New Artist Spotlight: Chris Young
By Peter Cronin
© 2006 CMA Close Up News Service / Country Music Association, Inc.
Chris Young came to national attention the new-fashioned way, by winning the fourth season of the audience-voted reality TV show "Nashville Star" which aired on USA Network. But when it comes to his music, this Murfreesboro, Tenn., native is all about deep Country tradition. With a list of influences that includes Marty Robbins, Randy Travis, Keith Whitley and Hank Williams, Young is dedicated to putting a new twist on old Country and with his self-titled RCA Records debut, he's off to an auspicious start.
The album, which was produced by Buddy Cannon (Kenny Chesney, Reba McEntire), was released on Sept. 26. The album's leadoff single, "Drinkin' Me Lonely," which the singer performed on "Nashville Star," is already familiar to legions of fans of the show and is currently climbing the Country charts. Young co-wrote the song with Larry Wayne Clark, and he's also listed as co-writer on four of the album's 11 cuts.
Young entered showbiz as a 9-year-old when they needed one more kid to sing and dance in his hometown's Fourth of July celebration. After that first taste, he was off and running, joining school and church choirs and auditioning for the GRAMMY Choir, the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts and grabbing every other opportunity he could get his hands on. With his grandfather providing the classic Country album collection and the guitar lessons, Young studied the masters and began perfecting his vocal and performing style.
During a backstage vocal warm-up at his recent Grand Ole Opry debut, Young and his grandfather performed a duet version of Marty Robbins' "Begging to You," the first song his grandfather taught him to play on guitar. After a rousing performance at the 2006 CMA Music Festival, Young spent the summer on the road with the "Nashville Star" tour.
IN HIS OWN WORDS:
Who is your musical hero?
"Keith Whitley. He was one of those people who had a timeless voice and presence. He continues to inspire people, including me, with his music."
Which song would you secretly like to cover?
"'I Can Tell by the Way You Dance' by Vern Gosdin."
What CD is on your stereo?
"Daryle Singletary's That's Why I Sing This Way."
What song do you wish you had written?
"'That's My Job,' the Conway Twitty classic because it never fails to give me goose bumps."
On the Web: www.chrisyoungcountry.com
© Russ Harrington
October 31, 2006
