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Oliver Anthony

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Oliver Anthony
Birth nameChristopher Anthony Lunsford
OriginFarmville, Virginia, U.S.[1]
GenresCountry
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active2021–present[2]

Christopher Anthony Lunsford,[3] who performs under the name of Oliver Anthony, is an American country singer-songwriter and farmer.[4] In August 2023, he released the single "Rich Men North of Richmond" independently, which reached number 1 on the US iTunes chart; six other songs of his also ranked in the iTunes top 20.

Career

An Appalachian singer of the country-folk genre,[5] Anthony plays the resonator guitar,[6] and is said to have a "raspy"[7] or "distinct, gravelly voice and heavy twang".[8] He lives on an off-the-grid property,[6][9] where he expects to raise livestock.[10] Previously, he worked in a factory in North Carolina, doing 12-hour shifts six days a week. Anthony started taking writing music seriously in 2021, and has released music under the name Oliver Anthony Music since 2022.[11]

Anthony's music has been influenced by Hank Williams.[1][12] He said he "started getting messages from people saying how much the music was helping them with their struggles in their lives," and that that gave him a purpose. "It made me feel like I wasn't just wasting my time."[13][14] Anthony had been struggling with mental health issues and alcohol abuse, and in July 2023 he broke down and promised God that he would get sober if he helped him follow his dream. Around 30 days later, West Virginia music channel radiowv asked him to record a song for their YouTube music channel, and the result was "Rich Men North of Richmond".[15][better source needed][16][17]

All songs Anthony published before "Rich Men North of Richmond" were recorded on his mobile phone.[7][18] Within days of that song's release, John Rich publicly offered to produce Anthony's first album.[19]

Anthony performed a free show at a farmers market in Barco, North Carolina on August 13, which Anthony opened with the reading of verses from Psalm 37 about evildoers.[20] He was joined by surprise guest Jamey Johnson.[21] That same month, six other Anthony songs ranked in the iTunes Top 20.[22]

Rich Men North of Richmond

Main article: Rich Men North of Richmond

The video of Anthony performing "Rich Men North of Richmond" was uploaded to YouTube on August 7, 2023, and immediately went viral. Quickly gaining the support of personalities including singer-songwriter John Rich, podcaster Joe Rogan and political commentator Matt Walsh,[14][19] the song went to number 1 on the U.S. iTunes all-genres chart within days,[19][21][12] and the top three on Spotify a few days later.[23] Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares reacted to Anthony's viral performance, calling it "unreal Virginia talent."[24] NBC News reported that the original video upload had over nine million views in the space of five days, and noted a comment on it which had attracted 11,000 likes: "And just like that you became the voice of 40 or 50 million working men."[14]

Politics

Anthony has stated that he is nonpartisan: "I sit pretty dead center down the aisle on politics and always have been."[5][3]

