Ty Herndon

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Ty Herndon
Background information
Birth name Boyd Tyrone Herndon[1]
Born May 2, 1962 (1962-05-02) (age 49), Meridian, Mississippi, USA[2]
Origin Butler, Alabama, USA
Genres Country
Occupations Singer
Instruments Vocals
Years active 1995–present
Labels Epic, Riviera, Titan/Pyramid, FUNL Music, Inc.
Associated acts Stephanie Bentley
Website TyHerndon.com

Boyd Tyrone "Ty" Herndon (born May 2, 1962, in Meridian, Mississippi) is an American country music and Christian singer. Signed to Epic Records in 1995, Herndon made his debut that year with the Number One single "What Mattered Most", followed by the release of his first album, also entitled What Mattered Most. This album was followed one year later by Living in a Moment, which produced his second Number One country hit in its title track.

Herndon released three more albums for Epic — Big Hopes (1998), Steam (1999), and This Is Ty Herndon: Greatest Hits (2000). He recorded a Christmas album in 2002 for the Riviera label, followed by his fifth studio album (2007's Right About Now) and a second Christmas compilation for the Titan Pyramid label. Herndon's autobiographical 2010 album release "Journey On" under the FUNL Music record label earned him his first Grammy Nomination and Dove Award. His next Country studio album is due early 2012, with the first single "Stones" releasing in November 2011. The single debuted on PlayMPE as the most downloaded and streamed single on Nov. 3, 2011.

Herndon has charted a total of 17 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. This figure includes three Number ones — "What Mattered Most," "Living in a Moment" and "It Must Be Love" — and four additional Top Ten hits: "I Want My Goodbye Back," "Loved Too Much," "A Man Holding On (To a Woman Letting Go)" and "Hands of a Working Man."

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early career

Boyd Tyrone Herndon was born in Meridian, Mississippi, but raised in Butler, Alabama.[2] He became involved in music as a teenager, playing the piano and singing Gospel music. Shortly after graduating from Austin High School in Decatur, Alabama, Herndon moved to Nashville to pursue a career in music. This did not prove to be easy, however, and after 10 years, he moved to Texas. He gained a loyal following on the Texas honkytonk circuit and, in 1993, Herndon won Texas Entertainer of the Year. Later that year, Herndon was signed to Epic Records.

Herndon made his chart debut in early 1995 with "What Mattered Most" which went to #1 on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts. This song served as the title track to his debut album, which was released in April 1995 and became a top 10 country album. The song was added to 133 radio stations' playlists in its first week, breaking a record set by Tracy Lawrence for the most additions to country playlists in one week.[3] The album itself debuted at #15 on Top Country Albums and #1 on Top Heatseekers, the highest debut for a country artist since Billy Ray Cyrus' Some Gave All in 1992.[4] In addition, it had the biggest first-week shipment in the history of Epic Records's Nashville division.[5]

"I Want My Goodbye Back," the album's second single, peaked at #7. Its b-side, a duet with Stephanie Bentley titled "Heart Half Empty," peaked at #21 in early 1996; follow-up "In Your Face" spent only two weeks on the charts and peaked at #63.[1] What Mattered Most was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

In July 1995, Herndon was arrested in Fort Worth, Texas, at Gateway Park by an undercover male police officer who alleged that Herndon exposed himself. When taken into custody, he was also discovered to be in possession of methamphetamine. A plea bargain saw the singer sentenced to community service and drug rehabilitation, and the charge of indecent exposure was dropped.[2][6]

[edit] Living in a Moment, Big Hopes and Steam

Herndon's second album, Living in a Moment debuted at #6 on the Top Country Albums charts.[2] The album's leadoff single, which was its title track, also reached Number One on the country charts. His next three singles all reached their peaks in 1997: "She Wants to Be Wanted Again" at #21, "Loved Too Much" at #2 and "I Have to Surrender" at #17.[1]

Big Hopes, his third album, followed in 1998. The leadoff single, "A Man Holding On (To a Woman Letting Go)" reached Top 5, while the follow-up single "It Must Be Love" (featuring backing vocals from Doug Virden and Drew Womack, then members of Sons of the Desert) gave Herndon his third and final #1. The third single, "Hands of a Working Man," becoming his last Top 5.

In 1999, his fourth studio album, Steam, was released. The first single, the title track, was a Top 20 hit but did not see the same success as Herndon's other lead singles from his first three albums. "No Mercy" was released next in 2000 and peaked at #26, while two more singles from the album both failed to make Top 40.

