Rory Feek

Last updated

Rory Feek
Rory Feek (cropped).jpg
Feek at the 45th Academy of Country Music Awards in 2010
Born (1965-04-25) April 25, 1965 (age 58) [1]
Atchison, Kansas, U.S.
OccupationSinger-songwriter
Years active1996–present (songwriter) 2008–2016, 2020–present (singer)
Musical career
Genres Country
Instrument(s)Vocals
Labels Sugar Hill/Vanguard (in Joey + Rory)
Formerly of Joey + Rory
Spouse(s)
Tamara Gilmer
​
​
(m. 1985;div. 1992)​
Joey Feek
​
​
(m. 2002;died 2016)​

Rory Lee Feek (born April 25, 1965) is an American country music singer and songwriter. In his career, he has written singles for Clay Walker, Blake Shelton, Tracy Byrd and other artists. He and his wife, Joey Feek, formed the duo Joey + Rory and was placed third on the first season of the CMT talent show Can You Duet . He also established Giantslayer Records for launching of new independent artists.

Contents

Personal life

Feek on stage with Gabe Mccauley and Joel Salatin at the Music Ranch Montana on July 10, 2021 RoryFeek GabeMccauley JoelSalatin At MusicRanchMontana.jpg
Feek on stage with Gabe Mccauley and Joel Salatin at the Music Ranch Montana on July 10, 2021

Rory Lee Feek was born and raised in Atchison, Kansas. In his blog, ThisLifeILive.com, [2] he gives his birth year as 1965. Feek married Tamara Gilmer on August 3, 1985, and they divorced March 25, 1992. In 2002, he married Joey Feek, with whom he started the duo Joey + Rory. They have one daughter, Indiana Boone (born February 17, 2014), who was born with Down syndrome. Feek also has two older daughters, Heidi Feek (born 1986) and Hopie Feek (born 1988), [3] from his previous marriage. Joey died of metastatic cervical cancer on March 4, 2016. [4]

Feek has a friendship [5] and working relationship with Joel F. Salatin with whom he has collaborated in several performances promoting sustainable farming. Feek hosted a series of discussions on sustainable farming in 2020 [6] and again in 2021 in an event billed as "Songs, Stories & Sustainability with Joel Salatin and Rory Feek" [7] at the Music Ranch Montana. On Feek's property outside of Nashville, he has a farm, a concert hall and school house. [8]

Career

Inspired by Don Williams, Merle Haggard, and other artists, Feek began playing guitar at age 15. He later served two tours of duty in the United States Marine Corps after high school, before moving to Dallas, Texas, where he played in nightclubs. Feek moved to Nashville, Tennessee, in 1995 after being encouraged by Nashville entertainment attorney Rod Phelps, and signed to a publishing contract. One of his first single releases as a songwriter was Collin Raye's "Someone You Used to Know," a Top Five country hit in 1999. A year later, Clay Walker reached Top Five as well with "The Chain of Love," another song that Feek co-wrote. [9]

Feek continued to write for other artists in the 2000s, including album tracks for Mark Wills, Kenny Chesney, Terri Clark, Randy Travis, and Lorrie Morgan, as well as Tracy Byrd's 2003 single "The Truth About Men" [9] In 2004, Feek achieved his first Number One as a songwriter when Blake Shelton topped the country charts with "Some Beach," which he co-wrote with Paul Overstreet. [10] Also in 2004, Feek founded the Giantslayer Records label, on which Blaine Larsen recorded two studio albums in association with BNA Records.

In 2008, Feek and his wife Joey founded a duo called Joey + Rory. They came in third place on the CMT talent show Can You Duet , and later that year signed to a recording contract with Vanguard Records. [11] Joey + Rory released their debut single "Cheater, Cheater" that year, and peaked at No. 30 on the country singles charts with it. That same year, Jimmy Wayne charted on the country charts with "I Will," another Feek co-write.

