Chris Young (musician)

Chris Young
Chris Young at the 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards.
Background information
Birth name	Christopher Alan Young[1]
Born	(1985-06-12) June 12, 1985
Origin	Murfreesboro, Tennessee, USA
Genres	Country
Occupations	Singer-songwriter
Instruments	Vocals, acoustic guitar, and electric guitar
Years active	2002–present
Labels	RCA Nashville
Associated acts	Billy Yates, Aaron Lewis
Website	www.chrisyoungcountry.com

Christopher Alan "Chris" Young (born June 12, 1985) 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 singles on Hot Country Songs: "Drinkin' Me Lonely" and "You're Gonna Love Me". A second album, The Man I Want to Be, was released September 1, 2009. It included the singles "Voices", "Gettin' You Home (The Black Dress Song)", and "The Man I Want to Be", which all went to number 1. Young's third album, Neon, produced two more number ones in "Tomorrow" and "You".

Early years

Chris Young was born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, on June 12, 1985. His grandfather, Richard Yates, was a performer on the Louisiana Hayride.^[2] He showed interest in music from an early age, performing in various children's theater productions; while attending Oakland High School and Riverdale High School (Tennessee), he sang in his high school choir and began playing in local clubs. In 2000, he performed with his high school's Winter Drumline in a performance entitled "A Night at the Palladium", where he was a mariachi singer. The group performed in the Winter Guard International Tournament in Ohio that year.^[2] While attending college, he continued to tour, performing more than 150 shows a year.^[2]

Career

2005–2007: Nashville Star and Chris Young

At a gig in Arlington, Texas, he was encouraged to try out for Nashville Star, a television talent show on the USA Networks. Auditioning in Houston, Texas, he entered the show and won in 2006. His win earned him a contract with RCA Records Nashville and late that year he released his debut single, "Drinkin' Me Lonely". It peaked at number 42 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and served as the first single to his self-titled debut album, which was produced by Buddy Cannon.^[2] The album's second single, "You're Gonna Love Me", peaked at number 48.

2008–2010: Voices EP and The Man I Want to Be

In May 2008, Chris Young released his third single, "Voices". At the CMA Music Festival in June, he promoted the single by e-mailing it to visitors at his Music Fest booth.^[3] In August, "Voices" became his first Top 40 entry on the Billboard charts, peaking at 37.

His second album, The Man I Want to Be, was released in September 2009.^[4] It was produced by James Stroud and includes cover versions of Waylon Jennings' "Rose in Paradise" (as a duet with Willie Nelson) and Tony Joe White's "Rainy Night in Georgia".^[4]

In October 2009 Chris Young's fourth chart single, "Gettin' You Home (The Black Dress Song)", became his first number 1 single. The album's title track was released in November 2009.^[5] Both it and a re-release of "Voices" went to number 1.

He was nominated for the 2010 Academy of Country Music Top New Solo Vocalist, alongside Luke Bryan and Jamey Johnson.

He presented at the 44th Annual Country Music Awards on November 10, 2010.^[6]

He was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance for "Gettin' You Home".

2011–present: Neon and A.M.

Chris Young released the single "Tomorrow" in February 2011. It became his fourth straight number 1. The album Neon was released in July 2011. The album includes his fifth consecutive number 1, "You", the title track, and "I Can Take It from There". In August 2012, "Tomorrow" became his first platinum selling single.

The first single from Young's upcoming fourth studio album, "Aw Naw", was released to country radio on May 13, 2013. It peaked at number 3 on the Country Airplay chart in November 2013. The album, A.M., was released on September 17, 2013.^[7]

In 2013, Young served as an Ambassador for the CMA Songwriter's Series showcased in Belfast, Dublin, London, and Paris as an attempt to get country music in the media overseas. ^[8]

On August 13, 2013, Young was en route to a tour date in Montana on when he began to go into septic shock stemming from a bacterial infection in his leg from a small cut and was taken by ambulance to a Denver, Colorado hospital. The medical team, responded quickly and immediately started Young on medications to stop the infection from spreading. In addition, an emergency surgery was scheduled for shortly after midnight on August 14, where they removed the infection from Chris’s leg. Chris returned home under his physician's care. As expected, his mobility was impacted by the surgery and his doctor requested he wait a full week post-surgery to resume touring. Young resumed touring on August 22.

Philanthropy

Chris has shown support for Little Kids Rock by generously donating various items to the organization for auction, raising money to put instruments in the hands of children.^[9] He has also been a major supporter for Stars For Stripes. In 2012 he made a promise to raise funds for Stars for Stripes and came through for them by closing out his campaign raising $35,000.^[10] He also is known for his support for St. Jude Children's Hospital ^[11] and has raised money for them by sponsoring a tree at the Gaylord Opryland Resort's Annual Hall of Trees ^[12]

Awards and nominations

Discography

Studio albums

• Chris Young (2006)
• The Man I Want to Be (2009)
• Neon (2011)
• A.M. (2013)

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chris Young (singer).

• Official website