Chris Young (musician)
Encyclopedia
Christopher Alan "Chris" Young (born June 12, 1985 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee
) is an American country music
artist. In 2006, he was declared the winner of the television program Nashville Star
, a singing competition which aired on the USA Network
. After winning, he was signed to RCA Records
Nashville, releasing his self-titled debut album that year. It produced two chart singles on the Hot Country Songs
charts in "Drinkin' Me Lonely" and "You're Gonna Love Me". A second album, The Man I Want to Be
, was released September 1, 2009. It includes the singles "Voices", "Gettin' You Home (The Black Dress Song)
", and "The Man I Want to Be
"; all three have reached Number One on the country singles chart. To date Chris has scored four straight number one hits including most recently "Tomorrow
" off his Neon album.
. From a young age, Young showed interest in music while performing in various children's theater productions, and while attending Oakland High School (Tennessee)
, he began playing in local clubs. While attending college, Young continued to tour, performing more than 150 shows a year.
, he was encouraged by a fan to try out for Nashville Star
, a television talent show on the USA Networks. After auditioning in Houston, Texas
, he entered the show, and was declared the winner in 2006. His win also earned him a contract with RCA Records
Nashville, and late that year, he released his debut single, "Drinkin' Me Lonely". This song, which peaked at #42 on the Billboard
Hot Country Songs
charts, served as the first single to his self-titled debut album
, which was produced by Buddy Cannon
. The album's second single, "You're Gonna Love Me", peaked at #48.
in June of that year, he promoted the single by e-mailing it to visitors at his Music Fest booth. On the chart week of August 16, 2008, "Voices" became Young's first Top 40 entry on the Billboard charts, going on to peak at #37. Following it was his fourth chart single, "Gettin' You Home (The Black Dress Song)
." His second album, The Man I Want to Be
, was released on September 1. The album is produced by James Stroud
. It includes cover version
s of Waylon Jennings
' "Rose in Paradise" (as a duet with Willie Nelson
), as well as a cover of Tony Joe White
's "Rainy Night in Georgia
". In October 2009, "Gettin' You Home" became the first Number One single of Young's career. The album's title track
was released as its second single on November 16, 2009 and, in May 2010, it became his second Number One. "Voices" was re-released in June 2010, and has since become Young's third #1 country hit.
Young was nominated for the 2010 Academy of Country Music
Top New Solo Vocalist, alongside Luke Bryan
and Jamey Johnson
.
Chris Young appeared/presented at the 44th Annual Country Music Awards on November 10, 2010.
Chris Young was nominated for Best Male Country Vocal Performance during the 2010 Grammy nomination concert special.
," on February 28, 2011. The song serves as his fourth straight number one, from his album Neon
, which was released on July 12, 2011. His current single is "You." It was announced that Chris will be performing on the Country Music Association Awards on November 9, 2011.
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Murfreesboro is a city in and the county seat of Rutherford County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 108,755 according to the United States Census Bureau's 2010 U.S. Census, up from 68,816 residents certified during the 2000 census. The center of population of Tennessee is located in...
) is an American country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
artist. In 2006, he was declared the winner of the television program Nashville Star
Nashville Star
Nashville Star is an American reality television program. It was transmitted during mid-2008 on NBC, following five seasons on USA Network. It premiered on March 8, 2003, and its five seasons on USA made it the longest-running competition series on cable television. In Canada, the show aired on CMT...
, a singing competition which aired on the USA Network
USA Network
USA Network is an American cable television channel launched in 1971. Once a minor player in basic cable, the network has steadily gained popularity because of breakout hits like Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs, White Collar, Monday Night RAW, Suits, and reruns of the various...
. After winning, he was signed to RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
Nashville, releasing his self-titled debut album that year. It produced two chart singles on the Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
charts in "Drinkin' Me Lonely" and "You're Gonna Love Me". A second album, The Man I Want to Be
The Man I Want to Be
- Album :The Man I Want to Be debuted at number 6 on the U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums chart and number 19 on the U.S. Billboard 200. As of the chart dated February 26, 2011, the album has sold 418,528 copies in the US.- End of year charts :...
, was released September 1, 2009. It includes the singles "Voices", "Gettin' You Home (The Black Dress Song)
Gettin' You Home (The Black Dress Song)
"Gettin' You Home " is a country music song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Chris Young. It is the second single release from his second studio album, The Man I Want to Be, released on September 1, 2009...