[edit] Personal issues

By 2000, Herndon was no longer being played on radio and by 2002 he had stopped touring. Thus began both a professional and personal downward slide that included a divorce from his second wife, bankruptcy, a weight gain of 75 pounds,[7] a mugging in Los Angeles by three men at gunpoint,[8] a lawsuit from a California dentist claiming that Herndon had not paid for emergency dental work[9] and another lawsuit from a former manager for breach of contract.[10] In 2004, he entered a drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility for the second time.[7]

[edit] Departure from Epic Records

In 2002, a new single titled "Heather's Wall" was released, peaking at #37 on the country charts. Although it was his highest charting single since "No Mercy" in 2000, its poor chart performance forced Herndon and his record executives to shelve the newly recorded album for which "Heather's Wall" would have served as lead single. Instead, Herndon put out a Greatest Hits compilation titled This Is Ty Herndon: Greatest Hits. "A Few Short Years" was the only new track released from that album, and after it failed to enter Top 40, Herndon exited Epic's roster.

Herndon released a Christmas album, A Not So Silent Night, in 2002 through his fan club and official website. In 2003 the Christmas album was repackaged with additional content and released on the independent label Riviera/Liquid8 Records.[2] Herndon was then signed to Titan Pyramid Records in 2006. On January 9, 2007, his album Right About Now was released[2] — his first full studio album since 1999's Steam. Right About Now's title track was the first single released. However, both it and the followup, "Mighty Mighty Love" (previously recorded by Lila McCann), failed to reach the country charts. A second Christmas album followed later in 2007.

[edit] Philanthropy

Herndon has raised money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, the Special Olympics and the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program.[11] He has also been involved with equine therapy for children. Currently, Ty is a National Spokesman for CVS pharmacy's ALS fundraising campaign. Ty was on hand to present the $4.5 million check from 2011's campaign, to the ALS Therapy Alliance, at Fenway Park on Sept. 1, 2011. Ty also sang the National Anthem before the Red Sox v. Yankees game that day.

[edit] Current projects

On June 8, 2010, Herndon released an album of self-penned Contemporary Christian songs called Journey On under the FUNL Music label. The music video for the title track documents the battle of former National Football League player Kevin Turner with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Herndon is finalizing a country music CD, tentatively titled, Love Wins. The first single, "Stones" from the new project has been released to radio and debuted as both the Number 1 download and Number 1 stream on PlayMPE on Nov. 3, 2011.

Herndon received a Grammy award nomination in the Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album category for Journey On. The award went to Diamond Rio for The Reason. Herndon received a Dove award in 2010 for Best Bluegrass Recorded Song for When We Fly.

[edit] Discography

Ty Herndon discography
Releases
Studio albums 6
Compilation albums 1
Singles 20
No. 1 Singles 3

[edit] Studio albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
(sales thresholds)
US Country
[12]
US
[13]
US
Indie

[14]
CAN Country
[15]
What Mattered Most 9 68 3
Living in a Moment
  • Release date: August 13, 1996
  • Label: Epic Nashville
  • Formats: CD, cassette
6 65 18
Big Hopes
  • Release date: May 26, 1998
  • Label: Epic Nashville
  • Formats: CD, cassette
22 140 31
Steam
  • Release date: November 2, 1999
  • Label: Epic Nashville
  • Formats: CD, cassette
14 124
Right About Now
  • Release date: January 9, 2007
  • Label: Titan Pyramid
  • Formats: CD, music download
41 24
Journey On
  • Release date: June 8, 2010
  • Label: FUNL
  • Formats: CD, music download
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

[edit] Compilation albums

Title Album details Peak positions
US Country
[12]
This Is Ty Herndon: Greatest Hits
  • Release date: March 26, 2002
  • Label: Epic Nashville
  • Formats: CD
32

[edit] Holiday albums

Title Album details
A Not So Silent Night
  • Release date: September 23, 2003
  • Label: Riviera Records
  • Formats: CD
A Ty Herndon Christmas
  • Release date: October 23, 2007
  • Label: Titan Pyramid
  • Formats: CD, music download

[edit] Singles

[edit] 1990-2000

Year Single Peak chart positions Album
US Country
[17]
US
[18]
CAN Country
[19]
1995 "What Mattered Most" 1 90 1 What Mattered Most
"I Want My Goodbye Back" 7 9
"Heart Half Empty" (with Stephanie Bentley) 21 12
1996 "In Your Face" 63 58
"Living in a Moment" 1 1 Living in a Moment
"She Wants to Be Wanted Again" 21 19
1997 "Loved Too Much" 2 2
"I Have to Surrender" 17 14
1998 "A Man Holdin' On (To a Woman Lettin' Go)" 5 81 14 Big Hopes
"It Must Be Love" 1 38 10
1999 "Hands of a Working Man" 5 47 18
"Steam" 18 83 19 Steam
2000 "No Mercy" 26 92 44
"A Love Like That" 58 70
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

