Zest of Zang

Born and raised in British Columbia, Jacob Hoggard first became known to the public on Canadian Idol in 2004. He dropped out of Canadian Idol after making it into the top three position as entering the contest was done as a bet of one hundred fifty dollars between his friends and him. Before this, Jacob was a carpenter who learned to play piano at age five and guitar at age twelve. As the lead vocalist, Jacob formed the band Hedley with four of his friends, all whom have been replaced since. The name is after a small town in British Columbia that was for sale.


Many people may not consider Jacob Hoggard of Hedley to be a celebrity but I believe he is more than qualified to be deemed one. I met Jacob a couple years ago—when he was not incredibly famous—after one of his concerts at a small venue. Immediately, I became attracted to his energy and talent. The first time I saw him in person, he marched across the stage drinking from a half litre carton of milk. While Hedley was reaching for fame, Jacob never simplified himself to be a leader singer that other people were familiar with. His hair style is always changing; right now it’s a slicked back schoolboy look. The tattoos that cover his arms and chest are creatively designed. Proud of the tattoo of wings across the bottom of his collarbone, Jacob frequently wears low neck tank tops. Such style is inspiring, and while I would not copy his exact outfits, I do own many Hedley tee shirts.
The music Jacob creates gives the listeners energy and makes on feel alive. At concerts, every fan sings along and demonstrates their support of Hedley through memorization of the catchy lyrics. Songs that Jacob sings are bold, and in the case of Cha Ching, ridicule American society which reminds fans that Hedley is a proudly Canadian band.