North Carolinian native Eric Church is a Country singer/songwriter and also an established guitarist. He has released four studio albums through the Capitol record label, but it was through the EMI Nashville label that he would put out his first number one charting album “Chief”.
Church grew up in the Granite Falls area of North Carolina and showed a keen interest in music as early as the age of four. One of Church’s first “paying gigs” was at this age. He remembers singing the song “Elvira” at a restaurant to a group of surrounding patrons who compensated his performance with loose change. It was not until Church was 13 that he began writing his own songs. At this time he wrote most of his music on a cheap electric guitar, which consistently fell out of tune. Church plugged along with his songwriting and guitar practicing and during his senior year of high school landed frequent gigs at local bars playing Jimmy Buffet covers and a few originals. Church formed the band “The Mountain Boys” with his brother and college roommate, but once he moved to Nashville, US he focused his attention on his solo career.
Like many other burgeoning country musicians, Church started his career in Nashville, US writing material for other artists. He helped write Terri Clarks single “The World Needs a Drink” and the Dean Miller song “Whiskey Wings”. Church attempted to break out on his own, but was met with hesitation amongst several producers and record labels. However when Church performed “Lightning” a song inspired by the movie “Green Mile”, Capitol Nashville signed him on their label. Church’s debut album was an instant success producing three single tracks that made it into the Country Charts top 30. Following this release Church scored opening spots on tours with Brad Paisley and Rascal Flats.
Church’s commercial success seemed to progressively grow with each album release. His second album “Carolina” contained 2 top 10 hits being “Love Your Love the Most” and “Hell on the Heart”. Church’s next album sent him into the stratosphere of stardom. His 2011 LP “Chief” entered number 1 on the top Country Albums as well as the Billboard 200. The album was also up for a Grammy in 2012.
Other than Church’s blatant Country influences such as superstars Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney and Outlaw influences like Hank Williams Jr. and Waylon Jennings, he is also a confessed fan of heavy metal bands such as Metallica and AC/DC. In the early stages of Church’s career he even received inspiration from his parents diverse taste in music ranging from Bluegrass to Motown.
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