[ 0 => '{{Short description|American singer}}', 1 => '{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}}', 2 => '{{BLP sources|date=July 2016}}', 3 => '{{Infobox person', 4 => '| name = Jason Paige', 5 => '| image =', 6 => '| alt =', 7 => '| birth_name =', 8 => '| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1969|1|6}}', 9 => '| birth_place = United States', 10 => '| death_place =', 11 => '| alma_mater = [[New York University]]', 12 => '| other_names =', 13 => '| occupation = Singer, writer, record producer, actor', 14 => '| years_active = 1991<ref>{{cite web|title=JASON PAIGE's BAND WHATS UP in 1991 "Stand Up"| website=[[YouTube]] |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4ZgwbvcK60|access-date=May 23, 2007}}</ref>–present', 15 => '| known_for =', 16 => '| notable_works =', 17 => '| website = {{url|https://jasonpaige.com}}', 18 => '}}', 19 => ''''Jason Paige''' (born January 6, 1969) is an American singer, writer, record producer and actor best known for singing the [[Pokémon Theme|first theme song]] for the English version of the [[Pokémon (TV series)|''Pokémon'' television series]].', 20 => '', 21 => '==Early life and education==', 22 => 'He is an alumnus of [[Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School]] and the Experimental Theatre Wing at [[New York University]].', 23 => '', 24 => '==Career==', 25 => 'Paige is best known for singing the [[Pokémon Theme|first theme song]] for the English version of the [[Pokémon (anime)|''Pokémon'' anime]]. He also sings "Viridian City" and sings as a background vocalist for the [[List of Pokémon theme songs|''Pokémon 2.B.A. Master'']] soundtrack. In an interview with the ''[[New York Post]]'' in 2016, Paige said he did not expect the song to become popular. In fact, he said that he "didn't really know much about Pokémon when I did the demo, other than [that] a scene in the cartoon caused a giant bout of [[epileptic seizures]] in Japan", referring to the infamous episode "[[Dennō Senshi Porygon]]."<ref name="NYP">{{cite news|last1=Phull|first1=Hardeep|title=The Pokémon theme's surprising singer is back in the hot seat|url=https://nypost.com/2016/07/15/the-pokemon-themes-surprising-singer-is-back-in-the-hot-seat/|access-date=July 16, 2016|work=New York Post|date=July 15, 2016}} {{better source|date=March 2024}}</ref> As a vocalist Paige toured for a year as the lead singer for the band Blood Sweat & Tears.{{citation needed|date=July 2016}} He has sung and beat-boxed with Aerosmith on tour and on the Howard Stern re-mix of the hit single "Pink".{{citation needed|date=July 2016}} Paige sang backgrounds for Michael Jackson and was the rap soloist for the song "[[Black or White]]" when it was performed at [[Michael Jackson]]'s [[Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Special|30th Anniversary concert]] at [[Madison Square Garden]]. <ref>https://www.facebook.com/jasonpaigeshow/videos/black-or-white-rapping-with-michael-jackson-live-in-concert-the-story-and-loop-j/493887481412969/</ref> His one-man show is filled with socio-political sexual musical parody, confessions and impersonations.', 26 => '', 27 => 'He can be heard singing backgrounds on ''[[The Art of McCartney]]'' tribute CD behind [[Billy Joel]], [[Roger Daltrey]], [[Kiss (band)|Kiss]], [[Smokey Robinson]] and others, On the ''[[Elite Beat Agents]]'' soundtrack, he sings "[[Canned Heat (song)|Canned Heat]]" and "[[Walkie Talkie Man]]." Paige can also be heard on hundreds of various jingles, including [[Mountain Dew|Mountain Dew's]] "Bohemian Rhapsody" and [[Pepto-Bismol|Pepto-Bismol's]] "Nausea Heartburn Indigestion Diarrhea". He has written a number of songs for the TV series ''[[Rob & Big]]''. His voice can also be heard in the Disney TV movie, ''[[The Color of Friendship (2000 film)|The Color of Friendship]]'', "The Jersey Boys", "Annie" with [[Kermit the Frog]] and [[Miss Piggy]] in the last "Muppet Movie" and a character or two in "[[Sausage Party]]". He has also performed with famous artists such as [[Foreigner (band)|Foreigner]], [[Scorpions (band)|The Scorpions]], [[Meat Loaf]], [[Frankie Valli]], [[Liza Minnelli]] and [[Enrique Iglesias]], Oleta Adams, among many others. He has written and produced for [[Shoshana