", and "The Man I Want to Be
The Man I Want to Be (song)
"The Man I Want to Be" is the title of a song written by Brett James and Tim Nichols and recorded by American country artist Chris Young. It was released in November 2009 as the third single from his second studio album, also titled The Man I Want to Be....
"; all three have reached Number One on the country singles chart. To date Chris has scored four straight number one hits including most recently "Tomorrow
Tomorrow
-Film:* Tomorrow , a South Korean film of 1969* Tomorrow , an American film directed by Joseph Anthony* Tomorrow , a Japanese film directed by Kazuo Kuroki...
" off his Neon album.
Early years
Young was born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, on June 12, 1985. His grandfather, Richard Yates, was a performer on the Louisiana HayrideLouisiana Hayride
Louisiana Hayride was a radio and later television country music show broadcast from the Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium in Shreveport, Louisiana, that during its heyday from 1948 to 1960 helped to launch the careers of some of the greatest names in American music...
. From a young age, Young showed interest in music while performing in various children's theater productions, and while attending Oakland High School (Tennessee)
Oakland High School (Tennessee)
Oakland High School is located within Murfreesboro, Tennessee and contains approximately 1600 students. OHS is part of the 6th largest school system in the state of Tennessee...
, he began playing in local clubs. While attending college, Young continued to tour, performing more than 150 shows a year.
2005-2007: Nashville Star and Chris Young
At a gig in Arlington, TexasArlington, Texas
Arlington is a city in Tarrant County, Texas within the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area. According to the 2010 census results, the city had a population of 365,438, making it the third largest municipality in the Metroplex...
, he was encouraged by a fan to try out for Nashville Star
Nashville Star
Nashville Star is an American reality television program. It was transmitted during mid-2008 on NBC, following five seasons on USA Network. It premiered on March 8, 2003, and its five seasons on USA made it the longest-running competition series on cable television. In Canada, the show aired on CMT...
, a television talent show on the USA Networks. After auditioning in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, he entered the show, and was declared the winner in 2006. His win also earned him a contract with RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
Nashville, and late that year, he released his debut single, "Drinkin' Me Lonely". This song, which peaked at #42 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
charts, served as the first single to his self-titled debut album
Chris Young (album)
-Personnel:As listed in liner notes.*Wyatt Beard - background vocals*Pat Buchanan - electric guitar*Buddy Cannon - background vocals*Eric Darken - percussion*Thomas Flora - background vocals*Steve Gibson - electric guitar, 6 string bass...
, which was produced by Buddy Cannon
Buddy Cannon
Buddy Cannon is an American country music songwriter and record producer. Active since the late 1970s, he is known primarily for his work as Kenny Chesney's record producer, for which he won the Academy of Country Music's Producer of the Year award in 2006.Along with Bill Anderson and Jamey...
. The album's second single, "You're Gonna Love Me", peaked at #48.
2008-2010: The Man I Want to Be and Voices EP
In May 2008, Young released his third single, "Voices." At the CMA Music FestivalCMA Music Festival
The CMA Music Festival is a four-day music festival centered around country music hosted each June by the Country Music Association in Nashville, Tennessee...
in June of that year, he promoted the single by e-mailing it to visitors at his Music Fest booth. On the chart week of August 16, 2008, "Voices" became Young's first Top 40 entry on the Billboard charts, going on to peak at #37. Following it was his fourth chart single, "Gettin' You Home (The Black Dress Song)
Gettin' You Home (The Black Dress Song)
"Gettin' You Home " is a country music song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Chris Young. It is the second single release from his second studio album, The Man I Want to Be, released on September 1, 2009...
." His second album, The Man I Want to Be
The Man I Want to Be
- Album :The Man I Want to Be debuted at number 6 on the U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums chart and number 19 on the U.S. Billboard 200. As of the chart dated February 26, 2011, the album has sold 418,528 copies in the US.- End of year charts :...
, was released on September 1. The album is produced by James Stroud
James Stroud
James Stroud is an American musician and record producer who works in pop, rock, and country music. In the 1990s he was the president of Giant Records and held several credits as a session drummer...
