Eric Church
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Eric Church is an American country music
singer and songwriter. Signed to Capitol Records
in 2006, Church released his debut album Sinners Like Me
that year. This album produced four chart singles
on the Billboard
country charts, including the Top 20 hits "How 'Bout You
," "Two Pink Lines" and "Guys Like Me
." His second album, 2009's Carolina
, has produced three more singles: "Smoke a Little Smoke
" and his first two Top 10 hits "Love Your Love the Most
" and "Hell on the Heart
." 2011's Chief, his first number-one album, includes the singles "Homeboy
" and "Drink in My Hand
".
. At age thirteen, he bought a guitar and began writing songs of his own. By his senior year of high school, he had found a gig at a local bar, which occupied most of his time. He played many Jimmy Buffett
cover songs and a few of his own original songs in some unpleasant places. Some of these places were so rough that he got into a few altercations from the stage. For a few years, his band played often in bars and restaurants throughout North Carolina. His band consisted of his college roommate, brother, and other fellow guitarist, temporarily naming their band the "Mountain Boys."
Before moving to Nashville
, he graduated from South Caldwell High School
and Appalachian State University
with a degree in marketing. He later became engaged to a woman, her father then attempted to persuade Church into accepting a corporate career. Church just about gave up on music, but instead left his fiancé and headed to Nashville, Tennessee. His father paid for his first six months in Nashville, so the financial cushion his father provided him gave him time to make contacts. Eric eventually found a publishing deal at Sony/ATV Tree Music Publishing. Terri Clark
took "The World Needs a Drink," which Church wrote with Casey Beathard
, into the country top 30.
that they didn't think the music was interesting enough. The record company's attitude changed after Church started working with producer Jay Joyce. The strong sound and direction the two forged together finally convinced Capitol Nashville that the singer-songwriter was ready. Following a showcase, Church signed to Capitol Records
' Nashville division. His first single, "How 'Bout You
," peaked at #14 on the Hot Country Songs
charts and led off his debut album Sinners Like Me
. In April 2006, Church performed on the Grand Ole Opry
for the first time.
The album's other two singles, "Two Pink Lines" and "Guys Like Me," both reached the country Top 20 as well. The fourth single, which was the title track, peaked at #51. An additional track from the album, "Lightning," was made into a music video
despite not being released as a single. Church wrote this song shortly after his moving to Nashville, and was inspired to write it after seeing the movie The Green Mile
. Following the album's success, Church toured with Brad Paisley
and Rascal Flatts
.
chart at #55 in late April 2008, and reached its peak of #46 in August. Originally slated as the lead single to an upcoming second album, "His Kind of Money" was never released on an album but it was included as a bonus track on albums sold at Best Buy. Following this song was "Love Your Love the Most
," which debuted in late 2008 and is the first single from his second album Carolina
, released on March 24, 2009. That same month, "Love Your Love the Most" brought Church to the country top ten for the first time, peaking at #10 in September. As with his debut album, Carolina was produced by Jay Joyce, and is entirely composed of songs that Church co-wrote. The album's second single, "Hell on the Heart," debuted in October 2009 and would also hit the top 10 in May 2010. In June 2010 Eric moved to Capitol Nashville's new imprint EMI Records Nashville and became the label's second artist and released the third single from "Carolina" titled "Smoke A Little Smoke". On January 14, 2011, Church released a four song EP entitled "Caldwell County".
and the Top Country Albums, giving Church first number one album on both charts. In addition, the album sold 145,000 copies in its first week.
"Cribs".
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...
singer and songwriter. Signed to Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
in 2006, Church released his debut album Sinners Like Me
Sinners Like Me
-Album:-Singles:-External links:*[ Sinners Like Me] at Allmusic...
that year. This album produced four chart singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
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...
country charts, including the Top 20 hits "How 'Bout You
How 'Bout You
"How 'Bout You" is a song co-written and recorded by country music artist Eric Church. It is his debut single released from his 2006 debut album Sinners Like Me. It peaked at #14 in the United States.-Music video:...
," "Two Pink Lines" and "Guys Like Me
Guys Like Me
"Guys Like Me" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Eric Church. It was released in January 2007 as the third single from his 2006 debut album Sinners Like Me. It peaked at number 17 on the United States Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and at number 99...
