In The Country with Dave Woods

Beginning his journey in Langley, British Columbia, Rod Black was born into a professional rodeo family, moving regularly around Canada in his early life. After settling in the Prairies, Rod attended high school in both Regina and Saskatoon, where he immersed himself in vintage classics from southern rock pioneers and original country outlaws. ​The inspired mix of rock and country influences that some liken to Kid Rock crossed with Uncle Kracker gave Rod a distinctive musical flavour that has led to breakthrough success in both genres. First signed to Island/Def Jam Records New York as the frontman of the rock group Jet Black Stare, Rod powered his way to #26 on the US Billboard Rock Charts with the band’s rip-roaring 2009 single, “Ready to Roll”. ​With Jet Black Stare on hiatus, Rod tapped into his country roots to collaborate with longtime friend and CCMA award-winning producer Jeff Johnson on 2014’s “Keepin’ On”, which reached the Canadian Billboard Top 20 and earned him 2015 nominations from the Canadian Radio Music Awards for Best New Group or Solo Artist (Country) and the BC Country Music Association for Male Artist of the Year and the Ray McAuley Horizon Award. In 2018, Rod re-released “Keepin’ On” to the US market, where it successfully hit the Top 80 on the US Country Music Row Charts. 2019 brought a new single, “Good Times”, produced by his former Jet Black Star bandmate Dan Swinimer, which hit #1 on CBC Country/Sirius XM Canada and stayed at that position for an incredible 16+ weeks. ​After reuniting with Jeff Johnson, Rod released the 2020 single, “Walk On”, which hit #1 on the iTunes Top 100 Country Singles Chart (South Africa), and has led to a new EP – front-lined by Black’s 2021 singles “Barely Gettin’ By” and currently “Laketown” – that is due later this year.