Oliver Anthony | |
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![]() Anthony in August 2023 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Christopher Anthony Lunsford |
Born | June 30, 1992 |
Origin | Farmville, Virginia, U.S. [1] |
Genres | |
Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
Instrument(s) |
|
Years active | 2021–present [2] |
Website | oliveranthonymusic |
Christopher Anthony Lunsford [3] (born 30 June 1992), [4] known professionally as Oliver Anthony Music (or simply Oliver Anthony), is an American country-folk singer-songwriter. [5] In August 2023, he released the single "Rich Men North of Richmond" independently, which debuted atop the Billboard Hot 100 and made Lunsford the first artist to achieve this without any prior charting history in any form. [6]
A singer of the country-folk genre, [7] Lunsford adopted his grandfather's name "Oliver Anthony" as his stage name in homage to the Depression era in which he lived. [8]
Anthony started writing music in 2021, and since 2022 has released music as Oliver Anthony Music. [9] Winston Marshall compared Anthony's performance on his song "Doggonit" —a song which contrasts consumption of insect protein and self-driving cars with Anthony's rural abode— [10] to that of a character from Hillbilly Elegy . [11] His music has been influenced by Hank Williams. [1] [12]
He said he "started getting messages from people saying how much the music was helping them with their struggles in their lives", and that that gave him a purpose. "It made me feel like I wasn't just wasting my time." [13] [14] Anthony had been struggling with mental health issues and alcohol abuse for five years, [15] and according to Twitter user Jason Howerton who had interviewed him, in July 2023 Anthony broke down and promised God that he would get sober if he helped him follow his dream. Around 30 days later, West Virginia music channel radiowv asked him to record a song for its YouTube music channel, and the result was "Rich Men North of Richmond". [16] [17] [18] [9] [19] [20]
Anthony performed a free show at a farmers market in Barco, North Carolina, on August 13, which Anthony opened with the reading of verses from Psalm 37 about evildoers. [21] He was joined by surprise guest Jamey Johnson. [22] That same month, six other Anthony songs ranked in the iTunes top 20, with five of the others in the top 10, including "I've Got to Get Sober", [23] which reached No. 3 on the Apple platform. [24]
"Aint Gotta Dollar", a song about self-reliance without spending money, [25] and ranked Anthony's fourth best by Taste of Country, [26] reached number 1 on the Viral 50 list in Spotify [27] and No. 2 on iTunes. [28] Anthony said that members of the public had reached out to tell him that the song had connected with them powerfully. [29]
In a Facebook post on August 17, Anthony described what he believes to be the reasons for his popularity: "I wrote the music I wrote because I was suffering with mental health and depression. These songs have connected with millions of people on such a deep level because they're being sung by someone feeling the words in the very moment they were being sung. No editing, no agent, no bullshit. Just some idiot and his guitar." [3]
Anthony's second documented public concert, in Moyock, North Carolina, opened in what Billboard described as "a unique fashion", with him reading a passage from the Bible. [30]
The video of Anthony performing "Rich Men North of Richmond" was uploaded to YouTube on August 8, 2023, [12] and immediately went viral. Billboard described it as taking on "politicians, taxes, welfare and other issues from a struggling working man's perspective", [31] and various news sources described themes in it as anti-establishment, conservative, or conspiratorial. [14] [12] [32] It was further promoted by personalities including singer-songwriter John Rich, podcaster Joe Rogan, and conservative commentators Jack Posobiec and Matt Walsh. [14] [33] [12] [34] [3] The song went to number 1 on the U.S. iTunes all-genres chart within days, [33] [22] [12] and to number 1 on the Spotify U.S. and Apple Music charts a few days later. [27] [35] Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares called Anthony's performance "unreal Virginia talent." [36] NBC News reported on August 14 that the original video upload had over nine million views in the space of five days, and noted a comment on it which had attracted 11,000 likes: "And just like that you became the voice of 40 or 50 million working men." [14]
All songs Anthony published before "Rich Men North of Richmond" were recorded on his mobile phone. [37] [38] Within days of the song's release, John Rich publicly offered to produce Anthony's first album. [33] On August 16, Billboard talked of a music industry "feeding frenzy" for his signature, reporting that one label head had told them, "I don't think I've ever seen anything like this before." Anthony himself wrote on his Facebook page on the same day that "Everyone in the 'industry' is rushing me into signing something, but we just want to take things slow right now." He also wrote that "We are working on a full line up of shows" with space for bigger audiences. [27] [3] On August 17, Anthony wrote further, "People in the music industry give me blank stares when I brush off 8 million dollar offers. I don't want 6 tour buses, 15 tractor trailers and a jet. I don't want to play stadium shows, I don't want to be in the spotlight." [3]
Draven Riffe of radiowv told Billboard in an interview published August 19 that he is Anthony's co-manager, together with Brian Prentice. [31] [39] He said that five more acoustic songs had been recorded at Anthony's farm at the same sessions as "Rich Men", to be released soon. There were also concert bookings until the end of 2023, he said. [31]
