John Rich (born January 7, 1974 in Amarillo, Texas) is an American country music singer-songwriter. From 1992 to 1998, he was a member of the country music band Lonestar, in which he played bass guitar and alternated with Richie McDonald as lead vocalist. After being fired from the band in 1998, he embarked on a solo career on BNA Records in the late 1990s, releasing two singles for the label and recording Underneath the Same Moon, which was not released until 2006. By 2003, he joined Big Kenny to form the duo Big & Rich, who released three albums on Warner Bros. Records as well as ten singles, including the Number One "Lost in This Moment". After Big & Rich went on hiatus in 2007, Rich began work on a second solo album, Son of a Preacher Man, which has produced two more chart singles. In addition to his work in Big & Rich, John has co-written singles for multiple artists, including Keith Anderson, Jason Aldean, Cowboy Troy and Gretchen Wilson, as well as producing records for several other artists.Contents [hide] 1 Personal life 2 Before Big & Rich 3 In Big & Rich 4 Work for other artists 5 Son of a Preacher Man 6 Rich Rocks 7 Television work 8 Political work 9 Discography 9.1 Studio albums 9.2 Extended plays 9.3 Singles 9.4 Guest singles 9.5 Music videos 10 References
[edit] Personal life
Rich and wife Joan Bush, married on December 7, 2008. They welcomed their first child, a boy, on January 12, 2010, they named him Cash. [edit] Before Big & Rich
John Rich graduated in Dickson County, Tennessee and after graduation moved to Nashville where he worked at Opryland USA singing. He wanted to be a professional team roper though. Not long after he met up with the group Texasee, which eventually changed its name to Lonestar. While in Lonestar, Rich was the bass guitarist and, on some occasions, the lead singer (one of the band's singles, "Heartbroke Every Day," featured his lead vocals). Rich also co-wrote two of the band's singles: "Come Cryin' to Me" and "Say When", the former being a number-one single for the group. In January 1998, Rich was fired from Lonestar.[1] Afterward, Rich became a solo artist with BNA Records, the same label to which Lonestar was signed. He charted two singles for the label, and recorded an album which did not see release until 2006. [edit] In Big & Rich Main article: Big & Rich
Rich in April 2010
Rich joined Big Kenny in 2003 to form the duo Big & Rich. The duo recorded three studio albums for Warner Bros. Records: Horse of a Different Color, Comin' to Your City and Between Raising Hell and Amazing Grace, in 2004, 2005 and 2007 respectively. These albums accounted for ten singles on the country charts, including the Number One "Lost in This Moment". Rich also co-wrote all of the duo's singles, primarily with Big Kenny. In the wake of Big & Rich's success, his 1999 solo album Underneath the Same Moon was issued via BNA, coinciding with the release of Big Kenny's previously-unreleased solo album Live a Little. [edit] Work for other artists Main article: List of songs written by John Rich
During Big & Rich's success, Rich also worked as a songwriter and producer for other artists. His work included production for Gretchen Wilson, Keith Anderson, Jewel and John Anderson. In the same time span, he co-wrote multiple singles for other artists, including the Number One hits "Redneck Woman" for Gretchen Wilson, "Mississippi Girl" for Faith Hill and "Why" for Jason Aldean. [edit] Son of a Preacher Man
In January 2009, Rich released his third solo single on Warner Bros. Records. The song, "Another You", is the lead-off single to Rich's second studio album, Son of a Preacher Man, which was released on March 24, 2009. He followed this song up with another single, "Shuttin' Detroit Down", recorded only one week before its release in January 2009. Rich promoted the song, which addresses the Chrysler and General Motors bailouts, at Michigan radio stations.[2] The song debuted at #34 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the chart week of February 14, 2009, becoming his first solo Top 40 hit and peaking at #12 in April. A third single, "The Good Lord and the Man", debuted at #59 on the country chart and peaked at #56 in July 2009. [edit] Rich Rocks
Rich will release an extended play titled Rich Rocks in late 2010. Its first single is "Country Done Come to Town." [edit] Television work
John Rich performing his song "Raisin' McCain" at a John McCain campaign rally in O'Fallon, Missouri
In 2007, Rich hosted the first season of a reality show on Country Music Television called Gone Country, which featured celebrities such as Brady Bunch actress Maureen McCormick, singers Bobby Brown, Sisqo, Julio Iglesias Jr., Dee Snider, Carnie Wilson and American Idol runner-up Diana DeGarmo as they try to become songwriters with the help of Nashville songwriters as the celebrities are paired together with the songwriters. The show was filmed at the former home of Barbara Mandrell. He has hosted two more seasons since then.
Rich also served as a judge on the 2008 version of Nashville Star on NBC along with Jewel, singer-songwriter Jeffrey Steele, and host Billy Ray Cyrus. [edit] Political work
Rich originally supported Fred Thompson[3], in the 2008 presidential race. He later released a campaign song on his website in support of presidential candidate John McCain in August 2008 called "Raisin' McCain".[4] He performed in the closing ceremony of the Republican National Convention on September 3, 2008. He endorsed the Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman in the special congressional election in Northern New York in 2009.[5] In 2010 he endorsed Zach Wamp for Governor of Tennesse and hosted parties at his Nashville home for Congressman Wamp. [edit] Discography [edit] Studio albumsYear Album details Peak chart positions US Country US CAN Country 2006 Underneath the Same Moon Release date: March 14, 2006 Label: BNA Records 64 — — 2009 Son of a Preacher Man Release date: March 24, 2009 Label: Warner Bros. Nashville 3 16 13 "—" denotes releases that did not chart
[edit] Extended playsYear Album details 2010 Rich Rocks To be released Label: Reprise Nashville
[edit] SinglesYear Single Peak chart positions Album US Country US CAN Country CAN 1999 "I Pray for You" 53 — 63 — Underneath the Same Moon 2000 "Forever Loving You" 46 — — — Non-album song 2009 "Another You" 45 — * — Son of a Preacher Man "Shuttin' Detroit Down" 12 75 * 95 "The Good Lord and the Man" 56 — * — 2010 "Country Done Come to Town"A 40 * Rich Rocks (EP) "—" denotes releases that did not chart
A Current single. [edit] Guest singlesYear Single Artist Peak positions Album US Country 2007 "Come to Bed" Gretchen Wilson 32 One of the Boys
[edit] Music videosYear Title Director 1999 "I Pray for You" Shaun Silva 2007 "Come to Bed" (with Gretchen Wilson) Deaton-Flanigen Productions, Marc Oswald 2009 "Another You" Deaton-Flanigen Productions "Shuttin' Detroit Down" 2010 "Country Done Come to Town"