. It includes cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
s of Waylon Jennings
Waylon Jennings
Waylon Arnold Jennings was an American country music singer, songwriter, and musician. Jennings began playing at eight. He began performing at twelve, on KVOW radio. Jennings formed a band The Texas Longhorns. Jennings worked as a D.J on KVOW, KDAV and KLLL...
' "Rose in Paradise" (as a duet with Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson
Willie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
), as well as a cover of Tony Joe White
Tony Joe White
Tony Joe White is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist, best known for his 1969 hit "Polk Salad Annie"; "Rainy Night in Georgia", which he wrote but was first made popular by Brook Benton in 1970; and "Steamy Windows", a hit for Tina Turner in 1989...
's "Rainy Night in Georgia
Rainy Night in Georgia
"Rainy Night in Georgia" is a song written by Tony Joe White in 1962 and popularized by R&B vocalist Brook Benton in 1970.In 1969, after several years without a major hit, Benton had signed to a new record label, Cotillion Records...
". In October 2009, "Gettin' You Home" became the first Number One single of Young's career. The album's title track
The Man I Want to Be (song)
"The Man I Want to Be" is the title of a song written by Brett James and Tim Nichols and recorded by American country artist Chris Young. It was released in November 2009 as the third single from his second studio album, also titled The Man I Want to Be....
was released as its second single on November 16, 2009 and, in May 2010, it became his second Number One. "Voices" was re-released in June 2010, and has since become Young's third #1 country hit.
Young was nominated for the 2010 Academy of Country Music
Academy of Country Music
The Academy of Country Music was founded in 1964 in Los Angeles, California as the Country & Western Music Academy. Whereas the Country Music Association, founded in 1958, was based in Nashville, the Academy sought to promote country music in the western states. Among those involved in the...
Top New Solo Vocalist, alongside Luke Bryan
Luke Bryan
Thomas Luther "Luke" Bryan is an American country singer who debuted in 2007 with the single "All My Friends Say", a Top 5 single on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. His debut album, I'll Stay Me, was released on Capitol Records in 2007. This album also produced chart singles in "We Rode in...
and Jamey Johnson
Jamey Johnson
Jamey Johnson is an American Grammy Award nominated country music artist. Signed to BNA Records in 2005, Johnson made his debut with his single "The Dollar," the title track to his 2006 album The Dollar...
.
Chris Young appeared/presented at the 44th Annual Country Music Awards on November 10, 2010.
Chris Young was nominated for Best Male Country Vocal Performance during the 2010 Grammy nomination concert special.
2011-present: Neon
Chris Young released a new single, titled "TomorrowTomorrow (Chris Young song)
"Tomorrow" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Chris Young. It was released in February 2011 as the seventh single of his career, and the first from his third studio album, Neon. The song sold 30,000 digital downloads in its first week of...
," on February 28, 2011. The song serves as his fourth straight number one, from his album Neon
Neon (Chris Young album)
Neon is the third studio album by American country music artist Chris Young. It was released on July 12, 2011 via RCA Nashville. Young co-wrote seven of the album's ten tracks. The album sold 72,830 copies its first week.-Track listing:-Album:...
, which was released on July 12, 2011. His current single is "You." It was announced that Chris will be performing on the Country Music Association Awards on November 9, 2011.