." His second album, 2009's Carolina
Carolina (Eric Church album)
-Album:-End of year charts:-Singles:-Certifications:...
, has produced three more singles: "Smoke a Little Smoke
Smoke a Little Smoke
"Smoke a Little Smoke" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Eric Church. The song is the third single from his second album, 2009's Carolina...
" and his first two Top 10 hits "Love Your Love the Most
Love Your Love the Most
"Love Your Love the Most" is a song co-written and recorded by country music artist Eric Church. It is the lead-off single to his 2009 album Carolina...
" and "Hell on the Heart
Hell on the Heart
"Hell on the Heart" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Eric Church. It was released in October 2009 as the second single from his second studio album, Carolina...
." 2011's Chief, his first number-one album, includes the singles "Homeboy
Homeboy (Eric Church song)
"Homeboy" is the title of a song co-written by Eric Church and Casey Beathard, and recorded by Church. It was released in March 2011 as the ninth single of his career, and the first from his third studio album, Chief.-Content:...
" and "Drink in My Hand
Drink in My Hand
"Drink in My Hand" is the title of a song co-written by Eric Church, Michael P. Heeney and Luke Laird, and recorded by Church. It was released in August 2011 as the tenth single of his career, and the second from his third studio album, Chief....
".
Biography
Eric Church was born and raised in Granite Falls, North CarolinaGranite Falls, North Carolina
Granite Falls is a town in Caldwell County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 4,612 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
. At age thirteen, he bought a guitar and began writing songs of his own. By his senior year of high school, he had found a gig at a local bar, which occupied most of his time. He played many Jimmy Buffett
Jimmy Buffett
James William "Jimmy" Buffett is a singer-songwriter, author, entrepreneur, and film producer. He is best known for his music, which often portrays an "island escapism" lifestyle. Together with his Coral Reefer Band, Buffett's musical hits include "Margaritaville" , and "Come Monday"...
cover songs and a few of his own original songs in some unpleasant places. Some of these places were so rough that he got into a few altercations from the stage. For a few years, his band played often in bars and restaurants throughout North Carolina. His band consisted of his college roommate, brother, and other fellow guitarist, temporarily naming their band the "Mountain Boys."
Before moving to Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, he graduated from South Caldwell High School
South Caldwell High School
South Caldwell High School is a high school located in Hudson, North Carolina, United States.-History:The construction South Caldwell High School was completed on August 15, 1977. SCHS is located on a site in southern Caldwell County, North Carolina between Hudson and Granite Falls. South...
and Appalachian State University
Appalachian State University
Appalachian State University is a comprehensive , public, coeducational university located in Boone, North Carolina, United States. Appalachian State, also referred to as Appalachian, App State, or simply App, is the sixth largest institution in the University of North Carolina system...
with a degree in marketing. He later became engaged to a woman, her father then attempted to persuade Church into accepting a corporate career. Church just about gave up on music, but instead left his fiancé and headed to Nashville, Tennessee. His father paid for his first six months in Nashville, so the financial cushion his father provided him gave him time to make contacts. Eric eventually found a publishing deal at Sony/ATV Tree Music Publishing. Terri Clark
Terri Clark
Terri Lynn Sauson , known professionally as Terri Clark, is a Canadian country music artist who has had success in both Canada and the United States. Signed to Mercury Records in 1995, she released her self-titled debut that year...
took "The World Needs a Drink," which Church wrote with Casey Beathard
Casey Beathard
Casey Beathard is an American country music songwriter. The son of former NFL general manager Bobby Beathard, he has co-written singles for several country music recording artists, including Top Ten singles for Gary Allan, Billy Ray Cyrus, Trace Adkins, and Kenny Chesney...
, into the country top 30.
2006-2007: Sinners Like Me
Arthur Buenahora Jr. signed Eric Church to a publishing deal. The artist started recording with different producers. Capitol Nashville showed an interest at this time and watched Church perform on several occasions but although they did not pass on Church, they were yet to be convinced enough to offer a recording contract. A&R Autumn House-Tallant told HitQuartersHitQuarters
HitQuarters is an international music industry publication and contact database founded in 1999. It is noted for in-depth interviews with industry figures, with past subjects including Simon Cowell, Martin Kierszenbaum, Jason Flom, Diane Warren, Peter Edge, Ron Fair and RedOne, as well as its A&R...
that they didn't think the music was interesting enough. The record company's attitude changed after Church started working with producer Jay Joyce. The strong sound and direction the two forged together finally convinced Capitol Nashville that the singer-songwriter was ready. Following a showcase, Church signed to Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
' Nashville division. His first single, "How 'Bout You
How 'Bout You
"How 'Bout You" is a song co-written and recorded by country music artist Eric Church. It is his debut single released from his 2006 debut album Sinners Like Me. It peaked at #14 in the United States.-Music video:...
