Sam Hunt (musician)

Sam Hunt
Birth name Sam Lowry Hunt
Born December 8, 1984[1]
Cedartown, Georgia
Origin Nashville, Tennessee
Genres Country
Occupation(s) Musician, singer-songwriter
Instruments Vocals, guitar, piano
Years active 2009–present
Labels MCA Nashville
Associated acts Billy Currington, Keith Urban, Hunter Hayes, Kenny Chesney

Sam Lowry Hunt[2] (born December 8, 1984) is an American country singer-songwriter and former college football player. He is known for writing singles for Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, and Billy Currington. In 2014, Hunt signed with MCA Nashville and released his debut album Montevallo, which includes the number 1 Country Airplay hit "Leave the Night On".

Early life

Sam Hunt was born on December 8, 1984 in Cedartown, Georgia to Allen and Joan Hunt, an insurance agent and a teacher respectively.[1][3] He studied at Cedartown High School where he played football. He was named 2002 Co-Offensive Player of the Year, was selected for the Georgia Sportswriters Association All-State Class AAA first-team as an all-purpose player, and was a Wendy's High School Heisman nominee.[4] After graduating high school, he became interested in music and bought his first guitar to take to college.[5]

He was a quarterback for two years at Middle Tennessee State University and two years at UAB where he majored in philosophy.[6][7] He had limited action in six games with Middle Tennessee; at UAB, he started only seven games during the 2006 season due to injuries.[1][8] After graduating from UAB in 2007, he was invited to training camp with the Kansas City Chiefs.[9] However, his football career failed to take off and he moved to Nashville to pursue a career in music in 2008.[10]

Music career

Sam Hunt co-wrote Kenny Chesney's 2012 hit "Come Over", for which he received an ASCAP award.[11] He also wrote two singles released in 2014: Keith Urban's "Cop Car" and Billy Currington's "We Are Tonight". Hunt independently released the single "Raised on It" in September 2013 and in October 2013 he released via his website a free 15-song mixtape titled "Between the Pines".[12]

In January 2014, it was confirmed that he had signed with MCA Nashville. On August 12, 2014, he released X2C, a four song EP, intended as a preview of his first studio album.[13] The EP debuted at number 36 on the Billboard 200 and number 5 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart, selling 8,000 copies in its first week.[14]

Hunt's first single for MCA was "Leave the Night On", which went to number 1 on Country Airplay in October 2014[15] and received a platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for one million certified downloads.[16][17] His first full-length studio album, Montevallo, was released on October 27.[18] The album included his own version of "Cop Car".

On November 5, 2014, Montevallo debuted at number 1 on Top Country Albums and number 3 on the Billboard 200.[19]It opened with 70,000 units sold. Five days later, he announced his first tour, Lipstick Graffiti. Tickets went on sale Friday, November 14. Within minutes—and in some cases seconds—of going on sale, the tour sold out at 15 of the venues.[20]

Lyrical and musical style

Hunt told Taste of Country that he does not write his songs with a specific genre in mind, but rather follows his instinct.[21] His songwriting was heavily influenced by Brad Paisley, whose early hit "He Didn't Have to Be" had a big impact on him as a kid growing up in Georgia:[22] "I remember being at church on Wednesday night at Wednesday night supper, and getting the keys from my mom well before it was over to just go sit in the car and to turn the radio on and hopefully wait and catch that song."[22] His music contains elements of country, R&B, and pop. He cites Billy Currington, Usher, K-Ci and JoJo, R. Kelly, Ginuwine,[21] and Conway Twitty[22] as musical influences.

Discography

Studio albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications Sales
US Country US CAN
1 3 2

Extended plays

Title Album details Peak chart
positions		 Sales
US Country US
  • Release date: August 12, 2014
  • Label: MCA Nashville
  • Format: Music download
 5 36

Singles

Year Single Peak chart positions Certifications Sales Album
US Hot Country US Country Airplay US US Adult CAN Country CAN
2013 "Raised on It"[27] 49 — — — — — Montevallo
2014 "Leave the Night On" 1 1 30 — 1 54
"Take Your Time" 1 1 20 40 2 29
2015 "House Party"A 39 53
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Other charted songs

Year Single Peak chart positions Sales Album
US Hot Country US CAN
2014 "Break Up in a Small Town" 30 — 87 Montevallo
"Ex to See" 37 — —
"Make You Miss Me" 32 120 —
"Speakers" 40 — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Music videos

Year Video Director
2014 "Leave the Night On"[36] Brad Belanger
"House Party"[37] Brad Belanger/Steven Worster
2015 "Take Your Time"[38] Tim Mattia

