J. Michael Harter
Encyclopedia
James "J." Michael Harter (born January 7, 1979 in Phoenix, Arizona
) is an American country music
artist. Signed to the independent Broken Bow Records
in 2002, Harter released his debut album Unexpected Change that year. It produced one single on the Billboard
Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs
) charts in "Hard Call to Make", which peaked at #45. Following its release, Harter founded his own label, Big Al, and later joined his sister and brother in a country trio called SEVEN (now The Harters
).
and Garth Brooks
, and would spend hours alone in his room, teaching himself to play guitar along with their songs. While in high school
, he wrote his first song, for his girlfriend.
Starting at age seventeen, Harter began performing locally in his native Phoenix, Arizona
. By 1999, he had moved to Nashville, Tennessee
in pursuit of a musical career, eventually meeting record producer Blake Mevis. Harter then signed to Broken Bow Records
, then a newly-established independent record label, in 2002. His debut single, "Hard Call to Make", spent sixteen weeks on the Billboard
Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs
) charts, peaking at #45. It was the only chart single from his debut album Unexpected Change (2002). The song was a ballad in which the narrator describes the choices he had to make in life. Unexpected Change received a favorable review from About.com
critic Jolene Downs, who said that although Harter did not look like a country singer, the songs showcased his singing and songwriting talents well.
Harter later exited Broken Bow's roster after the release of his album, and by 2004 he had formed another label called Big Al, in association with the Lofton Creek Records
label. A year later, he joined his sister Leslie and brother Scott to form a country music trio called SEVEN. They released a single entitled "Drunk Chicks" in 2005. The trio, renamed The Harters
, resumed recording in 2009 under the production of Keith Stegall
.
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
) 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. Signed to the independent Broken Bow Records
Broken Bow Records
Broken Bow Records is an American independent record label based in Nashville, Tennessee. Founded in July of 1999 by Benny Brown, the label specializes in country music The label's general manager is Jon Loba....
in 2002, Harter released his debut album Unexpected Change that year. It produced one single 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 Singles & Tracks (now 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 "Hard Call to Make", which peaked at #45. Following its release, Harter founded his own label, Big Al, and later joined his sister and brother in a country trio called SEVEN (now The Harters
The Harters
The Harters is a country music trio based in Arizona, United States. It is composed of lead singer Leslie Harter and her brothers, Michael and Scott...
).
Biography
J. Michael Harter was born James Michael Harter. The middle child of five, he has two older sisters, a younger sister, and a younger brother. Harter was inspired at an early age by George StraitGeorge Strait
George Harvey Strait is an American country music singer, actor, and music producer. Strait is referred to as the "King of Country," and critics call Strait a living legend. He is known for his unique style of western swing music, bar-room ballads, honky-tonk style, and fresh yet traditional...
and Garth Brooks
Garth Brooks
Troyal Garth Brooks , best known as Garth Brooks, is an American country music artist who helped make country music a worldwide phenomenon. His eponymous first album was released in 1989 and peaked at number 2 in the US country album chart while climbing to number 13 on the Billboard 200 album chart...
, and would spend hours alone in his room, teaching himself to play guitar along with their songs. While in high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
, he wrote his first song, for his girlfriend.
Starting at age seventeen, Harter began performing locally in his native Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
. By 1999, he had moved to Nashville, Tennessee
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...
in pursuit of a musical career, eventually meeting record producer Blake Mevis. Harter then signed to Broken Bow Records
Broken Bow Records
Broken Bow Records is an American independent record label based in Nashville, Tennessee. Founded in July of 1999 by Benny Brown, the label specializes in country music The label's general manager is Jon Loba....
, then a newly-established independent record label, in 2002. His debut single, "Hard Call to Make", spent sixteen weeks 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 Singles & Tracks (now 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, peaking at #45. It was the only chart single from his debut album Unexpected Change (2002). The song was a ballad in which the narrator describes the choices he had to make in life. Unexpected Change received a favorable review from About.com
About.com
About.com is an online source for original information and advice. It is written in English, and is aimed primarily at North Americans. It is owned by The New York Times Company....
critic Jolene Downs, who said that although Harter did not look like a country singer, the songs showcased his singing and songwriting talents well.