," peaked at #14 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 and led off his debut album Sinners Like Me
Sinners Like Me
-Album:-Singles:-External links:*[ Sinners Like Me] at Allmusic...
. In April 2006, Church performed on the Grand Ole Opry
Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, that has presented the biggest stars of that genre since 1925. It is also among the longest-running broadcasts in history since its beginnings as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM-AM...
for the first time.
The album's other two singles, "Two Pink Lines" and "Guys Like Me," both reached the country Top 20 as well. The fourth single, which was the title track, peaked at #51. An additional track from the album, "Lightning," was made into a music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
despite not being released as a single. Church wrote this song shortly after his moving to Nashville, and was inspired to write it after seeing the movie The Green Mile
The Green Mile
The Green Mile may refer to:* The Green Mile , a 1996 serial novel by Stephen King* The Green Mile , a 1999 film based on the Stephen King novel, starring Michael Clarke Duncan and Tom Hanks-See also:* Miles Green...
. Following the album's success, Church toured with Brad Paisley
Brad Paisley
Brad Douglas Paisley is an American singer-songwriter and musician. His style crosses between traditional country music and Southern rock, and his songs are frequently laced with humor and pop culture references....
and Rascal Flatts
Rascal Flatts
Rascal Flatts is an American country music band that originated in Columbus, Ohio, United States of America. Since its inception, Rascal Flatts has been composed of three members: Gary LeVox , Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney...
.
2008-2010: Carolina
In 2008, Church released a fifth single, "His Kind of Money (My Kind of Love)," to country radio. It debuted on the Billboard Hot Country SongsHot 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...
chart at #55 in late April 2008, and reached its peak of #46 in August. Originally slated as the lead single to an upcoming second album, "His Kind of Money" was never released on an album but it was included as a bonus track on albums sold at Best Buy. Following this song was "Love Your Love the Most
Love Your Love the Most
"Love Your Love the Most" is a song co-written and recorded by country music artist Eric Church. It is the lead-off single to his 2009 album Carolina...
," which debuted in late 2008 and is the first single from his second album Carolina
Carolina (Eric Church album)
-Album:-End of year charts:-Singles:-Certifications:...
, released on March 24, 2009. That same month, "Love Your Love the Most" brought Church to the country top ten for the first time, peaking at #10 in September. As with his debut album, Carolina was produced by Jay Joyce, and is entirely composed of songs that Church co-wrote. The album's second single, "Hell on the Heart," debuted in October 2009 and would also hit the top 10 in May 2010. In June 2010 Eric moved to Capitol Nashville's new imprint EMI Records Nashville and became the label's second artist and released the third single from "Carolina" titled "Smoke A Little Smoke". On January 14, 2011, Church released a four song EP entitled "Caldwell County".
2011: Chief
Eric released his new single "Homeboy" to country radio on February 28, 2011. The album featuring the new single is titled Chief and was released July 26, 2011. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200Billboard 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...
and the Top Country Albums, giving Church first number one album on both charts. In addition, the album sold 145,000 copies in its first week.
Personal life
Church married music publisher Katherine Blasingame on Jan 8, 2008. On March 24, 2011, the couple announced they are expecting their first child in Oct 2011. On Oct 3, 2011 Eric and Katherine welcomed son Boone McCoy Church.http://celebritybabies.people.com/2011/10/06/eric-church-welcomes-son-boone-mccoy/ Their home (along with Eric's "mancave"), located in Nashville, was featured in an episode of CMTCMT
- Medicine :* California mastitis test* Certified Massage Therapist* Cervical motion tenderness, a sign of pelvic inflammatory disease* Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease* Chemically modified tetracyclines* Circus Movement Tachycardia...
"Cribs".
