Craig Morgan (singer)

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Craig Morgan
Background information
Birth name	Craig Morgan Greer
Born	July 17, 1965 (1965-07-17) (age 43)
Origin	Kingston Springs, Tennessee, United States
Genre(s)	Country
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter
Instrument(s)	Vocals, rhythm guitar
Years active	2000-present
Label(s)	Atlantic, Broken Bow, BNA
Website	craigmorgan.com

Craig Morgan Greer (born July 17, 1965 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee) is an American country music artist, known professionally as Craig Morgan. A veteran of the United States Army, Morgan began his musical career in late 1999 on Atlantic Records, releasing his self-titled debut album for that label before the closure of its Nashville division in 2000. In 2002, Morgan signed to the independent Broken Bow Records, on which he released three studio albums: 2003's I Love It, 2005's My Kind of Livin', and 2006's Little Bit of Life. These produced several chart hits, including "That's What I Love About Sunday," which spent four weeks at the top of the Billboard country charts and was that publication's Number One country hit of 2005. A greatest hits package followed in mid- 2008 before Morgan left the label for BNA Records, on which he released That's Why later that same year. My Kind of Livin' is also his highest-selling album, having been certified gold by the RIAA.

Overall, Morgan has charted fifteen times on the Billboard country charts. Besides "That's What I Love About Sunday," five more of his singles have entered Top Ten: "Almost Home," "Redneck Yacht Club," "Little Bit of Life," "International Harvester," and "Love Remembers."

[edit] Biography

Craig Morgan during a USO performance, March 20, 2007

Craig Morgan Greer was born in Kingston Springs, Tennessee and grew up in rural Tennessee. He became an Emergency medical technician at age 18. A few years later, he joined the Army and was stationed in South Korea. He was in combat as part of Operation Just Cause in Panama in 1989. While stationed in Korea, Morgan wrote a number of songs and won various military singing and songwriting contests.

Morgan spent ten years on active duty as a Fire Support Specialist in the United States Army, serving in the 101st and 82d Airborne Divisions before launching his music career. He holds Airborne, Jumpmaster, and Air Assault qualifications.^[1]

In addition to his Opry appearances and regular touring schedule, Morgan frequently performs at military bases both in the U.S. and abroad. He was awarded the 2006 USO Merit Award for his tireless support of US soldiers and their families.^[2] Morgan has been active in raising money for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. [1]

On September 18, 2008, Morgan was invited by John Conlee to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry.^[3] Morgan was formally inducted as Opry member by Conlee at the Grand Ole Opry House during the October 25, 2008 edition of the Opry.^[4]

[edit] Musical career

This section requires expansion.

Hundreds of fans showed up to see Craig Morgan perform for the USO, March 20, 2007

[edit] 2000-2002: Atlantic Records

Upon his return home to Tennessee, he worked various jobs to support his family, including as a construction worker, a security guard and a sheriff's deputy. He would later land a job in Nashville singing demos for other songwriters and publishing companies. The demos led to releasing his first album with Atlantic Records, the self-titled Craig Morgan in 2000. It produced three singles, including "Something to Write Home About" at #39. A Christmas single, "The Kid in Me", also charted, but by the end of 2000, Atlantic shut its Nashville division.

[edit] 2002-2008: Broken Bow Records

In 2002, Morgan signed with independent Broken Bow Records and released his second album, I Love It. Leading off this album was the patriotic-themed "God, Family and Country", a song dedicated to former Nashville session drummer Randy Hardison.^[5] This song featured backing vocals from the group 4 Runner, who also included a version on their 2003 album Getaway Car. Following this song was Morgan's second Top 40 hit, "Almost Home". It became his first Top Ten hit as well, spending thirty-seven weeks on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts and peaking at #6. Following it were "Every Friday Afternoon" and "Look at Us", at #25 and #29 respectively.

Morgan released his third album, My Kind of Livin', in 2004. Its first single, "That's What I Love About Sunday", became his only Number One hit, spending four weeks at Number One. The song was also the Number One country music single of 2005 according to the Billboard Year-End charts. Following it were the #2 "Redneck Yacht Club" and the #12 "I Got You", which Morgan had originally written for Keith Urban but, after recording a demo version, decided to keep the song for himself. My Kind of Livin' was also certified gold by the RIAA for shipping 500,000 copies, and "Redneck Yacht Club" was certified gold as a digital single.

His third and final album for Broken Bow, Little Bit of Life, was issued in 2006 and produced by Keith Stegall. Its title track ecame his fourth Top Ten hit, peaking at #7, followed by the #11 "Tough" and the #10 "International Harvester", which was co-written by Shane Minor, Jeffrey Steele and former Western Flyer member Danny Myrick. A Greatest Hits followed in February 2008, shortly before his departure from Broken Bow.^[6]

[edit] 2008-present: BNA Records

After leaving Broken Bow, Morgan signed to BNA Records, a division of Sony BMG Nashville.^[7] His first album for the label, That's Why, was released in October 2008, and its lead-off single, "Love Remembers," reached a peak of #9 on the country charts in December 2008. The album's second single, "God Must Really Love Me" reached #26 in May 2009, thus becoming his first single to miss the top 20 since "Look At Us" in 2004. "Bonfire", the third single, is included on a re-released version of That's Why, released in May 2009. Morgan also co-wrote a song entitled "Say a Prayer", recorded by Tracy Lawrence on his 2009 album, The Rock.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Studio albums

• Craig Morgan (2000)
• I Love It (2003)
• My Kind of Livin' (2005)
• Little Bit of Life (2006)
• That's Why (2008)

[edit] Compilation albums

• Greatest Hits (2008)

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Craig Morgan (singer)

• Official web site