His traditional country style and powerful baritone has gained Young many fans across the spectrum of country music, looking back to the likes of Hank Williams and Randy Travis, moving away from pop-country or country with rock influences which began to dominate the modern scene.
After winning Nashville Star, Chris Young was signed to record label RCA records, releasing his debut single, "Drinkin' Me Lonely" in 2006, from his self-titled debut album. The release reached number 42 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart. From here, Young's success only continued, gaining a top 40 hit with his third single "Voices" from his EP of the same name.
In 2009, Young released his second full length album, "The Man I want to Be," which, as well as his original songs, featured covers of Waylon Jennings "Rose in Paradise" and Tony Joe White's "Rainy Night in Georgia." The single from the bum, "Getting' You Home (The Black Dress Song)" became Young's first number one single, which was followed by another with the re-release of "Voices."
Following a Grammy award nomination, Chris Young had cemented his place in the world of country music. His talents garnered further chart success with the 2011 single, "Tomorrow," becoming his fourth straight number one. The album "Neon" was released the same year, featuring a further number one single, "You."
His fourth studio album "A.M," released in 2013, showcased two top ten singles, "Aw Naw" and "Who I Am With You."Young was selected to act as an ambassador for the CMA Songwriter's Series, which travelled to European countries in an attempt to spread the popularity of country music.
Rice was born in Florida but spent his adolescence in North Carolina. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where the extra curricular country and western singer also excelled in sports being the linebacker on the football team. Prior to his country and western music career he even found himself as a cast member of Survivor: Nicaragua, which despite playing his single “Buzz Back” on, it didn’t catapult his music career the way he’d hoped, but looking on the bright side he recalls it as an important time in his life.
Rice began playing the guitar quite late in life, in fact whilst he was at University, with his father being the inspiration for him beginning to play guitar in the first place saying “boy, anyone can play guitar, but no one is gonna really listen to you until you start singing”. His debut EP came in the form of “Country as Me” which was released on March 8th 2011, but unfortunately didn’t chart. It also featured the single “Buzz Back”. The next year however, Rice released his follow up entitled “Dirt Road Communion”, released on March 20th 2012. It made it to number 48 in the US Country Chart. It was the same year that the singer-songwriter collaborated with Florida Georgia Line’s track, “Cruise”, which was an international success, charting in numerous countries. It reached the top spot on the US Hot Country Songs Chart, and number 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
In 2013, Rice released a 6 track EP that featured the title track “Ready Set Roll”. It reached the top spot on the iTunes Country album chart. The next year, Rice teamed up with Columbia Records for the release of his album “Ignite the Night” on August 19th 2014. It got to number seven in Canada, the number one spot on the Country Albums chart, and number three on the Billboard 200.
Country singer Chris Young is ever on the rise, so expect to hear big things from this Tennessee-born, 6-string-wielding crooner. Having risen to fame (and a major record deal with RCA Records) in 2006 after winning the TV talent contest Nashville Star, this bundle of energy and good-time country sounds has been making hits, topping the number 1 spot in 2009 with his single ‘The Man I Want To Be’, and last year’s album ‘A.M.’, which features the incredibly catchy singles ‘Aw Naw’ and ‘Who I Am With You’. As well as strumming masterfully on his guitar, Young writes all his own material and sure knows how to construct great country songs, with tell-it-like-it-is lyrics, twangy hooks and beats to make you get your dancing shoes on. When I saw him at a rodeo show in San Antonio, Texas, last year, I had my doubts as to whether a hyped-up TV ‘talent’ could be any good live, and I am happy to report that such doubts were unfounded, and that Young put on a terrific show. He entered the bare stadium stage in a convertible, leapt out and began to play a fantastic 90-minute set of sing-all-the-words, foot-stomping country anthems, with a seemingly boundless energy that emanated back to the crowd, who were loving every minute. If country is your thing, do yourself a favour and don’t miss Chris Young!
Like many country singers before him, Chase Rice is a tireless entertainer who knows how to work a crowd. Right now his best known credit might be for writing Florida Georgia Line’s “Cruise,” but even bigger things are in store now that he’s the one performing the tuneful and catchy songs he’s written. I didn’t really know too much about Chase Rice before I went to see his “Ignite the Night” album release show at Bowery Ballroom. Sure, I had seen a couple of friends mention his name on Twitter as far back as 2012, but I never followed up on him as much as I should have. However, I’ve been on a country kick lately and the ticket wasn’t expensive, so I didn’t have much to lose. As it turns out, Chase Rice puts on one heck of a show! As I mentioned, this was an album release show, so there was no opening act. Chase and his band played for about an hour and a half, covering most of the material from the new album, as well as a selection of covers ranging from Garth Brooks’ “The Dance” to Lit’s “My Own Worst Enemy.” Chase is only two years younger than I am, so a lot of songs that hold nostalgic value for him have a similar place in my heart, and it was fun to hear a country-fried take on some hip-hop and rock gems from my youth. Both Chase and the crowd were full of energy and definitely fed off one another. The night was one big party with lots of call-and-response choruses to really get everybody going and make the crowd feel like an integral part of the show. Chase is certainly a talented singer and songwriter and an extremely charismatic performer. His band is also highly talented and just as full of energy as Chase himself. Chase Rice is a perfect choice if your looking to have a good time and hear some great music.