Studio albums
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Certifications Music recording sales certification Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,... (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... |
CAN Canadian Albums Chart The Canadian Albums Chart is the official album sales chart in Canada. It is compiled every Wednesday by U.S.-based music sales tracking company Nielsen Soundscan, and published every Thursday by Jam! Canoe and Billboard, along with its sister charts the Canadian Singles Chart and the Canadian BDS... |
|||
| Sinners Like Me Sinners Like Me -Album:-Singles:-External links:*[ Sinners Like Me] at Allmusic... |
|
7 | 29 | — | |
| Carolina Carolina (Eric Church album) -Album:-End of year charts:-Singles:-Certifications:... |
|
4 | 17 | — |
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 |
| Chief Chief (album) Chief is the third studio album by American country music recording artist Eric Church. It was released on July 26, 2011, via EMI Nashville. The album includes the singles "Homeboy", which peaked at number 13 on the Hot Country Songs charts, and "Drink in My Hand"... |
EMI Records EMI Records is the flagship record label founded by the EMI company in 1972 and launched in January 1973 as the successor to its Columbia label. The EMI label was launched worldwide... |
1 | 1 | 7 |
|
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||||
Extended plays
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 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... |
||
| Caldwell County |
|
13 | 67 |
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 | "How 'Bout You How 'Bout You "How 'Bout You" is a song co-written and recorded by country music artist Eric Church. It is his debut single released from his 2006 debut album Sinners Like Me. It peaked at #14 in the United States.-Music video:... " |
14 | 85 | — | Sinners Like Me | |
| "Two Pink Lines" | 19 | — | — | |||
| 2007 | "Guys Like Me Guys Like Me "Guys Like Me" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Eric Church. It was released in January 2007 as the third single from his 2006 debut album Sinners Like Me. It peaked at number 17 on the United States Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and at number 99... " |
17 | 99 | — | ||
| "Sinners Like Me" | 51 | — | — | |||
| 2008 | "His Kind of Money (My Kind of Love)" | 46 | — | — | Non-album song | |
| 2009 | "Love Your Love the Most Love Your Love the Most "Love Your Love the Most" is a song co-written and recorded by country music artist Eric Church. It is the lead-off single to his 2009 album Carolina... " |
10 | 63 | — |
|
Carolina |
| "Hell on the Heart Hell on the Heart "Hell on the Heart" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Eric Church. It was released in October 2009 as the second single from his second studio album, Carolina... " |
10 | 67 | — | |||
| 2010 | "Smoke a Little Smoke Smoke a Little Smoke "Smoke a Little Smoke" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Eric Church. The song is the third single from his second album, 2009's Carolina... " |
16 | 78 | — |
|
|
| 2011 | "Homeboy Homeboy (Eric Church song) "Homeboy" is the title of a song co-written by Eric Church and Casey Beathard, and recorded by Church. It was released in March 2011 as the ninth single of his career, and the first from his third studio album, Chief.-Content:... " |
13 | 53 | — |
|
Chief |
| "Drink in My Hand Drink in My Hand "Drink in My Hand" is the title of a song co-written by Eric Church, Michael P. Heeney and Luke Laird, and recorded by Church. It was released in August 2011 as the tenth single of his career, and the second from his third studio album, Chief.... "A |
11 | 40 | 52 | |||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | ||||||
- ACurrent single.
Music videos
| Year | Video | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | "How 'Bout You" | Scott Speer Scott Speer Scott Speer is an American music video director born in San Diego, California.-Career:At age 23 he was signed with HSI Productions, and in 2006 Speer received the MVPA Award for Directorial Debut of the Year for the music video of "Stars" by Switchfoot.In 2007 he won his first MTV Video Music... |
| "Two Pink Lines" | Peter Zavadil Peter Zavadil Peter Zavadil is a music video director who works primarily in the field of country music. He has directed many music videos since the late 1990s.-Music videos directed:109 music videos are currently listed here.-References:... |
|
| 2007 | "Guys Like Me" | Scott Speer |
| "Lightning" | David McClister | |
| 2009 | "Love Your Love the Most" | Adam Hall |
| 2010 | "Hell on the Heart" | |
| "Ain't Killed Me Yet" | ||
| "Smoke a Little Smoke" | Peter Zavadil | |
| 2011 | "Homeboy" | |
| "Drink in My Hand" |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Association | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Academy of Country Music Awards | Top New Solo Vocalist | |
| Top New Artist |