Max Stalling
Max Stalling | |
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Max Stalling in Luckenbach, Texas, July 16, 2011. | |
Background information | |
Born | December 27, 1966 |
Origin | Uvalde, Texas, United States |
Genres | Texas Country |
Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
Instruments |
Vocals Rhythm guitar |
Years active | 1997–present |
Labels | Blind Nello |
Website | http://www.maxstalling.com |
Max Stalling is a Texas country music singer/songwriter. He is currently married to Heather Starcher-Stalling.
Early life
Stalling was born in Uvalde, Texas and moved to Crystal City before attending kindergarten through high school in Carrizo Springs. He studied at Texas A&M University, where he earned a master's degree in Food Science. After college, Stalling entered the corporate world and eventually moved to Dallas, where he worked in product development for Frito-Lay.
Musical career
In Dallas, Stalling started writing songs, recording albums, and developing his musical style. He drew inspiration from artists like Townes Van Zandt, Robert Earl Keen, and Guy Clark. Eventually, Stalling was performing with a full band to back him. His band currently consists of Jeff Howe on drums and percussion, Bryce Clarke on nylon-string guitar, electric guitar, and mandolin, and Jason Steinsultz on stand-up and electric bass as well as singing harmony. As soon as Stalling's music career started taking off, he quit his job with Frito-Lay and started pursuing music full-time. Stalling plays about 150 shows a year and is in the third year of a Budweiser sponsorship. He is a former member of the Board of Governors for the Texas Chapter of NARAS (The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, currently known as The Recording Academy). He has also received a star on the South Texas Music Walk of Fame in Corpus Christi, Texas.
One of Stalling's most successful albums, Home to You, was released on August 17, 2010 on the Blind Nello Records label. It was produced by Grammy winner Lloyd Maines, and earned both a Best Album and a Best Male Vocal nomination for the 2011 LonestarMusic Awards. The album's first single, "I Ain't Drinking Alone," was #14 on the Radio Free Texas 100 Most Requested Songs of 2010 list.
Home to You followed four previous studio projects: Comfort In the Curves in 1999 (which was released under the label E squared), Wide Afternoon in 2000, One of the Ways in 2002, and Topaz City in 2008. Stalling has also released two live albums: Sellout-Live at Dan's Silver Leaf in 2007 and Live From the Granada in 2009.
Stalling's most recent studio album, Banquet, was released in 2015 and includes original music as well as covers of Dough Sahm and The Beatles.
Every album except for Comfort in the Curves was released on Blind Nello Records, a label run by Max Stalling, Kevin Deal, and Mark Manders. Blind Nello currently has a distribution deal with Sony.
References
- Smith, William Michael (2016). "Max Stalling isn't just a Ballcap Nation Anymore". Houston Press, 14 January 2016
- Tarradell, Mario. (2007). "Max Stalling is determined to chase his dream". Dallas Morning News, 21 June 2007
- Geddie, Tom (2000). "Blind Nello: the biggest little Texas label that could". Country Standard Time, June 2000