Bio
John Rich is an American country music singer-songwriter best known as a member of the country music bands Lonestar (1992-1998) and Big & Rich, since 2003.
Born in Amarillo, Texas, Rich first found mainstream success in the country band Lonestar as its bassist and occasional lead singer. But after recording two albums, the band parted ways in 1998.
After becoming somewhat disillusioned with the music industry, Rich co-founded a collective of musical outsiders known as the MuzikMafia, which began playing in a small Nashville bar called Pub of Love. His like-minded companions included "Big Kenny" Alphin, Gretchen Wilson, James Otto and Jon Nicholson.
When Rich teamed with Big Kenny to form Big & Rich, they caught everybody by surprise with a double-platinum debut, driven by the hit Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy). Rich also co-wrote and produced Wilson's award-winning anthem, Redneck Woman, as well as Here for the Party, and When I Think About Cheatin'.
His writing career continued to explode with cuts by Jason Aldean, Faith Hill, and Taylor Swift, along with many others.
Rich released his Warner Bros. Records solo debut in March of 2009, Son of a Preacher Man, which spawned Shuttin' Detroit Down, becoming the first solo Top 15 single of his career on the country singles charts and the fastest-rising single of his career.
Its premiere airing on Detroit country radio stations galvanized the working class in the beleaguered blue-collar city, and the universality of its sentiment lit up phone lines across the country and made it the fastest-rising single of Rich's career.
The song is a kickoff to Son of a Preacher Man, an album that finds Rich giving full rein to his own creative voice. With its release, Rich stepped into the ranks of solo performers amid a career in musical partnerships.
The record is a wide-ranging work, with songs ranging from the upbeat, riff-laden Trucker Man to The Good Lord and the Man and Preacher Man, poignant and personal looks at his grandfather and father, respectively; from Another You and I Don't Want to Lose Your Love to Everybody Wants to Be Me.
Capping it all off is Drive Myself to Drink, a big band extravaganza which was recorded live.
Rich has garnered multiple Grammy, ACM, CMA and CMT Music Award nominations. He was also awarded the ASCAP Songwriter of the Year Award in 2005, 2006 and 2007; has written 14 Top 10 singles; and is the only artist in country music history to have a Top 15 release as a group, duo and solo artist.
He was one of the contestants on The Celebrity Apprentice, in 2011.