On August 22, Anthony released a new music video for "I Want to Go Home" via YouTube. Views exceeded one million in 24 hours; [40] It was followed on September 2 by a video for his song "90 Some Chevy", a song initially released in April that compares certain aspects of romantic love to an older vehicle. A live recording of the same song was also released, [41] [42] with 1.3 million views of the video in two days." [43]
On March 29, 2024, Anthony announced his debut studio album Hymnal of a Troubled Man's Mind , which was released on March 31. [44]
In addition to being the first songwriter to debut at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 with no prior chart history in any form, Anthony is the first male songwriter to chart 13 songs simultaneously in the top 50 Digital Song Sales while still alive—Prince and Michael Jackson exceeded that count only following their deaths. [45]
Industry observers noted these milestones were reached despite virtually no radio play; [46] nonetheless, when country music stations such as WGH-FM in Virginia and KBAY in California started playing Anthony, he debuted a few days later at No. 45 on the Country Airplay list. [47] [48]
Anthony plays the resonator guitar, [49] and is said to have a "raspy" [37] or "distinct, gravelly voice and heavy twang"; [50] Don Cusic described Anthony's style as straining and sincere, with "a voice that just cuts through." [32]
Anthony was born and raised in the Piedmont area of Virginia and currently resides in Farmville, Virginia. [40] [51] As of August 2023, he lived with his wife and two children in a $750 camper on an off-the-grid 90-acre property, where he said he intends to raise livestock. [3] [6] [49] [52] [53]
Anthony dropped out of high school in 2010 [54] at the age of 17, and later secured a General Educational Development diploma; [55] he went on to work in industrial jobs in North Carolina and Virginia. [3] At a paper mill in North Carolina, he had a work accident in 2013 which fractured his skull, leaving him unable to work for half a year. [56] [57] He wrote in a Facebook post that from 2014 through 2023 he worked in outside sales in manufacturing, visiting factories and job sites. [58] [3]
Anthony said in a video in August 2023 that he is nonpartisan: "I sit pretty dead center down the aisle on politics and always have." [7] [59] Later that month, he said he was bothered by others who "wrap politics" around his work. [60] "I see the right trying to characterize me as one of their own, and I see the left trying to discredit me, I guess in retaliation. That shit's got to stop", he said. [61]
Title | Details | Peaks |
---|---|---|
US Heat. [62] | ||
Hymnal of a Troubled Man's Mind |
| 13 |
Title | Year [upper-alpha 1] | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [63] | US Cou. [64] | US Cou. Air. [65] | AUS [66] | CAN [67] | IRE [68] | NZ [69] | SWE [70] | UK [71] | WW [72] | ||||
"Aint Gotta Dollar" | 2022 | 82 | 21 | — | — | — [upper-alpha 2] | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
"Rich Man's Gold" | — [upper-alpha 3] | — [upper-alpha 4] | — | — | — [upper-alpha 5] | — | — | — | — | — | Hymnal of a Troubled Man's Mind | ||
"Cobwebs and Cocaine" [76] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
"Virginia" | — [upper-alpha 6] | — [upper-alpha 7] | — | — | — [upper-alpha 8] | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | ||
"Hell on Earth" | 2023 | — [upper-alpha 9] | — [upper-alpha 10] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Hymnal of a Troubled Man's Mind | |
"Between You & Me" | — [upper-alpha 11] | — [upper-alpha 12] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | ||
"Feeling Purdy Good" | — [upper-alpha 13] | — [upper-alpha 14] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Hymnal of a Troubled Man's Mind | ||
"I Want to Go Home" | — [upper-alpha 15] | 27 | — | — | — [upper-alpha 16] | — | — | — | — | — | |||
"Always Love You (Like a Good Ole Dog)" | — [upper-alpha 17] | — [upper-alpha 18] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
"Doggonit" | — [upper-alpha 19] | — [upper-alpha 20] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
"Stuck Living in the New World" | — [upper-alpha 21] | — [upper-alpha 22] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album singles | ||
"Long Gone" [76] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
"VCR Kid" [76] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Hymnal of a Troubled Man's Mind | ||
"90 Some Chevy" | — [upper-alpha 23] | — [upper-alpha 24] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | ||
"I've Got to Get Sober" | — [upper-alpha 25] | 35 | — | — | — [upper-alpha 26] | — | — | — | — | — | Hymnal of a Troubled Man's Mind | ||
"Rich Men North of Richmond" | 1 | 1 | 40 | 13 | 3 | 10 | 14 | 26 | 23 | 2 | Non-album single | ||
"Cowboys and Sunsets" | 2024 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | TBA | |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. |
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"Rich Men North of Richmond" is a song by American singer Christopher Anthony Lunsford that was released in August 2023. The song became an overnight viral hit after gaining traction on social media. Within days of its release, it topped sales and streaming charts, and then debuted at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, making Anthony the first artist to debut atop the chart without any prior chart history in any form. The song received praise from some conservatives and was discussed at a Republican presidential debate; in response, Anthony rejected attempts to "try to stick me in a political bucket" and described the song as a criticism of both Democratic and Republican politicians.