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Sam Hunt". UAB Sports.com. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  2. ↑ https://twitter.com/SamHuntMusic/status/452637029877035008
  3. ↑ Marissa R Moss (October 28, 2014). "Sam Hunt Defends His Country Cred on New Album 'Montevallo'". Rolling Stone.
  4. ↑ "Sam Hunt: Debut Spotlight". CMA Close Up Magazine. October 28, 2014.
  5. ↑ Lindsey Caldwell (October 27, 2014). "Meet Sam Hunt—Country Music's Hottest New Star Dishes on Montevallo". E online.
  6. ↑ Scott T. Sterling (November 14, 2014). "Musicians + Sports: Sam Hunt On His College Quarterback Years". CBS New York.
  7. ↑ Wendy Geller (August 13, 2014). "Sam Hunt Scores a Touchdown as Nashville's Newest Hot Singer-Songwriter". Rolling Stone.
  8. ↑ "Where are they Now? Former Blazer Sam Hunt from QB to song writer". University of Alabama, Birmingham. September 7, 2012. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Bio: Sam Hunt". Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  10. ↑ Naomi Zeichner (September 9, 2014). "Sam Hunt Is A Country Star for the Instagram Age". BuzzFeed.
  11. ↑ Morris, Edward (August 22, 2012). "ASCAP Honors Writers of Kenny Chesney's "Come Over" Hit". Country Music Television. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  12. ↑ Chris Richards (November 4, 2014). "Another country: Sam Hunt maps out Nashville’s bold new future". Washington Post.
  13. ↑ Sarah Wyland (August 17, 2014). "Sam Hunt Releases X2C Album Preview". Great Amercan Country.
  14. ↑ Wade Jessen (August 21, 2014). "Sam Hunt Scores Highest Debut on Top Country Albums With 'X2C'". Billboard.
  15. ↑ http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/135126/sam-hunt-is-1-with-leave-the-night-on?ref=rss
  16. ↑ http://www.samhunt.com/news/11-04-14/sam-earns-platinum-status-and-first-no-1-leave-night
  17. ↑ "Industry Ink: Sam Hunt Goes Gold, Jason Isbell, SAE Nashville, Taryn Pray". Music Row. September 18, 2014. Archived from the original on October 27, 2014. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
  18. ↑ "Sam Hunt Reveals 'Montevallo' Album Details". Taste of Country. September 16, 2014. Archived from the original on October 27, 2014. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
  19. ↑ http://www.samhunt.com/news/11-05-14/montevallo-country-musics-best-selling-debut-album-2011
  20. ↑ http://www.samhunt.com/news/11-15-14/lipstick-graffiti-tour-sells-out-15-shows-within-minutes-going-sale
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Billy Dukes (August 14, 2014). "Sam Hunt Interview: ‘Leave the Night On’ Singer Shares His R&B Influences". Taste of Country.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 "Sam Hunt Opens Up About His Unlikely Classic Country Influences". Nash FM 101.1. October 28, 2014.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "Sam Hunt’s “Montevallo” Certified Gold by RIAA". Roughstock. April 17, 2015. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
  24. ↑ http://roughstock.com/news/2015/04/33971-country-album-chart-report-april-1-2015/
  25. ↑ http://ajournalofmusicalthings.com/weekly-music-sales-analysis-05-november-2014/
  26. ↑ Jessen, Wade (February 5, 2015). "Sam Hunt Leads Top Country Albums, Carrie Underwood's 'Guns' Loaded on Hot Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
  27. ↑ "Raised on It – Single by Sam Hunt". iTunes Store (US). Apple Inc. Archived from the original on June 9, 2014. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  28. ↑ Matt Bjorke (August 20, 2014). "The Top 30 Digital Singles – August 20, 2014". Roughstock.
  29. ↑ "American digital certifications – Sam Hunt – Leave the Night On". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select ', then click SEARCH
  30. ↑ "Canadian digital certifications – Sam Hunt – Leave the Night On". Music Canada.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 http://roughstock.com/news/2015/02/33177-country-musics-top-30-digital-singles-week-february-27-2015/
  32. ↑ "American single certifications – Sam Hunt – Take Your Time". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
  33. ↑ Bjorke, Matt. "Country Music's Top 30 Digital Singles: Week of April 22, 2015". Roughstock. Cheri Media.
  34. ↑ Bjorke, Matt (April 21, 2015). "Sam Hunt – “House Party”". Roughstock. Retrieved April 23, 2015.
  35. ↑ Matt Bjorke (March 11, 2015). "Country Music's Top 30 Digital Singles: Week of March 11, 2015". Roughstock.
  36. ↑ "CMT : Videos : Sam Hunt : Leave The Night On". Country Music Television. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
  37. ↑ "House Party – Sam Hunt". Vevo. Retrieved September 23, 2014.
  38. ↑ Dunkerley, Beville (March 13, 2015). "See Sam Hunt Tackle Domestic Violence in 'Take Your Time' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 14, 2015.