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Biography
Infobox musical artist|name = Eric Church|image = C:\Users\Alan\Pictures\2012-02-03 001\Eric church|caption = Eric Church|background = solo_singer|birth_name = Kenneth Eric Church|birth_date = birth date and age|1977|5|3|origin = Granite Falls, North Carolina|Granite Falls , North Carolina , United States |instrument = singing|Vocals , guitar |genre = Country music|Country , Southern rock |occupation = Singer-songwriter |years_active = 2005–present|label = Capitol Records Nashville , EMI|EMI Nashville |associated_acts = Terri Clark , Jay Joyce|website = http://www.ericchurch.com www.ericchurch.com Kenneth Eric Church (born May 3, 1977) is an American country music singer-songwriter. Signed to Capitol Records in 2006, his debut album Sinners Like Me produced four single (music)|singles on the Billboard (magazine)|Billboard country chart, including the Top 20 hits " How 'Bout You ", "Two Pink Lines", and " Guys Like Me ". His second album, 2009's Carolina (Eric Church album)|Carolina , produced three more singles: " Smoke a Little Smoke " and his first Top 10 hits, " Love Your Love the Most " and " Hell on the Heart ". 2011's Chief (Eric Church album)|Chief , his first #1 album, includes the singles " Homeboy (Eric Church song)|Homeboy " and " Drink in My Hand ", which became his first #1 single in January 2012.
Eric Church was born and raised in Granite Falls, North Carolina . At thirteen, he bought a guitar and began writing songs of his own. By his senior year of high school, he had found a gig (music)|gig at a local bar, which occupied most of his time. He played many Jimmy Buffett cover songs and a few of his own original songs in some unpleasant places. Some of these places were so rough that he got into a few altercations from the stage. For a few years, the band played often in bars and restaurants throughout North Carolina.cite web | url = http://proxy.lib.ohio-state.edu/login? url= http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx? direct=true& db=mah& AN=MAH0001798342& site=ehost-live | title = Eric Church: Recession-era country star (interview; CD: 'Carolina'). | accessdate = 2010-05-18 The band "Mountain Boys" consisted of his college roommate, brother, and a fellow guitarist.
Before moving to Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville , Eric Church graduated from South Caldwell High School and Appalachian State University with a degree in marketing. He became engaged to a woman, her father attempting to persuade him into a corporate career. He just about gave up on music, but instead left his fiancé and headed to Nashville. His father paid for his first six months in Nashville; this financial cushion gave him time to make contacts.
Music career
2006-2007: Sinners Like Me
Arthur Buenahora Jr. signed him to a publishing deal with Sony/ATV Tree Music Publishing. Terri Clark took "The World Needs a Drink", which he co-wrote with Casey Beathard , into the country Top 30.
He started recording with different producers. Capitol Nashville showed an interest and watched him perform but they were yet to be convinced enough to offer a recording contract.cite web |url= http://www.hitquarters.com/index.php3? page=intrview/opar/intrview_AutumnH.html |title=Interview with Autumn House-Tallant |publisher= HitQuarters |date=3 Oct 2011 |accessdate=6 October 2011 Autumn House-Tallant told HitQuarters that they didn't think the music was interesting enough. The record company's attitude changed after he started working with producer Jay Joyce. The strong sound and direction the two forged together finally convinced Capitol Nashville that he was ready. His first single, " How 'Bout You " peaked at #14 on Hot Country Songs and led off his debut album Sinners Like Me . In April 2006, he performed on the Grand Ole Opry for the first time.cite web|url= http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1537741/eric-church-turns-heads-with-sinners-like-me.jhtml|title=Church Turns Heads With Sinners Like Me |last=Morris|first=Edward|date=2006-08-02|work= CMT |accessdate=5 December 2009
The album's other two singles, "Two Pink Lines" and "Guys Like Me", both reached the Top 20 as well.cite web|url=Allmusic|class=artist|id=p816669/biography|pure_url=yes|title=Eric Church biography|last=Ruhlmann|first=William|work= Allmusic |accessdate=2008-12-27 The fourth single, the title track, peaked at #51. An additional track from the album, "Lightning", was made into a music video despite not being released as a single. Church wrote the song shortly after moving to Nashville, inspired by the movie The Green Mile . Following the album's success, Church toured with Brad Paisley and Rascal Flatts .
2008-2010: Carolina
In 2008, Eric Church released a fifth single, "His Kind of Money (My Kind of Love)" to country radio. It debuted on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart at #55 in early 2008, and reached its peak of #46 in August. Originally slated as the lead single to an upcoming second album, "His Kind of Money" was instead included as a bonus track on albums sold at Best Buy.
Following this song was " Love Your Love the Most ", which debuted in late 2008 and was the first single from his second album Carolina (Eric Church album)|Carolina , released on March 24, 2009. As with his debut album, Carolina was produced by Jay Joyce, and is entirely composed of songs that he co-wrote. "Love Your Love the Most" brought Church to the top 10 for the first time, peaking at #10 in September 2009. The album's second single, "Hell on the Heart", debuted in October 2009 and would also hit the top 10 in May 2010. The third single from "Carolina" was "Smoke A Little Smoke".
