Lajon Witherspoon

Lajon Witherspoon
Birth name	Lajon Jermaine Witherspoon
Born	October 3, 1972 (1972-10-03)
Genres	Alternative metal, heavy metal, nu metal, hard rock
Occupations	Musician, songwriter
Instruments	Vocals, guitar
Years active	1988-present
Labels	Asylum, 7 Bros.
Associated acts	Sevendust Body & Soul

Lajon Witherspoon (born October 3, 1972 in Nashville, Tennessee) is the vocalist for the Atlanta-based alternative metal band Sevendust. Members from such bands as Staind, Seether, Alter Bridge, and Diecast have listed Lajon and Sevendust as musical influences. In March 2008, Lajon was recognized in Hit Parader's magazine as one of the "Top 100 Metal Vocalists of All Time". He was awarded number 35, placing over numerous famous rock vocalists such as Bret Michaels, Scott Weiland and David Bowie. Lajon Witherspoon has a wife Ashley Witherspoon and has 2 daughters named Maya Diane, and Jada Legend Witherspoon.

History

Lajon Witherspoon was born in Nashville, but grew up in Atlanta with his parents, along with his brother Reginald Ladon Witherspoon. Prior to getting into music, Witherspoon played football and wrestled for Norcross High School. He also practiced judo for a number of years, but eventually chose music over sports as his primary activity. Before his days in Sevendust, Witherspoon was the frontman of a soul group by the name of Body & Soul. In 1994, his group supported Snake Nation, a local rock group, at a gig. Impressed by his vocal abilities, Vinnie Hornsby and Morgan Rose asked Witherspoon to sing for their band. Guitarist John Connolly, the former drummer of the Piece Dogs, and Lee Banks joined them to form Rumblefish. The name was soon changed to Crawlspace. When the band's schedule proved too much for Banks, Clint Lowery from North Carolina's Still Rain replaced him. The band had to change their name again when a group on the west coast claimed the rights to it. Struggling with a new moniker, the members settled on Sevendust after Hornsby found a can of "Sevin Dust" in his grandmother's garage.

On Sunday, November 9, 2002, Lajon's brother, Reginald Witherspoon, was killed. Lajon heard the news via a phone call from his father five minutes before the band's performance in St. Joseph, Minnesota. The singer was urged to go on with the show by his father, and those who attended the show appreciated the shaken Witherspoon going through with the scheduled performance. Afterwards, Witherspoon immediately left to attend to family matters.

Lajon Witherspoon has recorded a song titled "Ready to Go" for the NHRA's upcoming 10-song compilation released on June 1, 2010.

Discography

Sevendust

• Sevendust
• Home
• Animosity
• Seasons
• Next
• Alpha
• Chapter VII: Hope and Sorrow
• Cold Day Memory

Other appearances

• NHRA Compilation 2010 - Various Artists - "Ready to Go" (2010)
• Moment of Impact - Eye Empire - "Victim" (2010) (Guest vocals)
• Truth Rising - Hed PE - "Stand Up" (2010)
• Fly 2 The Sun - Soulidium - "Fly 2 The Sun" (2011)

External links

• Lajon Witherspoon at the Internet Movie Database