Lyle Lovett

Lyle Lovett

Lovett in a 2005 concert
Background information
Birth name Lyle Pearce Lovett
Born November 1, 1957
Origin Klein, Texas (USA)
Genres Texas country, Americana, outlaw country, bluegrass, western swing, country folk, country pop, country rock
Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter, record producer, actor
Years active 1980–present
Labels MCA/Curb
Lost Highway/Curb
Associated acts Randy Newman, John Hiatt, Joe Ely, Guy Clark, Los Super Seven
Website www.LyleLovett.com

Lyle Pearce Lovett (born November 1, 1957)[1] is an American country singer-songwriter and actor. Active since 1980, he has recorded thirteen albums and released 21 singles to date, including his highest entry, the number 10 chart hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, "Cowboy Man". Lovett has won four Grammy Awards, including Best Male Country Vocal Performance and Best Country Album. It's Not Big It's Large was released in 2007, where it debuted and peaked at number 2 on the Top Country Albums chart. A new studio album, Natural Forces, was released on October 20, 2009 by Lost Highway Records. The last studio album on his Curb Records contract, Release Me, was released in February 2012.

Biography

Early life

Lovett was born in Houston, Texas,[2][3][4] when his family lived in the nearby community of Klein. He is the son of William Pearce and Bernell Louise (née Klein) Lovett, a marketing executive and training specialist, respectively. He was raised in the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod.[5] Lovett attended Texas A&M University, where he received Bachelor of Arts degrees in both German and Journalism in 1980. It is a common misconception that Lyle and Robert Earl Keen were roommates at A&M. They were not. However, they lived near each other in College Station, became good friends, and wrote "The Front Porch Song" together, which both went on to record.

Career

Lovett's music career began as a songwriter, but he soon signed with MCA Records in 1986 and released his eponymous debut album. While typically associated with the country genre, Lovett's compositions often incorporate folk, swing, blues, jazz and gospel music as well as more traditional country & Western styling. He has won four Grammy Awards, including Best Country Album (1996 for The Road to Ensenada), Best Country Duo/Group with Vocal (1994 for "Blues For Dixie" with the Texas swing group Asleep at the Wheel), Best Pop Vocal Collaboration (1994 for "Funny How Time Slips Away" with Al Green) and Best Country Male Vocal (1989) for Lyle Lovett and His Large Band).

Lyle Lovett performing on the Watson Stage at MerleFest in 2011, Wilkes County, N.C. Photo by Forrest L. Smith, III

Lovett has acted in a number of films, including Robert Altman's films: The Player (1992), Short Cuts (1993), Prêt-à-Porter (1994), Cookie's Fortune (1999), and composed for Dr. T & the Women (2000). More recently, he has acted in The New Guy (2002) and Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007). His television acting forays include Mad About You, Brothers & Sisters, The Bridge, Castle, and Dharma & Greg. The Bloodhound Gang's song "The Bad Touch" does a reference to Lovett: "And you'll Lovett just like Lyle". Lovett was given an award called an "Esky" for Surest Thing in Esquire's 2006 Esky Music Awards in the April issue. The magazine said of Lovett: "The secret of Lyle Lovett's endurance comes down to the three C's: class, charisma and consistency... In the studio and on stage with his giant orchestra, he's spent two decades gracefully matching genuine songcraft with A-list musicianship".

Lovett plays Collings acoustic guitars.[6]

In 2010 Lovett appeared on an episode of Spectacle: Elvis Costello with... which also featured John Prine and Ray LaMontagne. He appeared on Castle in Season 3, Episode 9 in the role of a government agent.

In 2011, Lovett was named Texas State Artist Musician by the Texas Commission on the Arts. [7]

Lovett contributed a cover of Buddy Holly's "Well... All Right" for the tribute album Listen to Me: Buddy Holly, released on September 6, 2011.

In 2013 Lovett appeared in Episode 2 of The Bridge, an FX series, as Flagman, a lawyer.

Personal life

Lovett achieved notoriety when he married actress Julia Roberts after meeting her on The Player movie set. Following a three-week romance, they eloped and married in June 1993 in Marion, Indiana. In March 1995, the couple divorced after less than two years of marriage. People magazine reported that the breakup was caused by career demands.[8] The two remained friends afterwards.[9]

Since late 1997, Lovett has been in a relationship with April Kimble. They are currently engaged. [10]

On March 28, 2002 Lovett was trapped by a bull against a fence on his uncle's farm in Klein, Texas, before being pulled to safety. He fully recovered after six months from a badly broken leg, and began touring again in the summer of 2003.

Lovett was conferred the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters by the University of Houston on May 15, 2010 at its general commencement ceremony.[11][12] His mother was in the audience as her son was presented with an honorary doctorate from the same university from which she had received her bachelor's degree in 1960.[13] His late father was also a graduate of the University of Houston.[11]

During his career, Lovett has performed at various fundraising events for the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture of the University of Houston.[11]

Discography

Television

Episode: One Wedding and A Funeral [Original air date: November 8, 1995]

[Original air date: July 11, 1995]

Game 4 [Original air date: October 30, 2010]

Both of Lovett's National Anthem performances were at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

Filmography

Musician

Actor

Theatre

Actor

Composer

References

  1. ↑ Lyle Lovett Page at Allmusic – Lovett's Genre and Styles. Retrieved February 2, 2007
  2. ↑ "Lyle Lovett - Musician". Visit Houston. Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau. 2012. Retrieved 2013-11-06. I was born at the Methodist Hospital in Houston, TX.
  3. ↑ "Musician Recalls Early Connection to UH". University of Houston (University website). University of Houston. 2012-09-21. Retrieved 2013-11-06. I was born at Methodist [hospital] and never lived anywhere else but Houston.
  4. ↑ "[No title]". Houstorian (Facebook page). James Glassman. 2013-11-01. Retrieved 2013-11-06. Mr. Lovett just DM'ed me that he was born in Methodist Hospital in the Medical Center.
  5. ↑ NPR Music: Lyle Lovett: 'My Baby Don't Tolerate'
  6. ↑ Fretbase: Play Guitar Like Lyle Lovett
  7. ↑ http://www.arts.texas.gov/initiatives/texas-state-artist/state-musician/
  8. ↑ Schneider, Karen S. (April 10, 1995). "One Last Sad Song". People. Retrieved March 6, 2013.
  9. ↑ http://www.heraldscotland.com/arts-ents/music/lyle-lovett-goes-where-the-love-is.14371767?_=540d3e47795cb7cf660d17fac99e2ad4296c26ca
  10. ↑ http://www.contactmusic.com/news-article/julia-roberts.-singer-ex-to-marry
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 "Musician Recalls Early Connection to University of Houston". University of Houston. Retrieved May 16, 2010.
  12. ↑ "The University of Houston to Graduate More Than 4,500 Students". University of Houston. Retrieved May 16, 2010.
  13. ↑ "Singer and songwriter Lyle Lovett received an honorary degree during the ceremony". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved May 16, 2010.
  14. ↑ Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles
  15. ↑ Lyle Lovett joining Helen Hunt in cast of 'Much Ado About Nothing', Los Angeles Times, December 2, 2010

External links

Awards
First
None recognized before
 AMA Americana Trailblazer Award
2007 		Succeeded by
Nanci Griffith