Chris Young (musician)

Chris Young
Young being interviewed in April 2010.
Background information
Birth name	Christopher Alan Young[1]
Born	(1985-06-12) June 12, 1985[2]
Origin	Murfreesboro, Tennessee, United States
Genres	Country
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Years active	2002–present
Labels	RCA Nashville
Associated acts	Billy Yates Aaron Lewis Brett Eldredge Cassadee Pope
Website	chrisyoungcountry.com

Christopher Alan "Chris" Young (born June 12, 1985) is an American country music singer and songwriter. 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 same year. It produced two singles on Hot Country Songs with "Drinkin' Me Lonely" and "You're Gonna Love Me". His 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 title track, all of which went to number 1. Young's third album, Neon, produced two more number ones in "Tomorrow" and "You" in 2011 as well as the top 20 hit "I Can Take It from There" in 2012. The follow-up, 2013's A.M., produced three new singles with the top 5 hits "Aw Naw", "Who I Am with You", and "Lonely Eyes". His fifth album, I'm Comin' Over, was released on November 13, 2015.

Early years

Chris Young was born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, on June 12, 1985. While growing up he attended Trinity United Methodist church. His grandfather, Richard Yates, was a performer on the Louisiana Hayride.^[3] He showed interest in music from an early age, performing in various children's theater productions; while attending Oakland 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.^[3] While attending college, he continued to tour, performing more than 150 shows a year.^[3]

Career

2005–07: Nashville Star and self-titled debut album

2006 Chris Young was the house singer for Cowboys Dance Hall. Park Scott and Keith Swan told Chris he should audition for Nashville Star 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.^[3] The album's second single, "You're Gonna Love Me", peaked at number 48.

2008–10: Voices EP and The Man I Want to Be

In May 2008, 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.^[4] 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.^[5] 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".^[5]

In October 2009 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.^[6] 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.^[7]

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

2011–15: Neon and A.M.

Mandalay Bay Beach Concert in 2015

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.

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

The first single from Young's 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.^[9] The album's second single, "Who I Am with You", was released on January 20, 2014. It peaked at number 2 on the Country Airplay chart in August 2014. The album's third single, "Lonely Eyes", was released to country radio on August 25, 2014. It reached number 2 on the Country Airplay chart in April 2015.

2015–present: I'm Comin' Over, It Must Be Christmas and untitled 7th studio album

On May 12, 2015, Young released a new single titled "I'm Comin' Over". It was the lead single from his fifth studio album of the same name, which was released on November 13, 2015.^[10] The same month, "I'm Comin' Over" became his sixth Number One single on the Country charts, and his first since "You" in February 2012. Young played the 14-show I'm Comin' Over Tour in late 2016 in support of the album.^[11] The album's second single, "Think of You" with Cassadee Pope, was released on January 4, 2016. It reached number one on the Country charts in May 2016. The third single, "Sober Saturday Night"—a duet with Vince Gill—was released on June 6, 2016. It hit number one on the Country Airplay in March 2017. Young released a country Christmas album, It Must Be Christmas, in October 2016. His upcoming album's first single, "Losing Sleep" was released to country radio on May 12, 2017.

Personal life

On August 13, 2013, Young was en route to a tour date in Montana when he went into septic shock from a small cut on his leg which became infected. He was taken by ambulance to a hospital in Denver.^[12] The medical team immediately started Young on medication, and he had surgery on August 14 to treat the infection. Young 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 on August 22.

In June 2014, Young canceled a performance at the CMA Music Festival after accidentally cutting his left hand with a kitchen knife. The cut required surgery to reconnect tendons in the hand.^[13]

Philanthropy

Young has supported Little Kids Rock by donating various items to the organization for auction, raising money to put instruments in the hands of children.^[14] He has been a major supporter for Stars For Stripes raising $35,000 for the organization.^[15] He supports St. Jude Children's Hospital,^[16] and has raised money for it by sponsoring a tree at the Gaylord Opryland Resort's Annual Hall of Trees.^[17] On September 8, 2014, Young donated $25,000 of his own money, along with $5,000 from his fan club, to the Nashville School of Arts.^[18]

Awards and nominations

Discography

Studio albums

• Chris Young (2006)
• The Man I Want to Be (2009)
• Neon (2011)
• A.M. (2013)
• I'm Comin' Over (2015)
• It Must Be Christmas (2016)

References

External links

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

• Official website
• Chris Young on IMDb