Maine native getting noticed in Nashville

Like many other hopefuls in Nashville, Jason Rogers is searching for that one big break.

Not that the Presque Isle native hasn’t enjoyed some promising advances lately. His original song “Breathe Into Me” was judged as a monthly country finalist in the Song of the Year songwriting contest sponsored by VH-1’s Save the Music Foundation. Competition officials forward the works of top entries to producers, record labels and other career makers.

“That’s what got me into all the stuff I’m doing now,” said Rogers, 29, in a phone interview from his home in rural Lyles, Tenn.

Within the next month, Rogers hopes to finish his first album at Music City Demos, with producer Martin Young, a longtime member of Clint Black’s band.

“Martin is choosing studio musicians that he thinks will fit me,” explained Rogers, whose stage name is Cowboy Jason.

Three of Rogers’ songs can be heard at www.myspace.com/jasonrogerscountry music, with a fourth song, “Thinkin’ About Changin,’ ” to be added March 1.

He’s a featured artist at www.myspace.com/truecountrymusicinfo. Today, Chris Conn, a former Great American Country veejay, will be doing a feature on Rogers on his conmanradio.com Web site.

Rogers has also entered another dozen songwriting competitions, hoping to make a name as a writer as well.

It’s only recently that Rogers decided to pursue a career in music, after playing drums in the Maine band Mica. He moved to Nashville five years ago in pursuit of his dream, then last year set aside a lawn-care business that had been his day job to focus on music full time, with the support of his wife, Christie, who is a real estate agent.

“I knew I had to go where it was at, and leave the family behind,” Rogers explained.

A businessman, Rogers is tackling things incrementally. First he will finish his CD, then he will assemble a band for touring.

“I’ll start performing after the CD is complete, because I need something to sell,” he said.