the Appalachian country-folk singer has been acclaimed […] he declares himself nonpartisan
The artist born Christopher Anthony Lunsford took his grandfather's name as an homage to the "dirt floors, seven kids and hard times" that dominated the 1930s Appalachia in which the original Oliver Anthony was born and raised
"Doggonit," maligns insect protein and self-driving cars—but mostly as a scary contrast with his rural refuge
The working-class factory-worker sings "Republicans and Democrats, Lord I swear they're all just full of crap" on his song "Doggonit," like a character from Hillbilly Elegy
I've spent the last five years struggling with mental health and using alcohol to drown it
In depths of despair, just about a month ago, Oliver got to his knees & broke down in tears. Though he's wasn't a religious man, that night he promised God to get sober if he helped him follow his dream," Howerton wrote. "Oliver was about 30 days sober when someone reached out & asked him to come record a song for his YouTube channel. That song was "Rich Men North of Richmond."
In a seemingly since-deleted Youtube video, Anthony said in July 2023 that he'd promised God he'd get sober for help following his dreams, Taste of Country reports.
In July 2023, he says promised God he'd get sober for help following his dreams. About 30 days later, he was trending to have the No. 1 country song in America.
but not before sharing Scripture with the crowd […] Saying he was "compelled to share" Psalms 37, Anthony chose specifically to read verses 12 through 20
"Richmond" is just one of seven of his songs currently in the iTunes top 20 as of publishing
holding four of the top 10 spots on the iTunes song chart […] tracks "Ain't Gotta Dollar" and "I've Got to Get Sober" sitting at second and third
"Aint Gotta Dollar," a ditty about making one's own joy and comfort in lieu of spending
No. 4: "Ain't Gotta Dollar"
The song also resides at No. 1 on the Spotify Top 50-USA chart […] His song "Ain't Gotta Dollar" is currently No. 1 on Spotify's Viral 50 chart
ranking No. 1 on iTunes. Another one of his songs, "Ain't Gotta Dollar," is No. 2
began his afternoon set in a unique fashion; not with crashing cymbals or jangly guitar rhythms, but with prayer. The crowd stayed quiet as Anthony followed by reading a biblical scripture
Don Cusic, a professor of music industry history at Belmont University in Nashville, credited the song's popularity to Anthony's style of singing: straining and sincere, full of emotion and conviction […] Anthony's "got a voice that just cuts through," Cusic said
Boosted early on by influential conservative pundits and media figures like Jack Posobiec
raspy country artist from Farmville […] "Rich Men North of Richmond" is the first song of his to be recorded with a real microphone and a real camera and not on his cell phone
He has posted over a dozen original songs that he shot and recorded on his cellphone such as "I've Got to Get Sober" and "Ain't Gotta Dollar." […] Rich, a country music singer-songwriter and conservative, has offered to produce Anthony's album
Anthony's tour manager, Brian Prentice. "He's the same guy I met five years ago. It hasn't changed him one bit."
Just to be clear, I am Piedmont born and raised, not Appalachia," Anthony wrote
"90 Some Chevy," a country love song that could be a classic [...] Since its upload two days ago, Anthony's new "90 Some Chevy" video has accumulated 1.3 million views
even with almost no radio play
Mike "Moose" Smith did something he hadn't done in 40 years. The program director for 97.3 The Eagle, in nearby Norfolk, Va., aired the unknown singer-songwriter's viral smash — "Rich Men North of Richmond" — once every hour
arrives on Billboard's Country Airplay chart (dated Sept. 2) at No. 45 [...] one programmer giving avid support is Bo Matthews, program director at Alpha Media's KBAY, San Jose, Calif
The red-bearded farmer, who lives off the grid with his three dogs in Farmville, Virginia, performs the song on a resonator guitar
He has a clearly defined image [...] a distinct, gravelly voice and heavy twang
he pointed out how crazy it was that the online comments have already labeled him as being from "Appalachia". "They're talking about 'oh this is the best music to come out of Appalachia in however many years'," Anthony said. "It's like, do ya'll look on a map? We're in Farmville, this ain't Appalachia."
The Farmville, Va., singer — said to be a farmer living off the grid with his three dogs
he hopes to raise livestock
he dropped out of high school in 2010
He dropped out of high school at age 17, but went on to earn his GED
worked various plant jobs in North Carolina before a life-altering accident led him back to Virginia
worked 3rd shift, 6 days a week for $14.50 an hour in a living hell. In 2013, I had a bad fall at work and fractured my skull. It forced me to move back home to Virginia. Due to complications from the injury, it took me 6 months or so before I could work again
the former factory worker says he sits in the center of the road politically […] Oliver Anthony (real name: Christopher Anthony Lunsford)
It's bothered him most, he says, to see people "wrap politics" around this.
Anthony went on to emphasize that "Rich Men North of Richmond" is about people, not politics.