Awards and nominations
| Year | Association | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Academy of Country Music Academy of Country Music The Academy of Country Music was founded in 1964 in Los Angeles, California as the Country & Western Music Academy. Whereas the Country Music Association, founded in 1958, was based in Nashville, the Academy sought to promote country music in the western states. Among those involved in the... |
Top New Male Vocalist | |
| 2010 | Top New Solo Vocalist | ||
| CMT Music Awards CMT Music Awards The CMT Music Awards is a fan-voted awards show for country music videos and television performances. The awards ceremony is held every year in Nashville, Tennessee, and broadcast live on CMT. Voting takes place on CMT's website, CMT.com.-History:... |
Nationwide Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company & Affiliated Companies is a group of large U.S. insurance and financial services companies based in Columbus... Is On Your Side Award |
||
| Country Music Association Country Music Association The Country Music Association was founded in 1958 in Nashville, Tennessee. It originally consisted of only 233 members and was the first trade organization formed to promote a music genre... |
New Artist of the Year | ||
| Grammy | Best Male Country Vocal Performance for "Gettin' You Home" | ||
| 2011 | Country Music Association Country Music Association The Country Music Association was founded in 1958 in Nashville, Tennessee. It originally consisted of only 233 members and was the first trade organization formed to promote a music genre... |
New Artist Of The Year |
Studio albums
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
Certifications (sales threshold) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country |
US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
|||
| Chris Young Chris Young (album) -Personnel:As listed in liner notes.*Wyatt Beard - background vocals*Pat Buchanan - electric guitar*Buddy Cannon - background vocals*Eric Darken - percussion*Thomas Flora - background vocals*Steve Gibson - electric guitar, 6 string bass... |
|
3 | 22 | |
| The Man I Want to Be The Man I Want to Be - Album :The Man I Want to Be debuted at number 6 on the U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums chart and number 19 on the U.S. Billboard 200. As of the chart dated February 26, 2011, the album has sold 418,528 copies in the US.- End of year charts :... |
|
6 | 19 |
Recording Industry Association of America The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States... : Gold |
| Neon Neon (Chris Young album) Neon is the third studio album by American country music artist Chris Young. It was released on July 12, 2011 via RCA Nashville. Young co-wrote seven of the album's ten tracks. The album sold 72,830 copies its first week.-Track listing:-Album:... |
|
2 | 4 | |
Extended plays
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Voices |
|
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Certifications (sales threshold) |
Album | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
US Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
CAN Canadian Hot 100 The Canadian Hot 100 is a music singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks songs in Canada. The chart debuted in the Billboard issue dated June 16, 2007 and was made available for the first time via their online services on June 7, 2007... |
|||||||
| 2006 | "Drinkin' Me Lonely" | 42 | — | — | Chris Young | ||||
| 2007 | "You're Gonna Love Me" | 48 | — | — | |||||
| 2008 | "Voices Voices (Chris Young song) "Voices" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Chris Young. After charting in mid-2008 on the Hot Country Songs charts, "Voices" was re-released in July 2010 following Young's first two Number one singles, "Gettin' You Home " and "The Man I Want to Be." The song is... " |
37 | — | — | The Man I Want to Be | ||||
| 2009 | "Gettin' You Home (The Black Dress Song) Gettin' You Home (The Black Dress Song) "Gettin' You Home " is a country music song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Chris Young. It is the second single release from his second studio album, The Man I Want to Be, released on September 1, 2009... " |
1 | 33 | 74 |
|
||||
| "The Man I Want to Be The Man I Want to Be (song) "The Man I Want to Be" is the title of a song written by Brett James and Tim Nichols and recorded by American country artist Chris Young. It was released in November 2009 as the third single from his second studio album, also titled The Man I Want to Be.... " |
1 | 48 | 81 | ||||||
| 2010 | "Voices" (re-release) | 1 | 53 | 86 | |||||
| 2011 | "Tomorrow Tomorrow (Chris Young song) "Tomorrow" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Chris Young. It was released in February 2011 as the seventh single of his career, and the first from his third studio album, Neon. The song sold 30,000 digital downloads in its first week of... " |
1 | 36 | 95 |
|
Neon | |||
| "You You (Chris Young song) "You" is the title of a song written by Luke Laird and Chris Young, and recorded by Young for his third studio album, Neon, from which it was released as the second single.-Reception:... "A |
15 | 64 | |||||||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||||||||
- A Current single.
Music videos
| Year | Video | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | "Drinkin' Me Lonely" | Warren P. Sonada |
| 2009 | "Gettin You Home (The Black Dress Song)" | Stephen Shepherd |
| "The Man I Want to Be" | Chris Hicky Chris Hicky Chris Hicky is a Grammy nominated music video director from Forrest City, Arkansas, best known for directing many of Keith Urban's videos. Hicky has also directed videos for many other artists in the country music genre, including Dierks Bentley, Kellie Pickler, Deana Carter, Carrie Underwood, Lady... |
|
| 2010 | "Voices" | David McClister |
| 2011 | "Tomorrow" | Trey Fanjoy Trey Fanjoy Trey Fanjoy is a country music and pop music video director. Fanjoy has directed over 150 major label music videos. Her videos have appeared on CMT, VH-1, GAC, The Nashville Network, CMT Canada, and MTV.-Music videos:... |
| "You" | Chris Hicky | |