Rory at the Music Ranch Montana in July 2021 RoryFeekAtMusicRanchMontanaByKingElder.jpg
Rory at the Music Ranch Montana in July 2021

Rory’s first solo album "Gentle Man" was released on June 18, 2021. [12] It is the first album recorded since losing his wife and country music collaborator Joey to cancer in 2016. The album includes Feek and Jamie Teachenor's co-written single “Met Him in a Motel Room” with vocals by Trisha Yearwood. [13] [14] Yearwood previously recorded the song for her 2014 album, "PrizeFighter: Hit After Hit." [15] The album also includes a cover of Bob Dylan’s “The Times They Are A-Changin.’” [12]

As a filmmaker and storyteller, Feek wrote, shot much of, and edited his docu-series, This Life I Live, [16] which premiered on RFD-TV in March 2020. Feek created the singer-songwriter show "Muletown In the Round," [17] the educational series, "The One Room Schoolhouse," [18] and others with Red King Productions. [19] He also made the feature-length film Finding Josephine (2019), [20] the full-length documentary To Joey, With Love (2016), [21] music videos for the album "Gentle Man," and dozens of music videos over his career as a musician and songwriter. [22]

As an author, Feek has written two memoirs and several children's books. His 2017 memoir, "This Life I Live: One Man's Extraordinary, Ordinary Life and the Woman Who Changed It Forever" (HarperCollins) hit top book lists including the Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly, the New York Times, the Washington Post, and USA Today. [23] Additional books include "Once Upon a Farm" (HarperCollins), [24] "The Cow Said Neigh!" (HarperCollins), [25] "The Day God Made You" (HarperCollins), [26] and "The Little Rooster" (Milk Barn Kids). [27]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garth Brooks</span> American country singer (born 1962)

Troyal Garth Brooks is an American country singer and songwriter. His integration of pop and rock elements into the country genre has earned him his immense popularity, particularly in the United States with success on the country music single and album charts, multi-platinum recordings and record-breaking live performances, while also crossing over into the mainstream pop arena.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trisha Yearwood</span> American country singer

Patricia Lynn Yearwood is an American country singer. She rose to fame with her 1991 debut single "She's in Love with the Boy," which became a number one hit on the Billboard country singles chart. Its corresponding self-titled debut album would sell over two million copies. Yearwood continued with a series of major country hits during the early to mid-1990s, including "Walkaway Joe" (1992), "The Song Remembers When" (1993), "XXX's and OOO's " (1994), and "Believe Me Baby " (1996).

Blaine Larsen is an American country music artist. He was raised in Buckley, Washington. At age fifteen, he recorded his debut album In My High School on Giantslayer Records, an independent record label. The album was re-issued in 2005 as Off to Join the World by BNA Records. Blaine's second album, Rockin' You Tonight, was issued in June 2006, also on BNA. Larsen's two albums for that label have produced five chart singles on the Hot Country Songs charts, of which the highest-peaking was "How Do You Get That Lonely" at number 18. Larsen left BNA in 2009, in favor of Treehouse Records and consequently with Stroudavarious Records, but is now unsigned.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Welch</span> American singer-songwriter

Kevin Stephen Welch is an American country music artist. He has charted five singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts and released eight studio albums. He is also one of the cofounders of the Dead Reckoning Records label, which he founded with fellow musicians Kieran Kane, Tammy Rogers, Mike Henderson, and Harry Stinson.

George Ducas is an American country music singer and songwriter, and musician, known for his pioneering neo-traditional blend of modern-day and roots country music. He has released four studio albums: 1994's George Ducas, 1997's Where I Stand, 2013's 4340 and 2019's Yellow Rose Motel. His first two albums charted six consecutive singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, the highest being his signature hit "Lipstick Promises" which reached No. 9 and was also a No. 1 CMT video. Ducas returned to the No. 1 spot on CMT with his 2019 single "Eastwood."

Giantslayer Records was an American independent record label specializing in country music. It was established in 2004 by songwriters Rory Lee Feek and Tim Johnson in Nashville, Tennessee.

