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Eric Church

Church's songs are as straightforward as he is. His is music that looks its listener in the eye and speaks plainly about the human condition. It is a line that passes through Merle Haggard and Waylon Jennings to John Prine and Steve Earle, and is finding a handful of torchbearers in this new century. "Honesty is my number one responsibility," Church says. "If you listen to this, you'll find out who I am." Church grew up in Granite Falls, North Carolina, in an area known as one of the world's furniture capitals. He recalls being four years old, standing on a table at a local restaurant, singing "Elvira" to a waitress and a handful of patrons who would reward him with change. "I was 13 when I started writing," he says. "It was before I learned to play guitar. I had a lot in me that I wanted to get out, and I started writing lyrics and singing, and I thought, 'If I'm going to play these for people, I'm going to have to learn how to play guitar.'" He bought a cheap, hard-to-tune one and taught himself to play, influenced by his parents' eclectic tastes, which stretched from Motown to bluegrass. It was at a little bar in the North Carolina Mountains, however, when his epiphany came: "I was watching a band that had the place packed," he says. "I knew the songs they were playing on guitar, but I'd been doing them in my dorm room at Appalachian State and they were doing them in a place that was slamming, with people stuffing money into the tip jar that was being passed around. I thought, 'I can do this as well as they can,' and two weeks later I had a gig." He had quickly formed a band with his roommate, his brother, and another guitarist, and temporarily picked the name the Mountain Boys. The first night they knew just 14 songs, but they faked their way through a four-hour set and held onto enough of the crowd to help launch them as a regional act. In a year or so, Eric was throwing original songs into the set mix and not long afterward was selling CDs of his own material. They were playing four or five nights a week in bars, at frat and sorority parties in Ashville, Hickory, and Boone. A talented athlete, he played basketball, baseball and golf in high school, but in college, he turned to music, riding those early gigs to regional acclaim and then a trip to Nashville. "I wanted to move two years before I graduated," he says, "but my dad made me a deal. He said, 'If you'll graduate, I'll pay for your first six months in Nashville,' which I thought was a pretty good offer. I graduated with a degree in marketing and he was true to his word." The first days were tough ones. "I was scared," he says. "I didn't know a soul. I didn't know what part of town was good or bad, didn't know the publishing companies or the industry. I just had something inside me saying, 'You have to be there.' That first week was terrifying. I got the phone book and started looking up publishers, thinking, 'I'll call these guys, we'll meet and I'll get a publishing deal.' Of course, once you've been here you know it doesn't work that way. I guess a lot of it was being young and stupid, but there's a lot to being young and stupid. There's a vitality to that. If you actually had waited a few years and developed common sense you probably wouldn't do it, but you're so young you think, 'I can do this. It's no big deal.'" The financial cushion his father had given him gave him time to make contacts and take meetings. Six months in, he had to take a day job, but six months after that, he was signed to a publishing deal at Sony Tree. "When I got that first check from Sony Tree and they were paying me money to do it, I thought I had arrived, because I was getting paid to do something I'd be doing anyway,” he points out. His family and his small-town background had given him a diamond-pure work ethic, which served him well. "I just kind of threw muscle into the writing, so we had a large pool to draw from when it came time to record," he says. "I think I demoed 60 or 70 songs at Sony last year, and you probably demo one out of every four you write, so I wrote a lot. I figure they're paying me to be a songwriter and that's what I'm here to do." He began getting cuts, including Terri Clark's "The World Needs A Drink." Then, Arthur Buenahora at Sony Tree introduced Eric to producer Jay Joyce; the two clicked instantly, and began cutting demos. "The night I got the record deal with Capitol was a really good gig," he says. "I knew that whether I got the deal or not, this was as good as I could do. It clicked. You just have those nights. During 'Lightning,' the whole crowd was hushed and I knew they were listening. I knew they were with me on the song, and there's nothing as great as a performer as to capture the crowd." Two days later, on his birthday, he was in Capitol's office being offered a recording deal; he and Joyce then set about capturing his essence in Joyce's basement studio. The result is a CD that launches Church with a firm identity both musically and lyrically, and gives him his own niche in a diverse country landscape. "I think we've made an honest record. I don't think there's a song on there that's not me," he says. "It's songs about what's going on in the world--this is what I think. You can agree or disagree. I just don't want them to hear it and go, 'That's nice' and move on. I personally like music that goes way out and picks a side.” (3/06)

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There is still time left to Vote 4 The Top 50 Videos of 2009. http://bit.ly/tatop50 Keep voting and have a great Thanksgiving! #fb
07:41 AM November 25

Vote For Eric Church on GAC’s Top 50 Videos of 2009

Great American Country wants YOU, the fans, to decide the GAC Top 50 Videos of 2009, and Eric Church has been nominated! "Love Your ...

