Jake Owen
Encyclopedia
Joshua Ryan "Jake" Owen (born August 28, 1981) is an American country music
artist. Signed to RCA Records Nashville
in 2005, he released his debut album Startin' with Me
that year. The album produced three singles, all of which reached Top 20 on the Billboard
Hot Country Songs
chart: "Yee Haw", "Startin' with Me
", and "Something About a Woman
". A second album, 2009's Easy Does It
, has accounted for three more singles in the #2 "Don't Think I Can't Love You
", "Eight Second Ride", and "Tell Me". In September 2011, the lead-off single and title track to the album "Barefoot Blue Jean Night" became his first Number One single on the country chart.
He has also toured as an opening act for several country acts, including Kenny Chesney
, Brad Paisley
, Little Big Town
, Sugarland, and Keith Urban
.
on August 28, 1981. The brothers regularly participated in a variety of sports. Josh eventually took up golf
, and began pursuing a career as a professional golfer, winning his first tournament at fifteen. After graduating high school, they attended Florida State University
. A wakeboarding
accident which resulted in reconstructive surgery
left Jake unable to continue playing the sport.
While recovering from his injuries, he borrowed a neighbor's guitar and began to teach himself how to play it. After seeing a guitarist perform at a campus bar, he asked the bar's owner if he could play a gig there. Eventually, he became a regular at the bar, and soon took up writing his own material as well. He then moved to Nashville, Tennessee
, making his first stop at a bank to open a savings account; after telling the bank teller that he was a singer and songwriter, the teller then asked if he had any recordings available. He gave her a CD
of his work, which she sent to the Warner/Chappell Music
publishing company.
. Chesney, ultimately, did not record "Ghosts", although it drew the attention of Sony BMG Nashville executives, who signed Josh to their RCA Records
label in 2005. Per their suggestion, Owen changed his first name to Jake, so as to avoid confusion with Josh Turner
and Josh Gracin
.
Hot Country Songs
chart and served as the lead-off single on his debut album, Startin' with Me
.
Released on July 25, 2006, the album featured 11 tracks, all co-written by him and his producer. Among them were his own recording of "Ghosts" and a duet with Randy Owen
(no relation) of Alabama
) entitled "You Can Thank Dixie".) After the album's release, Jake Owen was signed as an opening act for acts such as Brad Paisley
and Carrie Underwood
.
The album's title track
, a ballad in which the narrator expresses his desire to change everything in his life, was released as his second single. Spending more than thirty-five weeks on the Billboard country chart, "Startin' with Me" became his first Top ten hit, reaching a peak of #6. Also in 2007, he went on tour with Alan Jackson
and Brooks & Dunn
. "Something About a Woman
" was released in late 2007 as the third single. In September 2007, he and country quartet Little Big Town
joined country duo Sugarland's tour. During this tour, the three acts began performing "Life in a Northern Town
" (a cover of British pop group The Dream Academy
's hit single from 1985). A music video
of their live performance was aired on CMT
. In April 2008, a recording of this performance entered the Billboard country chart based on unsolicited airplay.
, on February 24, 2009. The album debuted at #2 on the Billboard Top Country Albums and #13 on the Billboard 200
. The lead-off single to the album, "Don't Think I Can't Love You
" became his first Top 5 country hit, reaching #2 on the Hot Country Songs
chart in April 2009. "Eight Second Ride
", a song which was originally on Startin' with Me and newly recorded for Easy Does It, was the album's second single; it peaked at #11 in January 2010. "Tell Me" was the album's third single.
, on August 30, 2011. The lead-off single and title track to the album, "Barefoot Blue Jean Night
" has become his first Number One single on the country chart.
In 2011, he joined Keith Urban
on his 2011 Get Closer world tour.
^ Current single.
