Jason Paige

Jason Paige, born January 6, 1969, is an American singer, actor, writer, and record producer. He trained at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School and subsequently studied at the Experimental Theatre Wing at New York University. He appeared on Broadway in 1994 in Hair.

Paige is widely recognized as the vocalist behind the first English-language theme song for the Pokémon animated television series. He also contributed vocals to "Viridian City" and served as a background vocalist on the Pokémon 2.B.A. Master soundtrack. In a 2016 interview with the New York Post, Paige acknowledged that he had little familiarity with Pokémon at the time of recording the demo, referencing the episode "Dennō Senshi Porygon" as one of the few things he knew about the franchise. He did not anticipate the song's enduring popularity. Following the rise of Pokémon Go in July 2016, Paige re-recorded the theme and released a parody version featuring Dwayne Johnson as a Pokémon. In October 2016 he released an anthem he described as a tribute to Pokémon Go, intended as a companion to the original theme. In February 2018 he recorded a metal cover of the original theme with Jonathan Young, and in December 2025 he contributed vocals to the soundtrack of the 203rd episode of Death Battle, Ash vs Yugi, alongside musicians Brandon Yates and Therewolf Media.

As a live performer, Paige spent a year as lead singer for Blood, Sweat and Tears. He has toured and performed with Aerosmith, appearing on the Howard Stern remix of their single "Pink." At Michael Jackson's 30th Anniversary concert at Madison Square Garden, Paige served as the rap soloist for "Black or White" and sang background vocals for Jackson. He has also performed alongside Foreigner, The Scorpions, Meat Loaf, Frankie Valli, Liza Minnelli, Enrique Iglesias, and Oleta Adams, among others. His voice appears on The Art of McCartney tribute album, where he sang backgrounds behind Billy Joel, Roger Daltrey, Kiss, and Smokey Robinson. Paige is a longtime member of Broadway Inspirational Voices.

His stage work extends beyond his 1994 Broadway appearance in Hair. He appeared in the 2010 production of Rent at the Hollywood Bowl, played Joe in Frank Zappa's Joe's Garage at the Open Fist Theatre Company, and portrayed Travis in Ty Taylor's The Existents, also at the Open Fist Theatre Company. His stage credits additionally include productions of The Who's Tommy, Godspell, and Jesus Christ Superstar. Paige won a BroadwayWorld.com award and received an Ovation nomination for his portrayal of Frankie in ForTheRecordLive's production of Scorsese: An American Crime Drama, produced at The Wallis Annenberg in October 2016. He has also performed in the For the Record series at Rockwell, covering programs dedicated to the Coen Brothers, Baz Luhrmann, John Hughes, Quentin Tarantino, Robert Zemeckis, Paul Thomas Anderson, and Martin Scorsese. He has appeared at Scott Nevins and Ryan O'Connor's Musical Mondays in Los Angeles and at Mandalay Bay's LIGHT in For the Record Baz.

Paige has contributed to numerous recorded projects beyond his performance work. His voice appears on video game soundtracks including the Elite Beat Agents soundtrack, on which he sings "Canned Heat" and "Walkie Talkie Man," and The Pink Panther: Passport to Peril, for which he recorded "Taj Mahal." He has recorded jingles for brands including Mountain Dew and Pepto-Bismol and has written songs for the television series Rob and Big. His voice can be heard in the Disney television film The Color of Friendship, as well as in Jersey Boys, Annie, and the animated film Sausage Party. As a songwriter and producer, he has worked with Shoshana Bean, Becky Baeling, Mike Weaver, and Suzie McNeil.

His acting credits include the role of Peter in An Argentinian in New York, a choir singer in A Walk to Remember, the voice of Buttmeister in Meet the Spartans, a medic in Make Yourself at Home, a student in Election, and a parent in The Hustler. From 1995 to 2000, Paige produced and starred in The What's Up Show, a musical comedy sketch program that aired on Manhattan cable television.

Paige co-wrote two musicals: BOX and Writing Pictures, the latter produced at Hartford's Bushnell Theatre for Black History Month and based on Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin. He also co-wrote A Tribute to Irwin Price, performed at the Open Fist Theater. In December 2018 he released an extended version of his power ballad interpretation of Silent Night, originally recorded for the YouTube series Hellbenders.