The songwriting partnership of Mason.Jones began in Nashville in 1988, born from a handshake and a shared love of Southern storytelling.
Rodger Mason (also known as Mason Rodgers) had recently arrived in Music City from Florida, where he had been recruited to play with Chris Anderson of the Outlaws. Through Anderson, Mason was introduced to the grandson of legendary producer Owen Bradley—a grandson who also happened to be an A&R man for ASCAP. That connection opened doors, and soon Mason was writing with Johnny Neel, the keyboardist and vocalist known for his work with the Allman Brothers Band and Gov't Mule.
Doug Jones had also just landed in Nashville around the same time, drawn by the opportunity to work with Neel in his personal studio. Johnny saw something in both men and made the introduction. Mason and Doug sat down in a room together—and never stopped writing.
What followed was a decades-long partnership built on mutual respect, instinct, and craft, with 100's of songs to show