through” challenges. During our visit I realized that within six hours he had transformed from teacher to friend.”

Like Bolt, Schuttrow (who also teaches history) has a passion for recognizing and honoring U.S. military veterans. Jerod’s hope for the concert is that “everyone in the room will join together to remember veterans – and understand that with our freedom in this country we can do this anywhere, anytime we want. Let’s let it mean something to celebrate veterans.”

Bolt is the son of Ron and Karen Link of Star City. He and his wife Kristen have a son, Riley, from his first marriage.

He acknowledges that growing up in “Pulaski County’s big farm community influenced his songwriting and music, as well as the music he learned in church. He remembers a happy childhood. He’s hard-pressed to say whether it was songwriting or performing that motivated him to pursue a musical career. Through songwriting he says he was fascinated by the” how and why” of lyrics coming together. “I picked up early on having something to say in music. I love speaking to audiences through my music.” He especially loves having someone tell him afterward, “I felt like you were talking to me.”

Jerod didn’t immediately attend college after high school. He first moved to DeMotte where he had family members and worked in agriculture management, including a stint at Fair Oaks Farms working in the dairy.

A few years later he studied fundamentals in writing at Joliet Junior College in Illinois. He jokes that he’s not really “using my college education today,” but of course, his songwriting skills belie that claim. He eventually moved to Chicago for a few years – something of a culture shock, he admits – but even so, he enjoyed his time there. It was in Chicago that he joined a Marines Reserves unit and gave some thought to pursuing a career in law enforcement.

But music was always a constant part of him wherever he lived, and with friends he performed country and Christian music at various venues and talent shows with good reviews.

Bolt credits his experience with the Marines for teaching him discipline. For any performance, he does much of the work in contracting with musicians and doing his own set-up. When possible, he often works with Mark Hoffman of Jubilee Sound in Winamac to organize his sound systems.

In 2017, Bolt says he picked up with his first music manager. A talent agency in Chicago contracted with him to perform music for a commercial. Continuing bookings gave him the confidence to turn his vision toward Nashville.

Jerod finds Nashville to be a “very supportive community,” even though he acknowledges competition is strong to make it in the music industry. He says “it’s about meeting the right people and networking – “if you put yourself in position for opportunity, it will come.”

Bolt feels he has had an easy entrance into Nashville, largely because “I believe in myself. And the people embrace you – they help you build on strengths and get over self-consciousness.”

But Jerod was also very prepared with hard work, experience and dedication.

“I am working with professionals. I can make a living at this. This thing in Nashville has made me who I am – and I love it.”

“Old Shop Radio” is an original song written by Bolt in 2023. Learn more about Jerod Bolt and his music at https://jerodbolt.com/

- By Karen Clem Fritz