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 RCA Records Nashville
RCA Records Nashville
RCA Records Nashville is an American Country music record label based in Nashville, Tennessee. It is distributed by Sony Music Nashville which is part of Sony Music Entertainment. RCA Nashville recently took in some artists from Columbia Nashville which is being discontinued...
in 2005, he released his debut album Startin' with Me
Startin' with Me
-Album:-Singles:...
that year. The album produced three singles, all of which reached Top 20 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...
chart: "Yee Haw", "Startin' with Me
Startin' with Me (song)
"Startin' with Me" is a song by American country music artist Jake Owen. Released in October 2006, the song reached a peak of #6 on the U.S. country singles charts, becoming his first Top Ten country hit.-Content:...
", and "Something About a Woman
Something About a Woman
"Something About A Woman" is a single by country music artist Jake Owen. It was released in August 2007 as the third and final single from his debut CD, Startin' with Me.-Content:...
". A second album, 2009's Easy Does It
Easy Does It (Jake Owen album)
-Album:-End of year charts:-Singles:...
, has accounted for three more singles in the #2 "Don't Think I Can't Love You
Don't Think I Can't Love You
"Don't Think I Can't Love You" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Jake Owen. It is the fourth single release of his career, and the lead single from his second studio album, Easy Does It...
", "Eight Second Ride", and "Tell Me". In September 2011, the lead-off single and title track to the album "Barefoot Blue Jean Night" became his first Number One single on the country chart.
He has also toured as an opening act for several country acts, including Kenny Chesney
Kenny Chesney
Kenneth "Kenny" Arnold Chesney is an American country music singer and songwriter. Chesney has recorded 15 albums, 14 of which have been certified gold or higher by the RIAA. He has also produced more than 30 Top Ten singles on the U.S...
, 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....
, Little Big Town
Little Big Town
Little Big Town is an American country music vocal group. Founded in 1998, the group has comprised the same four members since its inception: Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, Jimi Westbrook, and Phillip Sweet. The quartet's musical style relies heavily on four-part vocal harmonies, with all...
, Sugarland, and Keith Urban
Keith Urban
Keith Lionel Urban is a New Zealand-born Australian, country music singer, songwriter and guitarist whose commercial success has been mainly in the United States and Australia. Urban was born in New Zealand and began his career in Australia at an early age...
.
Biography
Joshua "Jake" Owen and his fraternal twin brother Jarrod were born in Vero Beach, FloridaVero Beach, Florida
Vero Beach is a city in Indian River County, Florida, USA. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2006 estimates, the city had a population of 16,939. It is the county seat of Indian River County...
on August 28, 1981. The brothers regularly participated in a variety of sports. Josh eventually took up golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
, and began pursuing a career as a professional golfer, winning his first tournament at fifteen. After graduating high school, they attended Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
. A wakeboarding
Wakeboarding
Wakeboarding is a surface water sport which involves riding a wakeboard over the surface of a body of water. It was developed from a combination of water skiing, snow boarding and surfing techniques....
accident which resulted in reconstructive surgery
Reconstructive surgery
Reconstructive surgery is, in its broadest sense, the use of surgery to restore the form and function of the body, although Maxillo-Facial Surgeons, Plastic Surgeons and Otolaryngologists do reconstructive surgery on faces after trauma and to reconstruct the head and neck after cancer.Other...
left Jake unable to continue playing the sport.
While recovering from his injuries, he borrowed a neighbor's guitar and began to teach himself how to play it. After seeing a guitarist perform at a campus bar, he asked the bar's owner if he could play a gig there. Eventually, he became a regular at the bar, and soon took up writing his own material as well. He then 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...
, making his first stop at a bank to open a savings account; after telling the bank teller that he was a singer and songwriter, the teller then asked if he had any recordings available. He gave her a CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
of his work, which she sent to the Warner/Chappell Music
Warner/Chappell Music
Warner/Chappell Music, Inc. is an American music publishing company, and a division of the Warner Music Group. The company traces its origins back to 1811 and the founding of Chappell & Company, a music publishing company and instrument shop on London’s Bond Street that, in 1929, began a rapid...
publishing company.
