Jason Carroll (born November 12, 1985), known professionally as Skinny Hightower, is an American jazz pianist. In 2020, his album Blue Moon finished as the 14th overall smooth jazz album on the Smooth Jazz Year End Top 100 Album Chart. In the same year, his single "Bittersweet" finished as the sixth overall single on the 2020 Billboard Year-End charts for Smooth Jazz Airplay Songs. Two singles from Blue Moon, the title track "Blue Moon" and "Now or Never", finished 36th and 38th respectively on the 2021 Billboard Year-End charts for Smooth Jazz Airplay Songs. Hightower was also the number seven artist on the 2021 Billboard Year-End Smooth Jazz Airplay Artists list. Hightower's singles "Blue Moon," "Now or Never," and "Taboo" all reached number one on the Smooth Jazz Airplay Billboard charts. "Blue Moon" also reached number one on the Smooth Jazz Network Top 20 singles chart. In 2026, his single "Red Lights" peaked at number two on the Smooth Jazz Airplay Billboard charts.
Early life Hightower was born in Wichita, Kansas on November 12, 1985. Hightower's interest in music began at age two when he would sit on his father's lap and play the drums. His involvement would continue as he later developed a mild interest in piano at age eight and began playing bass at the age of 12. Jazz and gospel were his primary musical influences at the time. Hightower later attended Wichita South High School where he played as a percussionist in the marching band, pep band, jazz band, and concert band.
Music career 2012–2017: Military service and Cloud Nine In 2012, Skinny Hightower enlisted in the United States Army where he served for five years and was promoted up to the rank of Sergeant. He deployed to Afghanistan during the War in Afghanistan for a few months. Four years into his military contract, he recorded and released his first studio album Cloud Nine.
Name origin Hightower's pseudonym originated as a nickname given to him by his fellow servicemembers. Upon learning that he was a jazz musician, his Army friends called him a skinny Mr. Hightower (played by Steve Harvey) in connection with the 1996 sitcom The Steve Harvey Show.
2020: Blue Moon In 2020, Skinny Hightower released Blue Moon which spawned the second and third number one Billboard singles of his career. The production of the album consisted of the recording of 100 songs of which 24 were selected by a team of 10 individuals.
Discography Studio albums Album title Release year Record label Ref(s) Cloud Nine 2016 Vein Records Emotions 2017 Trippin 'N' Rhythm Records Retrospect 2018 Trippin 'N' Rhythm Records Blue Moon 2020 Trippin 'N' Rhythm Records Mind Over Matter 2023 Trippin 'N' Rhythm Records THE MAN 2024 Trippin 'N' Rhythm Records Feels Like Destiny2026CastOver Records
Singles Title Year Peak chart position Album Ref(s) US Jazz(Smooth) "Taboo" 2017 1 Emotions "Bittersweet" 2020 3 Blue Moon "Blue Moon" 2020 1 Blue Moon "Now or Never" 2020 1 Blue Moon
Collaborations Year Artist Release Additional information Ref(s) 2018 Lin Rountree Stronger Still Featured artist, piano 2019 Cindy Bradley The Little Things Bass, vibraphone
Live performances Festivals Year Title Role Ref(s) 2018 Catalina Island Jazztrax Festival Featured artist 2019 Seabreeze Jazz Festival Featured artist
See also Music Billboard charts Jazz piano Smooth jazz Smooth jazz radio
Lists List of jazz pianists List of people from Wichita, Kansas List of smooth jazz musicians Lists of African Americans
Other United States Army U.S. Army Sergeant
References
External links Official Website Skinny Hightower at AllMusic Skinny Hightower on Spotify