A devastating loss.
Jason Simpson, a key member of Colter Wall’s backing band, The Scary Prairie Boys, passed away on Monday, March 23, 2026, at the age of 51, as reported by both Wall and his record label, La Honda Records.
Simpson, a Kentucky native, was born on October 19th, 1974 and graduated from Western Hills High School in Frankfort in 1993. Before graduating high school, he would play at bars in both Louisville and Lexington, playing in a band named Grimmace Peace in his early years. Before joining Wall and Co. in the 2010s, Simpson and his brother Steve formed the Frankfort-based, alt-country band, The Mertons, who released multiple albums in the late 1990s. Additionally, he would play for John King & the Mud Revival before joing Wall.
The bassist, who was the first member of the “Caroline” singer’s band, first joined the Scary Prarie Boys back in 2015 and served as the primary bass guitarist on both his tours and a majority of his records, including Songs of the Plains, Western Swing & Waltez and Other Punchy Songs, Little Songs and his most recent release, Memories and Empties.
Beyond his impact on Wall’s band, Simpson has been a driving force in the Kentucky community and music scene in his home state. On February 3rd, he was named a Kentucky Colonel, an honor recognizing an individual’s noteworthy accomplishments and outstanding community service, by Governor Andy Beshear.
Upon his death, La Honda Records would release a statement on their social media pages honoring the late bassist and the impact he had on those around him.
“Jason Simpson was local to us at La Honda Records. A fellow Kentuckian with a bass guitar and long hair who we knew from around the way. For the last decade he was a part of our crew. We swapped stories, travelled the world together, and saw him keep rhythm on both small and grand stages all over this country. We are deeply saddened to have lost him. Our hearts are with the community of people who lost him too.”
Wall, who recently cancelled his tour due to his declining mental health, returned to social media to honor Simpson in a post, highlighting how he stood beside him both on and off the stage for a decade.
“Stood beside me for 10 years, on stage and off. Rest in peace my good friend. You are missed.”
Fans everywhere and a plethora of artists, including Noeline Hofmann, Channing Wilson and more took to both Wall and La Honda’s comment section to offer up their condolences for Simpson’s tragic passing.
As not only one of the key members behind Wall’s monster success over the past decade but also a key member of the music community in Kentucky, Simpson’s loss is truly devastating. Thoughts and prayers go out to his family, Wall and the rest of his friends and colleagues. Rest in peace, Jason.