Bean]], [[Becky Baeling]], Mike Weaver and [[Suzie McNeil]].', 28 => '', 29 => 'As an actor, he can be seen as Peter in ''An Argentinian in New York'', as a choir singer in ''[[A Walk to Remember]]'', as the voice over for Buttmeister in ''[[Meet the Spartans]]'', as a medic in ''Make Yourself at Home'', as a student in ''[[Election (1999 film)|Election]]'' and as a parent in ''The Hustler''. From 1995 to 2000, he produced and starred in his own musical comedy sketch show, ''The What's Up Show'', which showed on Manhattan cable TV.', 30 => '', 31 => 'On the stage, he appeared in the 2010 production of [[Rent (musical)|Rent]] at the [[Hollywood Bowl]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/141821-La-Vie-Boheme-Starry-Rent-Plays-the-Hollywood-Bowl-Aug-6-8 |title="La Vie Boheme": Starry Rent Plays the Hollywood Bowl Aug. 6-8 - Playbill.com |access-date=December 30, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130105034755/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/141821-La-Vie-Boheme-Starry-Rent-Plays-the-Hollywood-Bowl-Aug-6-8 |archive-date=January 5, 2013 }}</ref> as Joe in [[Frank Zappa|Frank Zappa's]] ''[[Joe's Garage]]'' at the [[Open Fist Theatre Company]], and as Travis in [[Ty Taylor|Ty Taylor's]] ''The Existents'' at the [[Open Fist Theatre Company]]. He has also done productions of ''[[The Who's Tommy]]'', ''[[Godspell]]'', ''[[Jesus Christ Superstar]]'', and ''[[Hair (musical)|Hair]]''. He has performed at Scott Nevins and Ryan O'Connor's ''Musical Mondays'' in Los Angeles, as well as Rockwell's<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rockwell-la.com/ |title=Rockwell |publisher=Rockwell-la.com |access-date=January 22, 2014}}</ref> ''For The Record'' series in the [[Coen Brothers]], [[Baz Luhrmann]], [[John Hughes (filmmaker)|John Hughes]], The Marshalls, [[Quentin Tarantino]], [[Robert Zemeckis]], [[Paul Thomas Anderson]] and Scorsese shows. He won a Broadwayworld.com award and an Ovation nomination for his portrayal of Frankie in Fortherecordlive's production of "Scoresese an American Crime Drama" produced at The Wallis Annenberg in October 2016.', 32 => '', 33 => 'He has co-written two musicals, "BOX" and "Writing Pictures" produced at Hartford's Bushnell Theatre for [[Black History Month]], based on [[Harriet Beecher Stowe]]'s ''[[Uncle Tom's Cabin]]'' and "A Tribute To Irwin Price" Performed at Open Fist Theater.', 34 => '', 35 => 'During the [[Republican Party presidential primaries, 2012|2012 primary election]], Paige himself sang a parody of the Pokémon Theme in support of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] candidate [[Ron Paul]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Sheets|first1=Connor|title=Ron Paul 2012 Supporter Remakes 'Pokemon' Song For Campaign [VIDEO]|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/ron-paul-2012-supporter-remakes-pokemon-song-campaign-video-697405|access-date=July 14, 2016|date=May 8, 2012}}</ref> In an interview with [[Spin (magazine)|Spin Magazine]] in 2016, Paige said he was inspired by Paul's message of liberty.<ref name="Spin"/> Later that year, Paige completed a year-long run as the lead singer for [[Blood, Sweat & Tears]]<ref name="NYP" /> and recorded a rock interpretation of the carol ''[[Silent Night]]'' for an episode of the [[YouTube]] series ''Hellbenders.''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1icpvvCxjo |title=HELLBENDERS - A Hellbenders Christmas |publisher=YouTube |date=December 24, 2012 |access-date=January 22, 2014}}</ref> He is a long time member of Broadway Inspirational Voices and has appeared at Mandalay Bay's LIGHT in ''For The Record'' Baz named after the director [[Baz Luhrmann]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Leach|first1=Robin|title=Cirque takes on cabaret-style show with 'Baz' at Light in Mandalay Bay|url=http://lasvegassun.com/vegasdeluxe/2015/may/21/cirque-takes-cabaret-style-show-baz-mandalay-bay/|access-date=July 16, 2016|date=May 21, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Weatherford|first1=Mike|title='Baz' is an irony-free zone, but a big one to cover|url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/entertainment/arts-culture/baz-irony-free-zone-big-one-cover|access-date=July 16, 2016|date=June 30, 2015}}</ref>', 36 => '', 37 => 'Paige is also opposed to infant [[circumcision]], having undergone a botched one during his own infancy for [[brit milah|religious reasons]] that resulted in a [[skin bridge]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Jason Paige Speaks for the "Beyond the Bris" Project |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dOG13C5mrA |website=YouTube |publisher=Beyond The Bris |access-date=May 30, 2019}}</ref> His mother, Charlie Paige, stated that she regretted having him circumcised.