Musical career
Although Warner/Chappell did not sign him to a contract, Josh Owen eventually met record producer and songwriter Jimmy Ritchey. They, along with songwriter Chuck Jones, wrote a song entitled "Ghosts", which they had intended for Kenny ChesneyKenny Chesney
Kenneth "Kenny" Arnold Chesney is an American country music singer and songwriter. Chesney has recorded 15 albums, 14 of which have been certified gold or higher by the RIAA. He has also produced more than 30 Top Ten singles on the U.S...
. Chesney, ultimately, did not record "Ghosts", although it drew the attention of Sony BMG Nashville executives, who signed Josh to their 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...
label in 2005. Per their suggestion, Owen changed his first name to Jake, so as to avoid confusion with Josh Turner
Josh Turner
Joshua Otis "Josh" Turner is a country music singer and actor signed to MCA Nashville Records in 2003, Turner has released four studio albums for the label. The first of these was 2003's Long Black Train, whose title track was his breakthrough single release...
and Josh Gracin
Josh Gracin
Joshua Mario "Josh" Gracin is a country music singer. A former member of the United States Marine Corps, he first gained public attention as the fourth-place finalist on the second season of the Fox Networks talent competition American Idol.After his elimination from the show, Gracin completed his...
.
Startin' with Me
In early 2006, Jake Owen released his debut single, entitled "Yee Haw". He describes the song (an up-tempo party anthem in which the narrator expresses his enjoyment with a cry of "yee haw") as being written "to make people have a good time." It peaked at #16 on the BillboardBillboard (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...
chart and served as the lead-off single on his debut album, Startin' with Me
Startin' with Me
-Album:-Singles:...
.
Released on July 25, 2006, the album featured 11 tracks, all co-written by him and his producer. Among them were his own recording of "Ghosts" and a duet with Randy Owen
Randy Owen
Randy Owen is an American country music artist. He is known primarily for his role as the lead singer of Alabama, a country rock band which saw considerable mainstream success throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Although Alabama only records new albums on occasion, Owen himself has maintained a career...
(no relation) of Alabama
Alabama (band)
Alabama is a country music and southern rock band from Fort Payne, Alabama, United States. The band was founded in 1969 by Randy Owen and his cousin Teddy Gentry , soon joined by Jeff Cook...
) entitled "You Can Thank Dixie".) After the album's release, Jake Owen was signed as an opening act for acts such as 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 Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood
Carrie Marie Underwood is an American country singer-songwriter and actress who rose to fame as the winner of the fourth season of American Idol, in 2005...
.
The album's title track
Startin' with Me (song)
"Startin' with Me" is a song by American country music artist Jake Owen. Released in October 2006, the song reached a peak of #6 on the U.S. country singles charts, becoming his first Top Ten country hit.-Content:...
, a ballad in which the narrator expresses his desire to change everything in his life, was released as his second single. Spending more than thirty-five weeks on the Billboard country chart, "Startin' with Me" became his first Top ten hit, reaching a peak of #6. Also in 2007, he went on tour with Alan Jackson
Alan Jackson
Alan Eugene Jackson is an American country music singer, known for blending traditional honky tonk and mainstream country sounds and penning many of his own hits. He has recorded 13 studio albums, 3 Greatest Hits albums, 2 Holiday albums, 1 Gospel album and several compilations, all on the Arista...
and Brooks & Dunn
Brooks & Dunn
Brooks & Dunn was an American country music duo consisting of Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn, who were both vocalists and songwriters. They were paired by record producer Tim DuBois in 1990. Before the duo's foundation, both members of the duo were solo recording artists...
. "Something About a Woman
Something About a Woman
"Something About A Woman" is a single by country music artist Jake Owen. It was released in August 2007 as the third and final single from his debut CD, Startin' with Me.-Content:...
