Joe Nichols

Infobox Musical artist
Img_size = 150
Name = Joe Nichols


Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Joe Edward Nichols
Born = birth date and age|1976|11|26
Origin = Rogers, Arkansas, USAcite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:dnfyxqqgldse~T1 |title=Joe Nichols biography |accessdate=2008-02-28 |last=Huey |first=Steve |work=Allmusic]
Occupation = Singer
Instrument = Vocals
Genre = Country
Years_active = 1996-present
Label = Intersound
Warner Bros. Nashville
Universal South
Associated_acts = Brent Rowan

Joe Edward Nichols (born November 26, 1976 in Rogers, Arkansas) is an American country music artist. At age twenty, he made his debut in 1996 with a self-titled album on the independent Intersound label. However, it was not until the release of his 2002 single "The Impossible" on the Universal South Records label that Nichols gained recognition, as well as critical acclaim for his neotraditionalist country style. The single, which peaked at #3 on the "Billboard" Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) charts, was followed by the release of his platinum-certified second album, "Man with a Memory", released in 2002. This album also produced the Number One single "Brokenheartsville".

Nichols followed up "Man with a Memory" in 2004 with "Revelation" (which included the Top Ten hit "If Nobody Believed in You"), and an album of Christmas music entitled "A Traditional Christmas". His fourth album, 2005's gold-certified "III", produced his biggest hit to date in the Number One single "Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off". "Real Things" followed in 2007. Overall, Nichols' four studio albums for Universal South have accounted for ten singles on the country charts, including two Number Ones and five more Top Ten hits.

Biography

Joe Nichols was born and raised in Rogers, Arkansas. His father, who worked a trucker, also played bass guitar in a local country band; eventually, Nichols himself found work in a local rock band, before taking a job as a country disc jockey.

Musical career

Through a meeting with record producer Randy Edwards, Nichols began to work on his singing and songwriting skills. At age twenty, he was signed to his first record deal, with an independent label known as Intersound Records. There, Nichols released his first album, 1996's "Joe Nichols". Despite the minor success of its lead-off single "Six of One, Half a Dozen of the Other" (which reached #74 on the "RPM" country charts in Canada), the album did not sell well, and he was dropped from Intersound's roster. A second record deal, this time with Warner Bros. Records, was short-lived, and did not produce any singles or albums.

"Man with a Memory"

In 1999, Nichols met Brent Rowan, a Nashville session guitarist who helped him land a recording contract with Universal South Records, then a newly-formed label. 2002 saw the release of his second album, entitled "Man with a Memory". Its lead-off single, "The Impossible", went on to become a #3 hit on the "Billboard" Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) charts, and was declared by "Billboard" as the tenth most-played country song of 2003. The same year, his debut album was re-issued under the title "Six of One, Half a Dozen of the Other".

"Man with a Memory" earned Nichols a Top New Male Vocalist award from the Academy of Country Music, as well as three Grammy Award nominations and RIAA platinum certification. Its second single, "Brokenheartsville", became his first Number One hit on the "Billboard" country charts in 2003, while "She Only Smokes When She Drinks" and "Cool to Be a Fool" both reached Top 20.

"Revelation" and "A Traditional Christmas"

Nichols spent most of 2004 on tour with Alan Jackson. In the middle of the year, he issued his second album for Universal South. Entitled "Revelation", it produced the Top Ten hits "If Nobody Believed in You" and "What's a Guy Gotta Do". Later that same year, he also issued an album of Christmas music, entitled "A Traditional Christmas". Four of the tracks from this album received enough airplay to enter the country charts.

"III"

"III" was the title of Nichols's third album for Universal South. Its lead-off single, "Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off", became his second "Billboard" Number One hit; both the single and the album received gold certifications from the RIAA. "III" also produced the Top Ten hits "Size Matters (Someday)" and "I'll Wait for You". Also in 2005, Anna Nicole Smith met Nichols at the Grand Ole Opry and she became a fan. After Smith's death, he performed two songs ("Wings of a Dove" and "I'll Wait for You") at her funeral service. Nichols also joined Toby Keith on tours in both 2005 and 2006.

"Real Things"

"Real Things" is the title of Nichols's fourth Universal South album, released in mid-2007. Its lead-off single, "Another Side of You", reached Top 20 on the country music charts, as did the follow-up, "It Ain't No Crime". Also included on this album was the song "Let's Get Drunk and Fight", which Canadian singer Aaron Lines released as a single in 2008.

Personal life

Joe Nichols married Heather Singleton on September 9, 2007, in Savannah, Georgia. He had known Singleton since they were both 18 years old.

On October 13, 2007, Nichols was checked into a substance abuse rehabilitation program.

Discography

Albums

*A ^ Failed to chart in the U.S.
*B ^ "Tequila Makes Her Clothes Off" also peaked at #47 on the Pop 100, and #26 on Hot Digital Songs. The single was also certified gold by the RIAA.

References