Roger Dean Miller Jr. is an American country singer, known professionally as Dean Miller. He is the son of Roger Miller, a country pop artist who had several hit singles from the 1960s through the 1980s. Dean Miller has recorded three studio albums, in addition to charting four singles on the Hot Country Songs charts and writing singles for Trace Adkins and Terri Clark. His highest-peaking single was "Nowhere, USA", which reached No. 54 in 1997. He has had many songs recorded by artists including George Jones, Trisha Yearwood, and Jamey Johnson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamie O'Hara (singer)</span> American musician (1950–2021)

James Paul O'Hara was an American country music artist. Between 1986 and 1990, he and Kieran Kane comprised The O'Kanes, a duo that charted seven singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles charts, including the No. 1 single "Can't Stop My Heart from Loving You". After the O'Kanes disbanded in 1990, both O'Hara and Kane recorded solo albums of their own. In addition, O'Hara continued writing songs for other country music artists, including The Judds' 1986 hit "Grandpa " which earned him a Grammy Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trisha Yearwood discography</span>

American country music artist Trisha Yearwood has released 15 studio albums, nine compilation albums, 43 music videos, 56 singles, 29 other charted songs and appeared on 29 albums. Yearwood's self-titled debut album was released in 1991, peaking at number 2 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and number 31 on the Billboard 200. It became the first debut female country album to sell one million copies, later certifying double platinum by the RIAA. The album would spawn an additional three singles, including "The Woman Before Me". Her second studio album was the critically acclaimed Hearts in Armor (1992). It spawned the top five country hits "Wrong Side of Memphis" and "Walkaway Joe". Her third studio record The Song Remembers When (1993) enjoyed similar success and the lead single reached number two on the Billboard country chart. A holiday album appeared before her platinum-selling fourth studio album Thinkin' About You (1995). Reaching the number 3 on the country albums chart and number 28 on the Billboard 200, its first two singles topped the Hot Country Singles chart. Her sixth studio album Everybody Knows (1996) spawned Yearwood's fourth number one single, "Believe Me Baby ".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">On a Bus to St. Cloud</span> 1995 single by Trisha Yearwood

"On a Bus to St. Cloud" is a song written by Gretchen Peters that was originally recorded by American country artist Trisha Yearwood. It was released in 1995 as the fifth single from her fourth studio album, Thinkin' About You. The song charted on the Billboard country songs survey that year and was received positively by music critics. Peters included her own version of the song on her 1996 debut album The Secret of Life, an acoustic version on her 2015 album Blackbirds and a live version on her 2022 album The Show.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joey + Rory</span> American country and bluegrass duo

Joey + Rory was an American country and bluegrass duo composed of singer-songwriters Rory Feek and Joey Feek, who were husband and wife. Both members of the duo were vocalists and songwriters, with Rory also playing acoustic guitar. Rory Lee Feek had written singles for other artists prior to the duo's foundation. The duo was the third-place finalist on CMT's competition Can You Duet in 2008. The duo recorded eight studio albums for Vanguard Records and Gaither Music Group and charted three singles on Hot Country Songs.

Troy Verges is an American songwriter of country and pop music from Louisiana.

Timothy Jon Johnson was an American country music songwriter. Johnson is known for writing the singles "I Let Her Lie" by Daryle Singletary, "God Only Cries" by Diamond Rio, "Do You Believe Me Now" by Jimmy Wayne, "Things That Never Cross a Man's Mind" by Kellie Pickler, "She Misses Him" by Tim Rushlow, "This Heartache Never Sleeps" by Mark Chesnutt, "That's Important To Me" by Joey + Rory among many many others. Johnson was known as a songwriter's songwriter and penned many hits alone as well as collaborating with other talented writers.

Heidi Caroline Feek is an Americana singer and songwriter from Nashville, Tennessee.

<i>PrizeFighter: Hit After Hit</i> 2014 studio album (re-recording) by Trisha Yearwood

PrizeFighter: Hit After Hit is a re-recorded studio album by American country artist Trisha Yearwood. It was released on November 17, 2014, via Gwendolyn Records and RCA Records Nashville. The album marked Yearwood's first release of new material since 2007's Heaven, Heartache and the Power of Love.PrizeFighter contained six new songs as well as ten re-recorded versions of her hits. Two singles were released to radio, including the title track, which became a charting single on the Billboard country chart. The album received mixed reviews from critics upon its release.