" was released in late 2007 as the third single. In September 2007, he and country quartet Little Big Town
Little Big Town
Little Big Town is an American country music vocal group. Founded in 1998, the group has comprised the same four members since its inception: Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, Jimi Westbrook, and Phillip Sweet. The quartet's musical style relies heavily on four-part vocal harmonies, with all...
joined country duo Sugarland's tour. During this tour, the three acts began performing "Life in a Northern Town
Life in a Northern Town
"Life in a Northern Town" is a pop song by The Dream Academy, an English dream pop group. The song is the first single from their 1985 self-titled debut, The Dream Academy. Reaching #7 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in February 1986, it is also their highest-peaking chart single in the US...
" (a cover of British pop group The Dream Academy
The Dream Academy
The Dream Academy was a folk rock band from England, comprising singer/guitarist Nick Laird-Clowes; multi-instrumentalist Kate St John; plus keyboardist Gilbert Gabriel. They are most noted for their hit single, "Life in a Northern Town".-History:Laird-Clowes and Gabriel met each other in the late...
's hit single from 1985). 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...
of their live performance was aired on CMT
Country Music Television
Country Music Television, or CMT, is an American country music-oriented cable television network. Programming includes music videos, taped concerts, movies, biographies of country music stars, game shows, and reality programs...
. In April 2008, a recording of this performance entered the Billboard country chart based on unsolicited airplay.
Easy Does It
Jake Owen released his second studio album, Easy Does ItEasy Does It (Jake Owen album)
-Album:-End of year charts:-Singles:...
, on February 24, 2009. The album debuted at #2 on the Billboard Top Country Albums and #13 on the Billboard 200
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...
. The lead-off single to the album, "Don't Think I Can't Love You
Don't Think I Can't Love You
"Don't Think I Can't Love You" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Jake Owen. It is the fourth single release of his career, and the lead single from his second studio album, Easy Does It...
" became his first Top 5 country hit, reaching #2 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...
chart in April 2009. "Eight Second Ride
Eight Second Ride
"Eight Second Ride" is the title of a song recorded by American country music singer Jake Owen, written by him and Eric Durrance. It is the fifth single of Owen's career, and the second single from his 2009 album Easy Does It...
", a song which was originally on Startin' with Me and newly recorded for Easy Does It, was the album's second single; it peaked at #11 in January 2010. "Tell Me" was the album's third single.
Barefoot Blue Jean Night
He released his third studio album, Barefoot Blue Jean NightBarefoot Blue Jean Night
-Album:-Singles:*A Current single....
, on August 30, 2011. The lead-off single and title track to the album, "Barefoot Blue Jean Night
Barefoot Blue Jean Night (song)
"Barefoot Blue Jean Night" is the title of a song recorded by American country music singer Jake Owen. It is the seventh single of his career, and was released in April 2011 as the first single from his third studio album, also titled Barefoot Blue Jean Night. It reached number one on the U.S...
" has become his first Number One single on the country chart.
In 2011, he joined Keith Urban
Keith Urban
Keith Lionel Urban is a New Zealand-born Australian, country music singer, songwriter and guitarist whose commercial success has been mainly in the United States and Australia. Urban was born in New Zealand and began his career in Australia at an early age...
on his 2011 Get Closer world tour.