Harter later exited Broken Bow's roster after the release of his album, and by 2004 he had formed another label called Big Al, in association with the Lofton Creek Records
Lofton Creek Records
Lofton Creek Records is an United States country music record label launched in 2002 by Harold and Vicky Shafer, along with Mike and Martha Borchetta. The label is based in Nashville, Tennessee. In 2003, they also distributed the Big Al label, which was founded by country singer J...
label. A year later, he joined his sister Leslie and brother Scott to form a country music trio called SEVEN. They released a single entitled "Drunk Chicks" in 2005. The trio, renamed The Harters
The Harters
The Harters is a country music trio based in Arizona, United States. It is composed of lead singer Leslie Harter and her brothers, Michael and Scott...
, resumed recording in 2009 under the production of Keith Stegall
Keith Stegall
Robert Keith Stegall is an American country music recording artist and record producer. Active since 1980, Stegall has recorded two-major label studio albums: 1985's Keith Stegall and 1996's Passages...
.
Unexpected Change (2002)
- "If You Never Loved Me" (Marv Green, Bill Luther) – 3:16
- "Hard Call to Make" (Steve SeskinSteve SeskinSteve Seskin is an American songwriter whose compositions have been recorded by Alabama, Kenny Chesney, Peter Frampton, Waylon Jennings, Brian McComas, Neal McCoy, Tim McGraw, John Michael Montgomery, Colin Raye, Tebey and Mark Wills...
, Mark Alan Springer) – 3:33 - "Sugar and Gasoline" (Josh KearJosh KearJoshua Peter "Josh" Kear is an American songwriter. His credits include Carrie Underwood's number-one "Before He Cheats," for which Kear won the Grammy Award for Best Country Song in 2007 and Lady Antebellum's number-one "Need You Now," for which Kear won an Academy of Country Music Award for Best...
, Aimee MayoAimee MayoAimee Mayo is an American songwriter, primarily known for writing country hits for artists such as Lonestar, Martina McBride, Sara Evans, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, and Kellie Pickler. Mayo owns her own publishing company, Little Blue Typewriter Music.-Biography:Aimee Mayo grew up in Gadsden, Alabama...
, Chris Lindsey) – 3:30 - "On My Way Home" (Joe Doyle, Chris TompkinsChris TompkinsChris Tompkins is an American songwriter from Nashville, originally from Muscle Shoals, Alabama. He won Music Row's 2007"Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year" award and was honored as the Alabama Music Hall of Fame songwriter of the year...
) – 4:00 - "Everything in Arizona" (J. Michael Harter) – 3:30
- "Who You're Lovin' Now" (Trey BruceTrey BruceTrey Bruce is an American country music songwriter. Bruce has co-written three songs that became Number One singles on the Billboard country charts: "Look Heart, No Hands", "Spirit of a Boy, Wisdom of a Man" and "Whisper My Name" by Randy Travis, and "How Your Love Makes Me Feel" by Diamond Rio...
, Tim Johnson) – 4:02 - "You're in the Right Place" (Shane Teeters, Kerry Kurt Phillips) – 4:07
- "Losing You" (Monty Criswell, Tom Schoepf) – 3:06
- "Somewhere in California" (Harter, Tompkins, Kent BlazyKent BlazyKent Blazy is an American country music songwriter. His credits include several singles for Garth Brooks , as well as singles by Gary Morris, Diamond Rio, Patty Loveless and Chris Young.-Biography:Kent Blazy was raised in Lexington, Kentucky...
) – 3:38 - "The First Time" (Harter) – 3:49
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | 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... |
|||
| 2002 | "Hard Call to Make" | 45 | Unexpected Change |