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Nov 17, 08:49 AM

Vote For Eric Church on GAC’s Top 50 Videos of 2009

Great American Country wants YOU, the fans, to decide the GAC Top 50 Videos of 2009, and Eric Church has been nominated! "Love Your Love The Most" is among the 140+ videos nominated. Voting runs now through Nov. 30. You can vote for your favorite video once per day.
GAC's Top 50 Videos of 2009 on-air countdown kicks off on Dec. 28 at 8 pm ET. GAC is offered on Ch. 167 on DISH Network and on Ch. 326 on DIRECTV; check your local cable listings.
VOTE NOW | Visit Eric Church's Artist Section at GACTV.com
(Vote now link: http://www.gactv.com/top50)
Oct 16, 01:14 PM

Tune In To See Ericv Church on ABC TONIGHT!

Tune in to see Eric Church

Perform "Hell on the Heart" on

Tonight at 11:05pm CST on ABC!
Oct 15, 02:53 PM

Eric Church Makes Debut Appearance On Abc’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! October 16

Performs New Single "Hell On The Heart" From Album Carolina
Nashville, TN - Capitol Records Nashville recording artist Eric Church will perform his new single "Hell On The Heart" during his debut appearance on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Friday, October 16 airing at 12:50ET/11:05 CT. "Hell On The Heart" is the follow-up single to Church's Top 10 hit "Love Your Love The Most," from his sophomore release Carolina.
Church is currently on the road performing on his nearly sold out "Young & Wild(er) Tour" across the country through the end of this year. Despite a broken foot, Church continues to bring his high-energy show to fans each night.
Carolinadebuted at #4 on the Billboard Country Album Chart and #17 on Billboard's Top 200. The album has received acclaim from Rolling Stone, which praised the "surging guitars bolstering good-ol'-boy narratives," and the New York Times, whichdeclared, "His music puts rock muscle behind honky-tonk and turns ballads into intimate close-ups."
For more information check out www.ericchurch.com.
Sep 24, 02:57 PM

Eric Church Reaches Top 10 On Billboard And Mediabase Country Radio Charts With Single “Love Your Love The Most”

SINGLE FEATURED ON CHURCH'S CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED SOPHOMORE RELEASE CAROLINA OUT NOW
"He can drop a punch line with the deftness of Brad Paisley ("Before She Does"), inspire a bit of hell-raising a la Waylon and Willie at their outlaw finest ("Smoke a Little Smoke") and fan the fires of romance as well as any of the heartthrobs dominating the country charts ("Love Your Love the Most")."-Los Angeles Times
Country singer Eric Church adds yet another achievement to a highly successful year, reaching the Top 10 on both the Billboard and Mediabase country radio charts with the single "Love Your Love the Most," from his critically acclaimed sophomore effort Carolina. The album debuted at #17 on Billboard's Top 200 and #4 on the country charts, earning acclaim from Rolling Stone, which praised the "surging guitars bolstering good-ol'-boy narratives," and TheNew York Times, which declared, "His music puts rock muscle behind honky-tonk and turns ballads into intimate close-ups."
Church is currently on "The Young & Wild(er) Tour" in support of the album. The tour features performances at the House of Blues in Cleveland, the Pabst Theater in Milwaukee and two nights at Joe's in Chicago, as well as opening slots for Jason Aldean and Dierks Bentley. Church's "Young & Wild Tour" this past spring included 20 sold out shows, record-breaking attendance at the Dallas Bull in Tampa, FL and performances on NBC's "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" and CBS' "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson." The tour earned widespread critical acclaim including the Washington Post, which praised Church's "thundering rhythms" and "raucous rock instrumentation." Please see below for details about "The Young & Wild(er) Tour."
On what makes the tour "Wild(er)," Church says, "We brought it on ‘The Young & Wild Tour' and the crowds met our energy step for step. You were awesome. Now it's time to crank it up a little more and see if you guys can hang." Supporting Church on the road is the Eric Church Band, which is rounded out by Driver Williams (guitar), Ed Smoak (guitar), Jeff Hyde (banjo/mandolin), Lee Hendricks (bass) and Craig Wright (drums).
Carolina follows the breakthrough success of Church's critically acclaimed first effort Sinners Like Me, which claimed three Top 20 singles and a #1 video. The album earned Church widespread praise from Associated Press, Rolling Stone, People Magazine and The New York Times.
Sep 23, 03:13 PM

