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George Ducas (singer)

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George Ducas
Birth nameGeorge Evnochides
Born (1966-08-01) August 1, 1966 (age 58)
Texas City, Texas, USA
GenresCountry
OccupationSinger-songwriter
InstrumentVocals, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar
Years active1994–present
LabelsLiberty
Capitol Nashville
White Star
Propel
Loud Ranch

George Ducas (born George Evnochides; August 1, 1966) is an American country music artist. He has released three studio albums: 1994's George Ducas, 1997's Where I Stand, and 2013's 4340 [1] and has charted six singles on Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs), the highest being the No. 9 "Lipstick Promises", which was also a #1 CMT video in 1995. In addition, he has written songs and hit singles for Garth Brooks, Gary Allan, the Randy Rogers Band, George Jones, Eli Young Band, Josh Thompson, and Sara Evans.

Biography

Ducas was born in Texas City, Texas.[2][3] When he was 5, his parents (an Exxon chemical engineer and an English professor)[3] divorced. He moved to San Diego [4] with his mother. He moved to Houston six years later to live with his father and stepmother. He attended Lamar High School and Kinkaid High School.[2] Ducas left Houston to attend Vanderbilt University,[4] graduating in 1989 with a degree in economics; after only working six months at an Atlanta bank,[3] he quit to focus on music full-time. "Maybe doing something secure is safer," Ducas told Times Leader of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., in 1997. "However, doing something you love is much more important, even if it's a little more dangerous." [5] He adopted his maternal grandmother's maiden name, Ducas, after high school.[2] "My father said he'd always had trouble with his last name," Ducas told The Houston Chronicle in an article published on Sept. 30, 1994. "He suggested I change it. It felt strange and uncomfortable at first, but now I'm used to it." [2]

Musical career

Ducas played in Nashville clubs for three years before signing with Liberty records in 1994.[2] During this time, Radney Foster reached Top ten on the country charts with "Just Call Me Lonesome", a song which Ducas co-wrote.[1] By the end of the year, Ducas was signed to Liberty Records, charting the single "Teardrops;" a Top Ten country hit ("Lipstick Promises") came in early 1995, followed by the release of his eponymous debut album. George Ducas also produced the No. 52 "Hello Cruel World" and the No. 72 "Kisses Don't Lie".

Due to a restructuring of Liberty Records, Ducas was transferred to Capitol Records Nashville, where he released his second album, 1997's Where I Stand. The album's release was delayed, however, due to the poor performance of its lead-off single "Every Time She Passes By". This song was withdrawn after only three weeks on the charts, then re-released in November 1996.[6] However, Ducas continued to perform, headlining and opening shows for such acts as Alan Jackson, Toby Keith, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Diamond Rio, The Mavericks and Faith Hill. Ducas and Keith Anderson were two of several co-writers on "Beer Run (B Double E Double Are You In?)", a Top 30 duet for Garth Brooks and George Jones in 2001. The Dixie Chicks, Gary Allan and Trisha Yearwood also recorded album cuts which he co-wrote.

In 2005, Ducas and Foster wrote "A Real Fine Place to Start", a No. 1 hit for Sara Evans, and Ducas spent the latter half of 2007 opening shows for her.[7] Other singles that Ducas has co-written include the Randy Rogers Band's 2007 single "Kiss Me in the Dark" and the Eli Young Band's 2008 single "Always the Love Songs", the latter of which he co-wrote with David Lee Murphy. He also co-wrote Josh Thompson's "Won't Be Lonely Long".

Ducas was signed by WhiteStar Entertainment in September 2008, but the label folded before any material could be released.[8] In August 2010, he released an extended play titled Volume Up, Windows Down.[9] On October 2013, he released 4340, the third album in his career and first in 16 years, through the newly created independent label Loud Ranch.[10]

Discography

Albums

Title Album details Peak chart
positions
US Country US Heat
George Ducas 57 36
Where I Stand — —
4340 [11]
  • Release date: October 29, 2013
  • Label: Loud Ranch
 — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Extended plays

Title Album details
Volume Up, Windows Down
  • Release date: August 24, 2010
  • Label: Propel Records

Singles

Year Single Peak chart
positions 		Album
US Country CAN Country
1994 "Teardrops" 38 — George Ducas
"Lipstick Promises" 9 6
1995 "Hello Cruel World" 52 46
"Kisses Don't Lie" 72 75
1996 "Every Time She Passes By" 57 26 Where I Stand
1997 "Long Trail of Tears" 55 52
2010 "Never Goes Away" — — Volume Up, Windows Down
2011 "Breakin' Stuff" — —
2012 "Cowtown" — —
2014 "All Kinds of Crazy" — — 4340
2015 "LoveStruck" — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Music videos

Year Video Director
1994 "Teardrops"[12][13] Piers Plowden
1995 "Lipstick Promises"[14]
"Hello Cruel World"[15] Roger Pistole
"Kisses Don't Lie"[16] D. J. Webster
1996 "Every Time She Passes By"[17]
2015 "Party with Your Boots On"

References

  1. ^ a b Ankeny, Jason. "George Ducas biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-11-01.
  2. ^ a b c d e Mitchell, Rick. "On the brink of stardom: There's another George on country's horizon." Houston Chronicle. September 30, 1994.
  3. ^ a b c Hurst, Jack. "Head of his class: 'Kid from Vanderbilt' graduates to Nashville with high marks." Chicago Tribune. February 5, 1995.
  4. ^ a b "George Ducas | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  5. ^ Rose, Van. "Singer banks on staying power." The Times Leader (Wilkes-Barre, Pa). March 2, 1997.
  6. ^ Remz, Jeffrey B. "George Ducas avoids sophomore slump". Countrystandardtime.com. Retrieved 2008-10-31.
  7. ^ "Sara Evans Announces Tour With Josh Turner". Cmt.com.
  8. ^ Finley, Jeremy. "Music label CEO accused of fraud". WSMV-TV Nashville. 2009-04-21. Retrieved 2009-05-21.[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ Vercher, Brody (12 August 2010). "Buddy Miller's Residence Show; Free Sons of Bill EP; Hayes Carll Performs for 'Austin City Limits'". Engine 145. Archived from the original on 18 December 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  10. ^ "Album review: George Ducas – 4340 Album". No Depression. Retrieved 2013-11-01.
  11. ^ "iTunes - Music - 4340 by George Ducas". November 11, 2013. Archived from the original on November 11, 2013.
  12. ^ Billboard - Nov 5, 1994 - Google Books Result. Retrieved 2010-10-30.
  13. ^ "CMT: Videos: George Ducas: Teardrop". Retrieved 2011-02-10.
  14. ^ "CMT: Videos: George Ducas: Lipstick Promises". Retrieved 2011-02-10.
  15. ^ "CMT: Videos: George Ducas: Hello Cruel World". Retrieved 2011-02-10.
  16. ^ "CMT: Videos: George Ducas: Kisses Don't Lie". Retrieved 2011-02-10.
  17. ^ Billboard - Jun 15, 1996 - Google Books Result. Retrieved 2010-10-30.
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