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| US Country |
US |
||
| Startin' with Me Startin' with Me -Album:-Singles:... |
|
8 | 31 |
| Easy Does It Easy Does It (Jake Owen album) -Album:-End of year charts:-Singles:... |
|
2 | 13 |
| Barefoot Blue Jean Night Barefoot Blue Jean Night -Album:-Singles:*A Current single.... |
|
1 | 6 |
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 | "Yee Haw" | 16 | 83 | — | Startin' with Me | ||||
| "Startin' with Me Startin' with Me (song) "Startin' with Me" is a song by American country music artist Jake Owen. Released in October 2006, the song reached a peak of #6 on the U.S. country singles charts, becoming his first Top Ten country hit.-Content:... " |
6 | 83 | — | ||||||
| 2007 | "Something About a Woman Something About a Woman "Something About A Woman" is a single by country music artist Jake Owen. It was released in August 2007 as the third and final single from his debut CD, Startin' with Me.-Content:... " |
15 | 104 | — | |||||
| 2008 | "Don't Think I Can't Love You Don't Think I Can't Love You "Don't Think I Can't Love You" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Jake Owen. It is the fourth single release of his career, and the lead single from his second studio album, Easy Does It... " |
2 | 57 | — | Easy Does It | ||||
| 2009 | "Eight Second Ride Eight Second Ride "Eight Second Ride" is the title of a song recorded by American country music singer Jake Owen, written by him and Eric Durrance. It is the fifth single of Owen's career, and the second single from his 2009 album Easy Does It... " |
11 | 70 | — |
|
||||
| 2010 | "Tell Me Tell Me (Jake Owen song) "Tell Me" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Jake Owen. It was released in April 2010 as the third and final single from his 2009 album Easy Does It.-Critical reception:... " |
35 | — | — | |||||
| 2011 | "Barefoot Blue Jean Night Barefoot Blue Jean Night (song) "Barefoot Blue Jean Night" is the title of a song recorded by American country music singer Jake Owen. It is the seventh single of his career, and was released in April 2011 as the first single from his third studio album, also titled Barefoot Blue Jean Night. It reached number one on the U.S... " |
1 | 21 | 52 |
|
Barefoot Blue Jean Night | |||
| "Alone with You"[A] | 30 | ||||||||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||||||||
^ Current single.
Other charted songs
| Year | Single | Peak 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... |
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... |
|||
| 2008 | "Life in a Northern Town Life in a Northern Town "Life in a Northern Town" is a pop song by The Dream Academy, an English dream pop group. The song is the first single from their 1985 self-titled debut, The Dream Academy. Reaching #7 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in February 1986, it is also their highest-peaking chart single in the US... " (with Sugarland and Little Big Town Little Big Town Little Big Town is an American country music vocal group. Founded in 1998, the group has comprised the same four members since its inception: Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, Jimi Westbrook, and Phillip Sweet. The quartet's musical style relies heavily on four-part vocal harmonies, with all... ) |
28 | 43 | 53 | Love on the Inside Love on the Inside Love on the Inside is the third album by the American country music duo Sugarland, released in 2008 on Mercury Nashville Records. It was first released on July 22, 2008 as a Deluxe Fan Edition, including five bonus tracks, with the regular edition following one week later... (Sugarland album) |
Music videos
| Year | Video | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | "Yee Haw" | Wes Edwards Wes Edwards Wes Edwards is a music video and commercial director. He has directed several Jason Aldean videos, as well as others.-Music videos directed:This is a list of music videos directed by Wes Edwards... |
| 2007 | "Startin' with Me" | Shaun Silva Shaun Silva Shaun Silva is a music video director who works primarily in the country music field. He has directed a number of music videos for many country music artists, including many of Kenny Chesney's music videos. His other clients include: Jack Ingram, Sugarland, Luke Bryan, Brooks & Dunn, and Rascal... |
| 2008 | "Life in a Northern Town" (with Sugarland and Little Big Town Little Big Town Little Big Town is an American country music vocal group. Founded in 1998, the group has comprised the same four members since its inception: Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, Jimi Westbrook, and Phillip Sweet. The quartet's musical style relies heavily on four-part vocal harmonies, with all... ) |
Becky Fluke |
| "Don't Think I Can't Love You" | David McClister | |
| 2009 | "Eight Second Ride" | Deaton-Flanigen Productions Deaton-Flanigen Productions Deaton-Flanigen Productions is a music video directing duo composed of Robert Deaton III and George Flanigen IV. The two have directed multiple music videos, primarily in the field of country music... |
| 2010 | "Tell Me" | Mason Dixon |
| 2011 | "Barefoot Blue Jean Night" |
External links
- Official Website
- Jake Owen on CMTCountry Music TelevisionCountry Music Television, or CMT, is an American country music-oriented cable television network. Programming includes music videos, taped concerts, movies, biographies of country music stars, game shows, and reality programs...