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jason Paige's Mom Talks to "Beyond the Bris" |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ppz2hMaHI5w |website=YouTube |publisher=Beyond The Bris |access-date=May 30, 2019}}</ref> Paige performed and released a song called "Circumcision", a parody of [[Stevie Wonder|Stevie Wonder's]] song "[[Superstition (song)|Superstition]]".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Paige |first1=Jason |title=Circumcision ALL VOX Superstitious Parody |url=https://soundcloud.com/jasonpaige/circumcision-all-vox-superstitious-parody |website=Soundcloud |access-date=June 5, 2019}}</ref> He has endorsed [[brit shalom (naming ceremony)|brit shalom]], an alternative religious ceremony, and produced music for it.<ref>{{cite web |title=Download the Music |url=http://www.celebratingbritshalom.com/p/celebrating-brit-shalom-sheet-music-to.html |website=Celebrating Brit Shalom |access-date=June 5, 2019}}</ref>', 38 => '', 39 => 'In response to the massive popularity of the ''[[Pokémon Go]]'' mobile game, Paige re-recorded the theme during the height of the game's popularity in July 2016.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Payne|first1=Chris|title=Watch the Original 'Pokemon' Theme Singer Give It a Go in 2016|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/7453583/pokemon-theme-song-singer-jason-paige-video-2016|access-date=July 29, 2016|date=July 28, 2016}}</ref> Later that month, Paige sang another parody of the theme song featuring [[Dwayne Johnson]] as a Pokémon.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Dosh|first1=Kristi|title=The Rock Gets His Own Pokemon Go-Inspired Character|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/kristidosh/2016/07/26/the-rock-gets-his-own-pokemon-go-inspired-character/#27c7be543a26|access-date=July 26, 2016|date=July 25, 2016}}</ref> He performed the song in Los Angeles as well.<ref name="Spin">{{cite news|last1=Josephs|first1=Brian|title='Pokémon Theme' Singer Jason Paige Still Wants to Be the Very Best|url=http://www.spin.com/2016/07/jason-paige-pokemon-go-theme-song-interview/|access-date=July 23, 2016|date=July 21, 2016}}</ref>', 40 => 'In October 2016 he released his anthem "a tribute to Pokémon Go" as a sister theme to the original.', 41 => 'In February 2018 he recorded a metal cover of the original Pokémon theme with Jonathan Young.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyQjVtIGQg8 |title=THE POKÉMON THEME - (METAL COVER) Jonathan Young & Jason Paige (the original singer) |publisher=YouTube |date=February 7, 2018}} Retrieved October 4, 2019.</ref> In December of the same year, he released a long-requested extended version of his interpretation of ''Silent Night'' for ''Hellbenders'', stylizing it as a [[power ballad]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2VY7TK76D4 |title=Silent Night By Jason Paige |publisher=YouTube |date=December 25, 2018}} Retrieved January 21, 2020.</ref>', 42 => '', 43 => '==References==', 44 => '{{reflist|30em}}', 45 => '', 46 => '==External links==', 47 => '* [http://www.jasonpaige.com/ Official Website]', 48 => '* {{IMDb name|0656713}}', 49 => '', 50 => '{{Authority control}}', 51 => '{{Blood, Sweat & Tears}}', 52 => '', 53 => '{{DEFAULTSORT:Paige, Jason}}', 54 => '[[Category:1969 births]]', 55 => '[[Category:American male film actors]]', 56 => '[[Category:American male musical theatre actors]]', 57 => '[[Category:American male singers]]', 58 => '[[Category:American male stage actors]]', 59 => '[[Category:American record producers]]', 60 => '[[Category:Living people]]', 61 => '[[Category:New York University alumni]]', 62 => '[[Category:Pokémon]]' ]