These days Kenny Chesney seems to be a well known name in the country music scene, but believe it or not, this was not always the case. He began to get serious about music in college, while studying marketing at East Tennessee State University. After receiving a guitar as a Christmas gift, Chesney began to practice and perform with a college bluegrass band. The country sensation had a rocky beginning in comparison to his peers, who were signing with major record labels, while he was playing for tips in local venues every night that he could. Still, he continued to write songs and managed to sell 1,000 copies of a self-released demo album.
After graduating in 1991, Chesney moved to Nashville and became the resident performer at the Turf, which was a rougher honky-tonk place in the city’s historic district. While he gained experience, it wasn’t the sort of place where he’d be discovered, and in 1992, he moved on to a publishing deal with Acuff-Rose. From there he landed a record contract with Capricorn and released his debut album, In My Wildest Dreams, in late 1993. Unfortunately, the album was under-promoted, and the record label’s country division was shut down shortly after. A positive outcome from this was that his record sold enough to catch the eye of some major labels that would turn Chesney’s luck around. He ended up signing with RCA subsidiary BNA and released the album All I Need To Know in 1995. His first two Top 10 hits emerged from this album. These hits, the title track and the single “Fall In Love,” began the launch of Kenny Chesney into the world of country stardom that he knows today.
Since then, Chesney has released numerous successful albums, most of which have made their mark by topping the charts and being recognized with awards. In 1996, Me and You was his first album to be named gold. His major breakthrough album, however, was Everywhere We Go, released in 1999, which sold over 2 million copies and showcased memorable hits like “You Had Me From Hello” and “How Forever Feels.” Another smash from the album was Chesney’s single, “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy,” which showed off a more funky side to the country star. |
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| In 2000, the Tennessee native put out his compilation album, Greatest Hits, which became his second straight double-platinum release and topped the country LP charts. Chesney did not slow down one bit and continued to spit out hit albums one after the other. Both No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems and When the Sun Goes Down hit 4-times platinum and expanded his fan base incredibly. Chesney’s most recent album, Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates is his tenth studio album and was released in September 2007. Within the first week, the album debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 Chart and also had the best weekly sales of any country album since the Dixie Chicks’ Taking the Long Way in May 2006. This guy has talent! Round up some friends and come enjoy a night of live country at its best when Kenny Chesney comes to the Frank Erwin Center on May 1! |
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