Luke Bryan grew up in the very small town of Leesburg, Ga. Back home, he helped his father with his peanut and fertilizer businesses while playing sports and enjoying the great outdoors. Yet he can remember his mother urging him to belt out George Strait songs over and over while she drove him into town to shop. By age 14, his parents bought him an Alvarez guitar. By 15, his father would take him down to a nearby club, Skinner's, where he shared guitar licks and lead vocals with other local country singers.
At age 16, two local songwriters who'd enjoyed some success providing tunes for Nashville artists invited him to join their twice-a-week writing sessions at a local church. By that time, Bryan led his own band, playing at Skinner's and various community events.
Encouraged by everyone who heard him play, Bryan planned to move to Nashville after high school graduation. Supported by his family, he was loading his car for the move when tragedy struck. His older brother Chris, Bryan's biggest supporter and one of his best friends, was killed in an auto accident the day Bryan was to leave town.
He continued to devote himself to music, finding escape and emotional release in its songs. He poured his feelings into his songwriting, and after enrolling in Georgia Southern University, Bryan and his band would perform nearly every weekend on campus or at nearby clubs or parties. He eventually recorded an album of 10 songs, nine of which he'd written.
Despite everyone's encouragement, he stubbornly refused to reconsider moving to Tennessee. After graduation, he went to work for his father's agriculture business. Bryan loved the work, but a year into it, his father forced him to quit the job and move to Nashville. He arrived in Music City on Sept. 1, 2001.Within two months, he'd signed a publishing deal with a company owned by songwriter Roger Murrah. Bryan spent time honing his material, building up a catalog of songs.
His debut album, I'll Stay Me, was released by Capitol Nashville in 2007 and included "All My Friends Say" and "Country Man," which each reached the Top 10 on Billboard's country albums chart. He followed it up with 2009's Doin' My Thing, which included the Top 10 single, "Do I." The project also featured "Rain Is a Good Thing," which became Bryan's first No. 1 single in 2010, and "Someone Else Calling You Baby," which topped the chart in 2011.
Additionally, Bryan tapped into the college market with a series of EPs released to coincide with spring break -- 2009's Spring Break With All My Friends, 2010's Spring Break 2 ... Hangover Edition and 2011's Spring Break 3 ... It's a Shore Thing.
Bryan was named the Academy of Country Music's top new artist and top new solo vocalist for 2009. At the 2010 CMT Music Awards, he received the USA Weekend breakthrough video of the year award for "Do I."
-Matchu
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MADD Colorado Celebrates Dedicated MADDvocates
MADDvocate Appreciation event recognizes the efforts of volunteers, sponsors, donors and community supporters
DENVER, Feb. 25, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Colorado held its annual MADDvocate Appreciation event honoring the efforts of dedicated volunteers, sponsors, donors and community supporters.
Arizona "River of the Month" Series Launched to Celebrate State's 100th Year
Colorado River Named 1st "River of the Month" to Celebrate State's Precious Resources
PHOENIX, March 30, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Five conservation groups today honored the Colorado River as their first "River of the Month" to launch a year-long series celebrating Arizona's 100th year as a state.
Colorado #1
Colorado's San Juan Skyway is a one- to two-day trip that loops from Ridgeway through Ouray, Silverton, Durango, Cortez, Dolores, Telluride and Placerville. The trip begins at Ridgeway State Park, four miles north of Ridgeway. Driving south on U.S. 550 along the Uncompahgre River takes you past a number of hot springs. The Ouray Hot Springs, a municipal pool, is at the north end of Ouray.
Colorado #2
The Unaweep-Tabeguache Scenic Byway is a five-hour or longer drive from Whitewater to Placerville via Rte. 141 and 145. Side trips can add many miles to what is one of the most breathtaking drives anywhere in the Colorado Mountains. This 133-mile drive crosses the Uncompahgre Plateau through the Unaweep Canyon. Begin the trip on Rte. 141 in the town of Whitewater. Enter the Unaweep Canyon and make a quick stop at the Grand Valley Overlook. The view here is unbelievable. Next take a left and follow Divide Road which climbs two miles to a cattle guard, where you can view the Great Unconformity, a distinct line between Precambrian granite and Triassic sandstone that represents a 2.2 billion-year gap in geological history.
Luke Bryan grew up in the very small town of Leesburg, Ga. Back home, he helped his father with his peanut and fertilizer businesses while playing sports and enjoying the great outdoors. Yet he can remember his mother urging him to belt out George Strait songs over and over while she drove him into town to shop. By age 14, his parents bought him an Alvarez guitar. By 15, his father would take him down to a nearby club, Skinner's, where he shared guitar licks and lead vocals with other local country singers.