[edit] 2001-2010

Year Single Peak positions Album
US Country
[17]
2001 "Heather's Wall" 37 Non-album song
2002 "A Few Short Years" 55 This Is Ty Herndon: Greatest Hits
2006 "Right About Now" Right About Now
2007 "Mighty Mighty Love"
2010 "Journey On" Journey On
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

[edit] 2011-present

Year Single Album
2011 "Stones" TBD

[edit] Other charted songs

Year Single Peak positions Album
US Country
[17]
2000 "You Can Leave Your Hat On" 72 Steam

[edit] Music videos

Year Video Director
1995 "What Mattered Most" Steven Goldmann
"I Want My Goodbye Back"
1996 "Heart Half Empty" (with Stephanie Bentley)
"Living in a Moment"
1997 "She Wants to Be Wanted Again"
"I Have to Surrender"
1998 "A Man Holding On (To a Woman Lettin' Go)"
1999 "Hands of a Working Man" chris rogers
"Steam" Steven Goldmann
2000 "No Mercy" Eric Welch
2002 "Heather's Wall" Guy Guillet
2010 "Journey On" Flick Wiltshire/Steven Goldmann

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 187. ISBN 0-89820-177-2. 
  2. ^ a b c d e f Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Ty Herndon biography". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p142392. Retrieved 15 May 2008. 
  3. ^ Wilonsky, Robert (27 April 1995). "Thank God he's a pretty boy". The Dallas Observer. http://www.dallasobserver.com/1995-04-27/music/thank-god-he-s-a-pretty-boy/. Retrieved 19 May 2009. 
  4. ^ "Ty Herndon Continues Streak of Firsts; Album Debut Sets Record as Hot Shot Debut". PR Newswire. 2 May 1995. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-16890618.html. Retrieved 16 August 2010. 
  5. ^ "Ty Herndon Makes More History with Single/Album". PR Newswire. 10 April 1995. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-16797888.html. Retrieved 16 August 2010. 
  6. ^ Floyd, Jacquielynn (18 July 1995). "Singer Herndon given probation after felony drug arrest in FW; Exposure charge was factor in plea bargain, official says". The Dallas Morning News. 
  7. ^ a b [1]
  8. ^ [2]
  9. ^ [3]
  10. ^ [4]
  11. ^ [5]
  12. ^ a b "Ty Herndon Album & Song Chart History - Country Albums". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/ty-herndon/chart-history/119318?f=320&g=Albums. Retrieved July 4, 2011. 
  13. ^ "Ty Herndon Album & Song Chart History - Billboard 200". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/ty-herndon/chart-history/119318?f=305&g=Albums. Retrieved July 4, 2011. 
  14. ^ "Ty Herndon Album & Song Chart History - Independent Albums". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/ty-herndon/chart-history/119318?f=326&g=Albums. Retrieved July 4, 2011. 
  15. ^ "Results - RPM - Library and Archives Canada - Country Albums/CDs". RPM. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-110.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=v1425u674j4pkfkqtvtnn4p2g2&q1=Ty+Herndon&q2=Country+Albums%2FCDs&interval=20. Retrieved July 4, 2011. 
  16. ^ a b "RIAA - Recording Industry Association of America - Searchable Database". RIAA. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?content_selector=gold-platinum-searchable-database. Retrieved July 4, 2011. 
  17. ^ a b c "Ty Herndon Album & Song Chart History - Country Songs". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/ty-herndon/chart-history/119318?f=357&g=Singles. Retrieved July 4, 2011. 
  18. ^ "Ty Herndon Album & Song Chart History - Hot 100". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/ty-herndon/chart-history/119318?f=379&g=Singles. Retrieved July 4, 2011. 
  19. ^ "Results - RPM - Library and Archives Canada - Country Singles". RPM. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-110.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=hj7fg6o0bkqvi6185c5hgjs3j3&q1=Ty+Herndon&q2=Country+Singles&interval=20. Retrieved July 4, 2011. 

[edit] External links

Personal tools
Namespaces
Variants
Actions
Navigation
Interaction
Toolbox
Print/export
Languages