Monday, October 1, 2012

Luke of Leesburg


Thomas Luther Bryan also known as Luke Bryan was born on July 17, 1976 and grew up in the small town of Leesburg, Georgia, a small town 100 miles from the Alabama border. The town did not receive its first traffic light until two years after Bryan left. 





Bryan was the youngest of three children by LeClaire Bryan and Thomas Bryan. Bryan had an older brother, Chris, and older sister, Kelly.   At a young age, Bryan helped his father on the peanut farm and sold fertilizer. Bryan grew up listening and loving country music. His parents bought him his first guitar at fourteen years old. By 15, his father would take him down to a nearby club, Skinner's, where he shared guitar licks and lead vocals with other local country singers.At age 16, with the help of two local songwriters, Bryan started writing his own songs. Bryan planned to head to Music City to try his luck after graduating from high school, but the day Bryan was supposed to leave, his older brother, Chris, died in an automobile accident.   After this tragedy, Bryan decided to stay home and attend Georgia Southern University where he became a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. Bryan met his wife, Caroline, in college and they married December 8, 2006.


Luke Bryan began his career in the mid- 2000s with writing songs for others. His debut single, “All My Friends Say”, was released in early 2007, just as Billy Currington’s hit song “Good Directions” was climbing the Hot Country Song Charts, which Bryan wrote. “Good Directions” spend three weeks at number 1 on the Billboard, while Bryan’s “All My Friends Say” peaked to number 5. In august of 2007, his debut album, I’ll Stay Me, was released on Capitol Records, which included songs such as “All My Friends Say,” “We Rode in Trucks,” and “Country Man.”

All My Friends Say Music Video

Bryan followed I’ll Stay Me with the album Doin’ My Thing which include the number one hits “Rain is a Good Thing” and “Someone Else Calling You Baby.” This album also included “Do I,” which Bryan co-wrote with Charles Kelley of Lady Antebellum. In 2011, Bryan released the album Tailgates and Tanlines includes “Country Girl (Shake It for Me)”, and number one singles “I Don’t Want This Night to End” and “Drunk on You.” All these of his albums were co-produced with Jeff Stevens.  

Drunk on You Music Video 


Luke Bryan supports the T.J Martell Foundation and participates in many events benefiting this foundation. The T.J. Martell Foundation funds innovative medical research to find cures and treatments for leukemia, cancer and AIDS. Bryan has participated in Best Cellars and Ride for a Cure to benefit the TJ Martell Foundation with many other country artists. Causes supported by Luke Bryan include AIDs and HIV, Cancer, Children, and Health.

Bryan has put on my events to help others. On October 5, 2008, Bryan honored his late siblings, Chris Bryan and Kelly Bryan Cheshire, in his first-ever charity songwriter concert and silent auction. The concert and auction benefited Lee Branch YMCA in Bryan's hometown of Leesburg. It was held in Leesburg to benefit the people of Bryan’s hometown. On October 5, 2009, Bryan had a benefit concert at his alma mater, Georgia Southern University. All benefits go towards Georgia Southern scholarships. The concert was the first in a series of benefit concerts Bryan planned for his career. Luke Bryan hosts a Farm Tour every year. This tour is college scholarship fundraiser for children from farm families. On Jan 28, 2012, Luke Bryan performed along Lee Brice, Josh Thompson, and others at a concert benefiting M.E.’s Team, a children’s foundation started by former New York Yankees relieve pitcher and Jensen Beach resident Scott Proctor. Luke Bryan is currently on his third annual Farm Tour to benefit children from farm families.


Luke Bryan has two boys, Thomas and Tate, with his wife, Caroline. They reside in Nashville, Tennessee. 


Picture of Luke with Sons, Thomas and Tate


Blog Citations: 

Duffy, Thom. 2007. Best bets 2007: Faces to watch. Billboard - the International Newsweekly of Music, Video and Home Entertainment. Accessed September 30,2012 

www.georgiasouthern.edu 

www.lukebryan.com 



1 comment:

  1. Luke Bryan has always been one of my favorite country male artist, he songs consist of love and having a good time. When I hear Luke Bryan come on I instantly get that good feeling and have the urge to dance a little bit, especially his song “Country Girl” that song always gets me going! Something that I did not know about Luke Bryan is that the day before he left to go follow his dreams, his brother was killed in a car accident. That is truly heartbreaking. Also, I never realized that Bryan was from Georgia, my dad was born and raised in Georgia so I have spent a lot of time there. I think it is very rewarding and kind that Luke Bryan is involved with so many great foundations, its good to see that someone with so much wants to give back and help others as well. Also, I didn’t know Luke Bryan was a dad… and let alone a hot dad! I enjoyed reading your blog and learning more about Luke Bryan, your information was straight facts and interesting facts as well.

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