In June 2010 he moved to Capitol Nashville's new imprint EMI Records Nashville, becoming their second artist. On January 14, 2011, he released a four song EP entitled "Caldwell County".
2012: Chief
Eric Church released "Homeboy" to country radio in early 2011. The album Chief (Eric Church album)|Chief was released July 26, 2011, debuting at #1 on both Top Country Albums and the Billboard 200 . cite web|url= http://www.billboard.com/#/news/eric-church-lands-first-no-1-album-amy-winehouse-1005301602.story|title=Eric Church Lands First No. 1 Album, Amy Winehouse Climbs Into Top 5|work= Billboard (magazine)|Billboard |publisher= Prometheus Global Media |accessdate=August 3, 2011 The album sold 145,000 copies in its first week.cite web|url= http://www.billboard.com/#/news/eric-church-lands-first-no-1-album-amy-winehouse-1005301602.story|title=Eric Church Lands First No. 1 Album, Amy Winehouse Climbs Into Top 5|work= Billboard (magazine)|Billboard |publisher= Prometheus Global Media |accessdate=August 3, 2011 On November 30, 2011, Chief was announced as a nominee for the 2012 Grammy Awards for Best Country Album. In January 2012 "Drink in My Hand" became his first #1 single.
Personal life
He married music publisher Katherine Blasingame on Jan. 8, 2008 in Blowing Rock, NC. On Oct. 3, 2011 they welcomed son Boone McCoy Church. http://celebritybabies.people.com/2011/10/06/eric-church-welcomes-son-boone-mccoy/ http://www.theboot.com/2011/03/24/eric-church-wife-baby/ TheBoot.com: Eric Church and wife expecting a baby Their home (along with Eric's " mancave "), located in Nashville, was featured in an episode of CMT "Cribs".cite web|url= http://www.cmt.com/news/news-in-brief/1579702/eric-church-marries-in-north-carolina.jhtml|title=Eric Church Marries in North Carolina|date=January 15, 2008|accessdate= February 27, 2010|publisher=CMT News
Discography
Studio albums
Title
Details
Peak chart positions
Certifications ( List of best selling music artists
US Country cite web
US cite web
CAN cite web
Sinners Like Me
Release date: July 18, 2006
Label: Capitol Nashville
Formats: Compact disc|CD , music download
Carolina
Release date: March 24, 2009
Label: Capitol Nashville
Formats: CD, LP, music download
Recording Industry Association of America|US : GoldCertification Cite Ref|region=United States|type=album|title=Carolina|artist=Eric Church
Chief
Release date: July 26, 2011
Label: EMI Records|EMI Nashville
Formats: CD, LP, music download
US: GoldCertification Cite Ref|region=United States|type=album|title=Chief|artist=Eric Church
"—" denotes releases that did not chart
Extended plays
Title
Details
Peak chart positions
US Country cite web
US
Caldwell County
Release date: January 18, 2011
Label: EMI Nashville
Formats: CD, music download
Singles
Year
Single
Peak chart positions
Certifications ( List of best selling music artists
Album
US Country cite web
US cite web
CAN cite web
2006
14
85
—
Sinners Like Me
"Two Pink Lines"
2007
17
99
—
"Sinners Like Me"
2008
46
—
—
Non-album song
2009
10
63
—
align="left"
US: GoldCertification Cite Ref|region=United States|type=single|title=Love Your Love the Most|artist=Eric Church
Carolina
" Hell on the Heart "
2010
16
78
—
align="left"
US: GoldCertification Cite Ref|region=United States|type=single|title=Smoke a Little Smoke|artist=Eric Church
2011
13
53
—
US: GoldCertification Cite Ref|region=United States|type=single|title=Homeboy|artist=Eric Church
Chief
" Drink in My Hand "
US: GoldCertification Cite Ref|region=United States|type=single|title=Drink in My Hand|artist=Eric Church
2012
52
"—" denotes releases that did not chart
ACurrent single.
Music videos
Year
Video
Director
2006
"How 'Bout You"
Scott Speer
"Two Pink Lines"
Peter Zavadil
2007
"Guys Like Me"
Scott Speer
"Lightning"
David McClister
2009
"Love Your Love the Most"
Adam Hall
2010
"Hell on the Heart"
"Ain't Killed Me Yet"
"Smoke a Little Smoke"
Peter Zavadil
2011
"Homeboy"
"Drink in My Hand"
Awards and nominations
Year
Association
Category
Result
2011
Academy of Country Music Awards
Top New Solo Vocalist
won
Top New Artist
nom
References
reflist
External links
http://www.ericchurch.com/ Official Site
MySpace|ericchurch|Eric Church
Eric Church Persondata | NAME =Church, Eric | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = | DATE OF BIRTH = May 3, 1977 | PLACE OF BIRTH = Granite Falls, NC | DATE OF DEATH = | PLACE OF DEATH = DEFAULTSORT:Church, Eric Category:1977 births Category:American country singers Category:American Southern Rock musicians Category:American country singer-songwriters Category:Appalachian State University alumni Category:Capitol Records artists Category:Living people Category:Musicians from North Carolina Category:People from Caldwell County, North Carolina Category:EMI Records artists
de:Eric Church es:Eric Church fr:Eric Church pt:Eric Church
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