Little bit country
A constellation of country stars
Haleigh Packer
Contributor
Toby Keith is from Oklahoma, is a middle child, didn't attend post-secondary and worked in the oil fields with his father. Photo: courtesy of USO/Dave Gatley, Flickr
In light of the upcoming country music award season in April, The Reflector has compiled a list of notable names to give those less familiar with the music genre a bit of time to become acquainted with the stars.
Luke Bryan
Growing up in the small town of Leesburg, GA., Bryan started singing and playing country music by the age of 14. He also frequently helped his father with the peanut and fertilizer businesses.
By age 16, he was invited to join Nashville artists in writing sessions. Bryan felt playing music was a way to his release his stress and emotions. After graduating from Georgia Southern University he signed a record deal with Roger Murrah.
In 2010, Bryan won Top New Solo Vocalist and Top New Artist at the Academy of Country Music Awards. He has produced three albums, which all hit the top of the charts throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Bryan has had three No. 1 singles, which are “Rain is a Good Thing,” “Someone Else is Calling You Baby,” and “I Don’t Want This Night to End.”
Eric Church
Born in Granite Falls, NC., Church began writing music and playing guitar by 13. After high school, Church attended Appalachian State University, where he acquired his marketing degree.
To pursue country music, Church went to Nashville for six months, where he received a job at Sony/AVT Tree Publishing. Soon after, he was introduced to Jay Joyce and he was set-up with a record deal with Capitol Records.
Church has released three albums, with only one top chart single, “Drink In My Hand.” In 2011, at the Academy of Country Music Awards, Church won the Top New Solo Vocalist award.
Toby Keith
Growing up in Moore, OK., Keith was the middle child with an older sister and a younger brother. After high school graduation, Keith did not persue post-secondary and instead, worked in the Oklahoma oil fields with his father.
He soon married Tricia Lucus, who had a child named Shelley. A few years later, Keith had three children with Lucus, named Tricia, Krystal and Stelen.
Eventually the Oklahoma oil industry collapsed, leaving Keith and his wife with financial issues. As a result, he signed on with Mercury Records Nashville to produce his self-titled debut album, which contained the single “Should’ve Been a Cowboy.”
However, when James Stroud left Mercury Records, Keith then signed a contract with DreamWorks Nashville. Ever since, Keith has produced 15 albums, and has received 20 no. 1 singles. In addition, he has won 12 country music awards.
Sara Evans
At four years old, Evans performed with her family band while growing up in rural Missouri. After many years, she recorded her first album in Nashville as Sarah Evans & North Santiam.
By 1992, as a married woman, she began opening up for popular country artists such as Tim McGraw and Willie Nelson. Soon after Evans signed a record deal with Pete Anderson (producer of Dwight Yoakam) she created the album Three Chords & the Truth.
With seven albums, Evans has won eight country music awards.
Miranda Lambert
Raised in Lindale, TX., Lambert learned at a young age of her love for country music, as her father (Rick Lambert) was a country guitarist.
By age 16, Lambert started entering country talent contests and various other competitions. Lambert then learned to play guitar and began writing her own songs, and then she finally starred in a potato chip advertisement.
A year later, she founded the Texas Pride Band and began playing professionally. With the help of her father, Lambert released the album called Miranda Lambert.
Appearing in the Nashville Star competition in 2003, she received third place where she signed a record contract with Sony. Since then, Lambert has produced five albums and won 17 various country music awards.
Hi There Thereflector,
Thanks for the above, From the beginning of spring through the summer playing season someone is always dropping a baseball glove off at “The Doctor’s” house to get a little baseball glove repair done on their glove. Most of these repairs are usually the same…broken laces in one or more places on the glove. Every time I repair one of these gloves I’m always thinking the same thing, “If this guy would have taken just a little bit of care of this glove…” You don’t have to go nuts with caring for the glove, but every little bit helps.
Thanks