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in 2015.

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joey Feek</span> American country singer

Joey Marie Feek was an American country music singer and songwriter. From 2008 to 2016, the duo Joey + Rory comprised her and her husband, Rory Feek.

Bradley Walker is an American bluegrass and country music singer and songwriter.

"Trying to Love You" is a song written by singer-songwriters Beth Nielsen Chapman and Bill Lloyd. It was originally recorded by Chapman herself for her 2005 studio album, Look. The same year, American country artist Trisha Yearwood included a version on her 2005 studio album, Jasper County. It was eventually spawned as the second single from the album and became a charting Billboard hit on two charts. It received positive reception from music critics and writers.

References

  1. ↑ "This Life I Live" . Retrieved February 4, 2016.
  2. ↑ "The Blog". www.roryfeek.com. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  3. ↑ http://www.thislifeilive.com/happymothersdaydad
  4. ↑ songrory (March 13, 2016). "dust to dust". www.roryfeek.com. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  5. ↑ "Joel Salatin's Blog". wwww.thelunaticfarmer.com. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Rory's Squarespace Blog". roryfeek.squarespace.com. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Joel Salatin and Rory Feek "the GENTLE MAN & the FARMER"". bozemanmagazine.com. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  8. ↑ "The School". www.roryfeek.com. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  9. 1 2 "Rory Lee Feek biography". Blacktop Music Group. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
  10. ↑ Morris, Edward (February 23, 2005). "Paul Overstreet, Rory Lee Feek Bask on "Some Beach"". CMT . Retrieved February 4, 2009.
  11. ↑ Malec, Jim (October 28, 2012). "Introducing Joey + Rory: "Like Two Names Carved in an Oak Tree"". American Noise. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  12. 1 2 "Rory Feek Readies Himself for Unchartered Territory on New Album 'Gentle Man'". American Songwriter. February 15, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  13. ↑ Houghton, Cillea (April 2, 2021). "Listen: Rory Feek and Trisha Yearwood Find Redemption in 'Met Him in a Motel Room'". Taste of Country. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  14. ↑ Songfacts. "Met Him in a Motel Room by Trisha Yearwood - Songfacts". www.songfacts.com. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  15. ↑ Watts, Cindy. "Trisha Yearwood packs punch with 'PrizeFighter'". The Tennessean. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  16. ↑ "This Life I Live". www.rfdtv.com. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  17. ↑ "Rory Feek's 'Muletown in the Round' Brings Nashville-Style Hit Makers' In-the-Round Music and Storytelling". Country Music Tattle Tale - Your country music news source. February 28, 2020. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  18. ↑ Powell, Jay. "One Room Schoolhouse series takes students to the farm". Columbia Daily Herald. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  19. ↑ "shows". redking. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  20. ↑ Perkins, Joel. "Rory Feek To Release "Finding Josephine" Film". countryfancast.com. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  21. ↑ Bonaguro, Alison (September 21, 2016). "To Joey, With Love Chronicles Joey + Rory's Journey". CMT News. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  22. ↑ The Times They Are A-Changin' - rory feek, archived from the original on December 21, 2021, retrieved April 7, 2021
  23. ↑ Stefano, Angela (March 7, 2017). "'This Life I Live' Earns Spots on Multiple Bestsellers Lists". The Boot. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  24. ↑ Feek, Rory (June 14, 2018). "Rory Feek Opens Up About How He's Grown Since His Wife Joey's Death". Country Living. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  25. ↑ "Heartbreak, Single Fatherhood and a Ring He'll Never Take Off: Life for Rory Feek After Losing His Forever Duet Partner". E! Online. October 3, 2018. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  26. ↑ "Indiana, 6, Adorably Reads Proud 'Papa' Rory Feek's New Children's Book Celebrating Inclusivity". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  27. ↑ "The Little Rooster by Rory Feek | Milkbarn Kids® | Children's Books & Gifts". Milkbarn Kids® | Organic Baby Clothes & Accessories. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.