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Eric Church. Launched into Stardom By Michelle Morgan. Kenneth Eric Church May 3, 1977 North Carolina. Musical Beginnings. Began to love music at an early age Began singing at 3 years old Started writing music at 13 years old Taught himself how to play guitar. School Years.
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Eric Church Launched into Stardom By Michelle Morgan
Musical Beginnings • Began to love music at an early age • Began singing at 3 years old • Started writing music at 13 years old • Taught himself how to play guitar
School Years • Played sports in high school • Attended Appalachian State University • Majored in marketing • Rediscovered his love for music
The Mountain Boys • During college Church formed a band • His brother, roommate, and a guitarist • Rough start • Broadened his musical horizon • Became regional act • Church add originals to set • 1999 The Mountain Boys Live at the Blues Room
Going to Nashville • Wanted to leave college • Made a deal with his father • Graduated in December 2000 • Moved in January 2001
Start the Music • Young and stupid • Six months after moving, got a “regular” job • First publishing deal six months later • Terri Clark, The World Needs a Drink • Jay Joyce • Record deal with Capitol Records
Albums • Produced by Capitol Records • Sinners Like Me • Carolina • Chief • Caught in the Act, live
Sinners Like Me • Released in 2006 • Debut single, How ‘Bout You • Top 20 before album release • Raw, relatable lyrics • Tight instrumentations
Carolina • Released in 2009 • More contemporary • Two Top Ten singles • “Love Your Love the Most” • “Hell on the Heart” • “Smoke a Little Smoke”, certified gold • Country Music Awards
Chief • Released in 2011 • Superstardom • Number 1 on the Billboard top 200 • “Drink in My Hand” • “Springsteen” • Album of the year
Caught in the Act • Released in 2013 • Only live album as soloist • Tivoli Theatre, Chattanooga Tennessee
Influential music • Truthful lyrics • People can relate to the lyrics • Influences from Bluegrass to Motown • Hank Williams Jr • Merle Haggard • Waylon Jennings
A closer look at the music • Wrote by himself • You Make it Look So Easy • Carolina • Lightning
You Make it Look So Easy • Written for his wedding • First performance January 8, 2008 • Very honest lyrics
You Make it Look So Easy In a glance • Soft simple texture • Violins play the harmony and melody • Guitar plays a softer rhythm Sounds like: • 0:00 The intro is played by violins in minor key, in a simple meter • 1:07 Chorus; a crescendo occurs, changing the dynamic of the song. The guitar plays the rhythm the violins pick up the melody. This leads to a very intense, powerful texture. • 2:10-2:17 the harmony is played with minor chords by the violins • 3:00 The tempo of the music begins t slow down. The lyrics are repeated from the first verse, to reiterate their importance.
Carolina • Title track of second album • About home state, North Carolina • Lyrics about his life there • Portrays the feeling of being homesick
Carolina In a glance • Begins as simple and easy • Increases to up-tempo, complex texture • Bass plays rhythm, in sixteenths Sounds Like: • 0:01 No intro. It begins with the bass playing the rhythm, and guitar playing the melody. The vocals begin at the same time. The song has a strong, outdoors, manly feel. • 0:43 Chorus The guitar, and lyrics contain a crescendo followed by a diminuendo. A snare drum plays a triple on the second beat of the bar. • 2:16 The cymbals and snare drum play a crescendo into the chorus. The snare drum • switches to playing a triple on the second beat of the bar. The bass plays in sixteenths. • Cymbals change the increase the dynamic.
Carolina, Sounds like continued…… • 2:58 guitar solo in major key • 3:09 Repeat chorus. The bass plays in sixteenths, harmonic chords are played by the piano. The dynamic is not as intense as in the previous choruses • 3:36 The bass continues to play sixteenths, while the piano plays the • melody. The cymbals add a strong feel while playing on the second beat of • every bar. • 4:21 Outro begins. All instruments fade expect the bass playing the rhythm and what sounds like a chord on the violin.
Lightning • Wrote shortly after moving to Nashville • Inspiration came from “The Green Mile” • Death row story • Depicts prisoner's sadness and remorse • Lead to record deal • Debut album, Sinner’s Like Me
Lightning In a glance • Emotional texture • Guitar rhythm with piano melody • Texture allows you to feel the emotion Sounds Like: • 0:00 The intro is in minor key. It has a sobering texture. The intro is played using a simple meter • 0:32 Church starts vocals. The guitar begins to play the rhythm. The piano is faintly playing the melody. The song is now played in a triple meter • 1:14 Chorus; bass takes over the melody, guitar and drums to play the rhythm. • 2:02 second verse begins. The drums and guitar play the rhythm. The melody is played by the piano.
Lightning, Sounds likeContinued….. • 4:00 The vocals pause, as to imitate the death of the prisoner. The piano ascends softly to nothing • 4:50 The outro begins. The drums slowly stop, as do the piano. The lyrics slowly fade • 5:02-5:14 Electric Keyboard finishes the outro, presenting an eerie feeling
Works Cited • Bauman, Sue. Eric Church - Carolina. 7 June 2013 <http:/countrymusic.about.com/od/cdreviewsal/fr/Carolina.htm>. • —. Eric Church - Sinners Like Me. 7 June 2013 <http://countrymusic.about.com/od/cdreviewsal/fr/sinnerslikeme.htm>. • CMT news. CMT news: Church Marries. 15 January 2008. 7 June 2013 <http://www.cmt.com/news/news-in-brief/1579702/eric-church-marries-in-north-carolina.jhtml>. • Eric Church. Carolina-Eric Church. 15 June 2013 <http://ericchurch.com/music/carolina>. • —. Sinners Like Me - Eric CHurch. 15 June 2013 <http://ericchurch.com/music/sinners-me>. • Fabian, Shelly. Eric Church Biograpghy. 7 June 2013 <http:countrymusic.about.com/od/ericchurch/p/EricChurch_pr.htm>. • Hump Head Country. Eric Church - Carolina Album. 7 June 2013 <http://www.humpheadcountry.com/Eric_Church_44/Carolina_68.html>. • Jam Base. Eric Church, Bio, History, Info. 7 June 2013 <http://www.jambase.com/Artists/40323/Eric-Church/Bio>.
Works Cited • Let's Sing it. Eric Church Biography. 27 Sept 2011. 2013 June 2013 <http://artists.letssingit.com/eric-church-3wpzd/biography>. • Metro Lyrics. 2011 Academy of Country Music. 2 April 2011. 19 June 2013 <http://www.metrolyrics.com/2011-academy-of-country-music-awards.html >. • Morris, Edward. CMT News. 2 August 2006. 7 June 2013 <http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1537741/eric-church-turns-heads-with-sinners-like-me.jhtml> • MSN Entertaiment. 7 June 2013 <http://social.entertainment.msn.com/music/blogs/one- >. • Ruhlnamm, William. Eric Church Music Biography. 7 June 2013 <http://www.allmusic.com/artist/eric-church-mn0000632233>.