References

  1. ^ a b Goldsberry, Jenny (August 11, 2023). "Virginia songwriter Oliver Anthony goes viral with anti-government 'Rich Men North of Richmond'". Washington Examiner. Retrieved August 13, 2023.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ Keene, Houston (August 11, 2023). "Blue-collar political anthem 'Rich Men North of Richmond' takes internet by storm". Fox News.
  3. ^ a b Dukes, Billy (August 15, 2023). "Here Are the Lyrics to Oliver Anthony's 'Rich Men North of Richmond'". Taste of Country. Townsquare Media. Retrieved August 15, 2023. the former factory worker says he sits in the center of the road politically […] Oliver Anthony (real name: Christopher Anthony Lunsford)
  4. ^ Oliver, Ned (August 14, 2023). "Farmville singer's blue-collar anthem "Rich Men North of Richmond" goes viral". Axios.
  5. ^ a b Willman, Chris (August 15, 2023). "Oliver Anthony's 'Rich Men North of Richmond' Is an Instant Smash Among Conservatives, While Progressives Wonder if He's a 'Plant'". Variety. Retrieved August 15, 2023. the Appalachian country-folk singer has been acclaimed
  6. ^ a b Derksen, Cheyenne (August 14, 2023). "'Rich Men North of Richmond' hitmaker Oliver Anthony has gone viral with right-wing pundits". The Oklahoman. Retrieved August 15, 2023. The red-bearded farmer, who lives off the grid with his three dogs in Farmville, Virginia, performs the song on a resonator guitar
  7. ^ a b Lynch, John (August 15, 2023). "Who is Oliver Anthony and what is "Rich Men North of Richmond?"". WTRF-TV. Retrieved August 16, 2023. raspy country artist from Farmville […] "Rich Men North of Richmond" is the first song of his to be recorded with a real microphone and a real camera and not on his cell phone
  8. ^ Marcin, Tim (August 16, 2023). "Who is Oliver Anthony and what's the deal with 'Rich Men North of Richmond?'". Mashable. Retrieved August 16, 2023. He has a clearly defined image […] a distinct, gravelly voice and heavy twang
  9. ^ Saad, Nardine (August 15, 2023). "The right is feeling Oliver Anthony's viral song 'Rich Men North of Richmond.' The left is not". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 15, 2023. The Farmville, Va., singer — said to be a farmer living off the grid with his three dogs
  10. ^ "Blowing Up: Oliver Anthony Goes Viral With 'Rich Men North Of Richmond'". KFDI-FM. August 14, 2023. Retrieved August 15, 2023. he hopes to raise livestock
  11. ^ Benitez-Eves, Tina (August 15, 2023). "Jamey Johnson Joins Viral Singer Oliver Anthony for Surprise Rendition of "In Color"". American Songwriter.
  12. ^ a b Hudak, Joseph (August 11, 2023). "Right-Wing Influencers Just Found Their Favorite New Country Song". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  13. ^ Lorge, Melinda (August 14, 2023). "Virginia's Hidden Gem: Oliver Anthony & His Blue-Collar Political Anthem, "Rich Men North Of Richmond"". Music Mayhem. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  14. ^ a b c Yang, Angela (August 14, 2023). "How an obscure country artist's viral song became a conservative anthem". NBC News. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  15. ^ Douglas, Carleton (August 11, 2023). "The Man Who Sold His Soul To God". Medium. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  16. ^ "Oliver Anthony's 'Rich Men North of Richmond' Song Goes Mega-Viral, Leads to Huge Crowds at Tiny North Carolina Farmer's Market Show". Outkick. August 14, 2023. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  17. ^ Uitti, Jacob (August 14, 2023). "Viral Singer Oliver Anthony's 'Rich Men North Of Richmond' Gets Massive Audience". American Songwriter. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  18. ^ Curran, Colleen (August 14, 2023). "Farmville singer Oliver Anthony goes viral with 'Rich Men North of Richmond'". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved August 16, 2023. He has posted over a dozen original songs that he shot and recorded on his cellphone such as "I've Got to Get Sober" and "Ain't Gotta Dollar." […] Rich, a country music singer-songwriter and conservative, has offered to produce Anthony's album
  19. ^ a b c Nicholson, Jessica (August 12, 2023). "'Rich Men North of Richmond' Viral Hitmaker Oliver Anthony: 5 Things You Need to Know". Billboard. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  20. ^ Giatti, Ian M. (August 15, 2023). "'Rich Men North of Richmond' singer Oliver Anthony quotes Scripture in first show after going viral". The Christian Post. Retrieved August 16, 2023. but not before sharing Scripture with the crowd […] Saying he was "compelled to share" Psalms 37, Anthony chose specifically to read verses 12 through 20
  21. ^ a b Nicholson, Jessica (August 14, 2023). "Jamey Johnson Joins Viral Hitmaker Oliver Anthony to Perform 'In Color'". Billboard. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  22. ^ Denis, Kyle; Lipshutz, Jason; Unterberger, Andrew (August 16, 2023). "Oliver Anthony's Viral Success Has Already Spread to His Whole Catalog". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2023. "Richmond" is just one of seven of his songs currently in the iTunes top 20 as of publishing
  23. ^ Unterberger, Andrew (August 16, 2023). "Is Oliver Anthony the Greatest Threat to Morgan Wallen Making Hot 100 History?". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2023. has risen to the top three on both Spotify and Apple Music's daily tallies
  24. ^ Parks, Kristine (August 14, 2023). "Blue-collar political anthem 'Rich Men North of Richmond' bumps Jason Aldean song out of top spot on chart". Fox News. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
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