Brian Kelley (musician)

Brian Kelley

Tyler Hubbard (left) and Brian Kelley (right) at a Walmart interview
Background information
Birth name Brian Edward Kelley
Born (1985-08-26) August 26, 1985
Origin Ormond Beach, Florida, United States
Genres Country
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • acoustic guitar
  • electric guitar
Labels
Associated acts
Website floridageorgialine.com

Brian Edward Kelley (born August 26, 1985) is an American musician, best known as a member of the Nashville-based duo Florida Georgia Line.[1] Kelley is from Ormond Beach, Florida and enjoyed playing sports and music growing up. He moved to Nashville to go to school and play baseball at Belmont University,[2] where he met Tyler Hubbard, the other member of Florida Georgia Line.

Early life

Kelley was born on August 26, 1985 in Ormond Beach, Florida and is the son of Ed and Mary Margaret Kelley.[3] Growing up, Kelley enjoyed sports and writing and spent most of his time playing baseball or at the beach. As he got older he started to spend more time writing music and leading worship at his church.[4] He also developed a strong love for playing guitar. When he was in his teens, his sister began to introduce him to country artists by playing him tapes on the way to the beach in exchange for Kelley washing her car. By the time Kelley was ready to graduate from Seabreeze High School in 2004, he was splitting his time between baseball (playing college baseball at Florida State University and being scouted by the pros) and writing music. Kelley found out late that he would be drafted by the Miami Marlins and would more than likely pursue pro baseball as a career.[3] However, when he was doing more bench sitting than playing, he filled the void with writing. He later decided to move to Belmont University.[5]

Career

Florida Georgia Line (2010–present)

Kelley was introduced to Tyler Hubbard at Belmont University in 2007 while they were in a campus worship group together. The two became great friends and playing guitar and writing songs together almost every day.[2] The two friends began playing writers rounds throughout Nashville. In 2009, the duo decided they wanted to pursue music as a career so they started playing shows throughout the south. In 2010, they independently recorded and digitally distributed their first EP, Anything Like Me. After releasing that EP, they were discovered at a county fair by Nickelback's producer, Joey Moi. After writing and polishing songs for almost two years, the duo released their second EP It'z Just What We Do in 2012. Major labels became very interested in the duo when their debut single, "Cruise", first hit on satellite radio on "The Highway" channel and it began selling really well on iTunes, leading to a record deal with Republic Nashville/Big Machine Label Group.[6]

In the fall of 2011, Kelley signed a publishing deal with Big Loud Shirt.[5]

The duo released their first studio album, Here's to the Good Times, on December 4, 2012 on Republic Nashville. This album was the sixth best selling album of 2013.[7] "Cruise", the first single on the album, reached number 1 on the Country Airplay chart dated December 15, 2012.[8] A remix of "Cruise" featuring Nelly later hit number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song is also the best selling country digital song of all time, with sales over 7 million, and it spent 24 weeks at number 1 on Hot Country songs.[7] The other singles from this album include "Get Your Shine On", "Round Here", "Stay", and "This Is How We Roll".[9]

Florida Georgia Line announced on August 15, 2014 that their second album would be titled Anything Goes, and would be released on October 14, 2014.[10] They released the album's first single, "Dirt", on July 8, 2014. Other singles from this album include "Sun Daze", "Sippin' On Fire", "Anything Goes" and "Confession".

The duo's third album, Dig Your Roots was released on August 26, 2016. Singles include H.O.L.Y. and May We All.

Tree Vibez Music (2015–present)

In 2015, Kelley and Hubbard started their own artist development and music publishing company called Tree Vibez Music.[11] Since the company began, they have signed writer Jordan Schmidt, writer Jimmie Deeghan, and writer/artist Drew Castle.[12]

Personal life

On December 16, 2013, Kelley married his girlfriend of seven months, Brittney Marie Cole.[13]

Discography

See also

References

  1. ↑ "About". Florida Georgia Line. Retrieved 2015-07-21.
  2. 1 2 "Tyler Hubbard". Big Loud Shirt. Archived from the original on 2015-04-10. Retrieved 2015-07-21.
  3. 1 2 "Facts". Florida Georgia Line Net. Retrieved 2015-07-21.
  4. ↑ Black, Lauren. "An In-Depth Look at Florida Georgia Line". Answers.com. Archived from the original on 23 July 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  5. 1 2 "Brian Kelley". Big Loud Shirt. Archived from the original on 2015-04-10. Retrieved 2015-07-21.
  6. ↑ Parker, Eric T. "Florida Georgia Line Signs to Republic Nashville/BMLG". MusicRow. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  7. 1 2 http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6281327/florida-georgia-line-billboard-cover-story
  8. ↑ "Country Airplay Week of December 15, 2012". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  9. ↑ Wyland, Sarah. "Florida Georgia Line Announces Deluxe Edition of Debut jAlbum". Great American Country. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  10. ↑ Howell, Coti. "Florida Georgia Line Prove ‘Anything Goes’ on ‘GMA,’ Announce New Album". Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Florida Georgia Line Members Launch Music Publishing Company". MusicRow.com. Retrieved 2015-07-21.
  12. ↑ "Florida Georgia Line Signs Two To Tree Vibez Music". MusicRow.com. Retrieved 2015-07-21.
  13. ↑ "Brian Kelley Marries Brittney Marie Cole". People.com. 16 December 2013.
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