9NEWS sportscaster Jacob Tobey’s musical side gig

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Jacob Tobey’s day job is working as a 9NEWS sportscaster. On the side, he’s busy with another lifelong passion – music.

DENVER — Most of Colorado knows Jacob Tobey as a sportscaster, but he has another job fueled by another passion – music. He’s been working at it since he was 5 years old.

“My dad taught me how to play guitar, the basic chords, and from there I learned myself,” Tobey said. “I’ve been playing piano since I was five, drums since I was five. But the singer-songwriter stuff really started after I learned how to play guitar.”

Tobey’s talent was clear from the start. He started performing live in seventh grade, when he sang at his school’s talent show. In eighth grade, he performed at his school’s talent show again in front of a 400-person audience. He was that year’s talent show winner, and that was just the beginning of what would become an ongoing pursuit.

At age 15, Tobey started performing in music venues, bars, restaurants and weddings. He continued through college, making the top 10 on Boston Idol when he was 20 years old.

After college, he kept playing music on the side while working his first sports job in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Now, he performs in bars and restaurants around the Denver area. His repertoire includes country, rock, pop and classics. He even writes and plays his own music, and he loves to take requests.

Often times, he gets recognized while performing.

“Some will come up and be like, ‘9NEWS Sports guy!’ I’m like, yeah, I’m playing guitar. It must be kind of weird to see for a sec,” Tobey said.

Tobey’s shows are attended by friends, colleagues, and people he’s never met. He’ll lead the audience in a rousing round of ‘Happy Birthday’ to those celebrating their big day, and he’s ever the entertainer as he laughs and chats with his audience.

Tobey ends each gig with the song he played when he won that 8th grade talent show, “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” by Green Day. Of all the songs he performs, it’s his mom’s favorite.

“I’ve always been an entertainer since I was young,” Tobey said. “I’ve kind of felt that in my blood. It’s been in my family.”

Music wasn’t Tobey’s only focus growing up: He says he started playing sports at such a young age, he doesn’t remember life without them. He played baseball, soccer and basketball, and even took his love of basketball to the next level, playing on recreational teams ever since college.

Tobey says there’s a common theme when comparing music to sports: Community.

“You’re just trying to be with people when you’re watching sports or when you’re listening to live music,” he said. “Everyone is having a great time. I love the community aspect of it and being able to bring people inside a little bit.”

Balancing both sports and music is no joke. Tobey says it’s tough to manage sometimes, but he wouldn’t have it any other way. He’d love to make it to the top in both industries, but if music remains a side hustle, he’s okay with that.

“I’m committed to being a sportscaster, but I’m also committed to doing music on the side,” Tobey said. “At the end of the day, whatever one works out is great. I’m blessed to have both options. And if this music thing is just a side thing, so be it. I love my job. I love what I do.”