Chris Knight | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Chris Knight |
Born | St Louis, Missouri United States | June 24, 1960
Genres | Rock Folk rock Country rock Americana |
Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
Years active | 1998–present |
Labels | Decca Dualtone Drifter's Church Productions |
Website | www |
Chris Knight (born June 24, 1960) is an American singer-songwriter from Slaughters, Kentucky. In addition to releasing solo records of his own material, Knight has had a successful career writing songs that have been recorded by Confederate Railroad, John Anderson, and Randy Travis among others. [1] [2]
Knight was born in St. Louis, Missouri, [3] and grew up in Slaughters, Kentucky. [1] His extended family lives in the same area of Kentucky. Knight has three brothers and a sister. His father was a pipe liner. [4]
When he was three years old, he asked for a plastic guitar for Christmas. At 15, he became serious and began teaching himself John Prine songs on his older brother's guitar. [5] In an interview, Knight commented "At one point I could play probably 35–40 John Prine songs." [6]
Knight earned a degree in agriculture from Western Kentucky University. He worked for ten years as a mine reclamation inspector and as a miner's consultant for the Kentucky Department of Surface Mining. [7]
Knight started composing when he was 26, but didn't start performing until he was 30. He got his first record deal when he was 37. [8]
In 1986, he heard Steve Earle on the radio and decided to start writing songs. After six years he came to Nashville and won a spot on a songwriters' night at the Bluebird Cafe. [5]
He attracted the interest of music producer Frank Liddell, who signed him to a contract with Bluewater Music. When Decca Records hired Liddell for an A&R position, Knight received a contract and in 1998 Decca released his self-titled debut. Knight still lived in a 10'-x-15' trailer [8] on 90 acres (36 ha) in Slaughters when the album was released. [5] Decca folded at the end of the 1990s, only two years after Knight joined the label. After a couple years without a label, Knight signed with Dualtone Music Group.
Knight licensed his music to Dualtone Records for two records, then decided to release his music independently with the help of his manager. [2]
Knight is well known and because of his particular fame in Texas, was named an "Honorary Texan" in 2006 by Texas Governor Rick Perry. [9]
He recorded his first demo tapes, bootlegged—and then self-released—while living alone in a trailer on his property outside Slaughters. [10] Called The Trailer Tapes, they were officially released in 2007. [11] They were one of his best-selling records. [12]
It took Knight four years to release Little Victories in 2012. Knight's former Decca labelmate Lee Ann Womack collaborated with him on "You Lie When You Call My Name." [13] Long-time musical hero John Prine sings on the title track. [14] Buddy Miller plays guitar and sings on two tracks: "Missing You" and "Nothing on Me." [15]
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Sales | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US Country [16] | US [17] | US Heat [18] | US Indie [19] | |||
Chris Knight |
| — | — | — | — | |
A Pretty Good Guy |
| — | — | — | — | |
The Jealous Kind |
| 67 | — | — | — | |
Enough Rope |
| — | — | 49 | 48 | |
The Trailer Tapes |
| 68 | — | 40 | — | |
Heart of Stone |
| 37 | — | 7 | 31 | |
Trailer II |
| 64 | — | — | — | |
Little Victories |
| 25 | 148 | 4 | 33 |
|
Almost Daylight |
| — | — | 3 | 12 |
|
"—" denotes releases that did not chart |
Year | Song | Album |
---|---|---|
1998 | "Framed" | Chris Knight |
"It Ain't Easy Being Me" | ||
2001 | "Becky's Bible" | A Pretty Good Guy |
2002 | "Oil Patch Town" | |
2003 | "The Jealous Kind" | The Jealous Kind |
2006 | "Cry Lonely" | Enough Rope |
2012 | "In the Mean Time" | Little Victories |
Year | Video | Director |
---|---|---|
1998 | "Framed" | Roger Pistole |
"It Ain't Easy Being Me" | ||
2002 | "Oil Patch Town" | |
2006 | "Cry Lonely" | Milton Sneed |
2013 | "In the Mean Time" [22] | James Weems |
In 2015, Chris Knight was featured in Season 1, Episode 2 of CarbonTV's original series, American Elements. [23]
John Edward Prine was an American singer-songwriter of country-folk music. Widely cited as one of the most influential songwriters of his generation, Prine was known for his signature blend of humorous lyrics about love, life, and current events, often with elements of social commentary and satire, as well as sweet songs and melancholy ballads. He was active as a composer, recording artist, live performer, and occasional actor from the early 1970s until his death.
The Black Dahlia Murder is an American melodic death metal band from Waterford, Michigan, formed in 2001. Their name is derived from the 1947 unsolved murder of Elizabeth Short, often referred to as Black Dahlia. Currently, the band consists of lead vocalist Brian Eschbach, bassist Max Lavelle, drummer Alan Cassidy, and guitarists Brandon Ellis and Ryan Knight. The Black Dahlia Murder has undergone various lineup changes, with Trevor Strnad and Eschbach remaining the only constant members, until the former's death in 2022, which then saw Eschbach take over lead vocals and Knight replacing him on rhythm guitar.
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