Eric Church To Perform Homecoming Concert At The NASCAR Banking 500 Only From Bank Of America

CONCORD, N.C. - Lowe's Motor Speedway officials announced today that Capitol Records Nashville recording artist Eric Church will perform as part of pre-race festivities for the NASCAR Banking 500 only from Bank of America on Oct. 17.
To help celebrate homecoming NASCAR style, Church will return to his home state to perform a concert outside of the Turn 2 Diamond Tower Terrace on Saturday afternoon before the race. Admission to the concert is free with the purchase of a NASCAR Banking 500 ticket.

"Having grown up in North Carolina, being a NASCAR fan is a given,"said Church. "I've been to this very race many times with my dad. To be able to go back and play is a very special homecoming for me. I know a lot of my fans love NASCAR and a lot of NASCAR fans love country music. I guess the only question to be answered is, who is louder? The guys and their cars or me and the band. I can't wait to find out!"

Church, a Granite Falls, N.C., native, began singing as a child and at age 13, he started writing songs and teaching himself to play guitar. While attending college at Appalachian State University, Church visited a small bar in the mountains where he watched a band perform in front of a packed house. It didn't take him long to realize that was what he wanted to do for a living so he quickly formed the band, Mountain Boys.Church and his band began playing bars and college parties around Western North Carolina four to five nights a week. Within a year he began adding original songs into the set list and selling CDs of his own material.
After graduating with a degree in marketing, Church moved to Nashville, Tenn., to pursue a career in country music. In 2006, he released his first album, "Sinners Like Me," which quickly rose to the Top 10 on the country music charts. Shortly after being introduced to country radio, his musical talent caught the attention of country music superstars Brad Paisley and Dierks Bentley, giving him the opportunity to play as their opening act.
In March of 2009 Church released his sophomore album, "Carolina," which debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard Country Album Chart and has received acclaim from Rolling Stone and the New York Times. The album features the current Top 10 hit, "Love Your Love The Most."
College students can see the concert from a special viewing area with the purchase of a Carolina CollegeFest 2009 package. The package includes five hours of live music, cornhole tournaments, gift packs, prize giveaways and a reserved seat for the NASCAR Banking 500, all for the low price of $49 each.
In addition, students can enter to win prizes including a V.I.P. trip to Victory Circle at the conclusion of the race.
To purchase individual tickets to the NASCAR Banking 500 or the Carolina CollegeFest package, fans should contact the Lowe's Motor Speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS or buy online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com
Sep 14, 02:54 PM

Eric Church Continues “Young & Wild(er) Tour” Despite Broken Foot

Nashville, TN - Capitol Records Nashville recording artist Eric Church fractured his foot during a show on his "Young & Wild(er) Tour" at the Syracuse State Fair on September 4. No shows have or will be cancelled as a result of Church's injury as he continues to bring his high-energy performance to fans each night. Church is on tour supporting his sophomore release, Carolina, which features the Top 15 and climbing single, "Love Your Love The Most."
"As my fans know, I get pretty excited on stage and stomp my feet," explains Eric Church. "The combination of the stomping and the fact that our crowds are crazier than ever led to me breaking my foot. I refuse to miss a show over this, so for the time being, I'll be doing the rest of the shows from a stool. I'm still gonna bring it, and I expect our fans to do the same."
The tour which started on September 3 includes performances along the East Coast and Midwest and is a continuation of the critically acclaimed "Young & Wild Tour" last spring that included 20 sold out shows and record breaking attendance at the Dallas Bull in Tampa, FL.

Carolinadebuted at #4 on the Billboard Country Album Chart and #17 on Billboard's Top 200. The album's first single, "Love Your Love The Most," is Top 15 and climbing on both the Billboard and Mediabase country charts. The album had received acclaim from Rolling Stone, which praised the "surging guitars bolstering good-ol'-boy narratives," and the New York Times, whichdeclared, "His music puts rock muscle behind honky-tonk and turns ballads into intimate close-ups."

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