Keith Urban Biography
Summary
"Keith Lionel Urban" (born 26 October 1967, New Zealand), is a New Zealand-born Australian American, Grammy Award winning, country music singer. Two of his albums, "Be Here" (2004) and his latest album, "Love, Pain & the whole crazy thing" (2006), have reached the Top 10 on the "U.S. Billboard 200" albums chart. He has scored seven number one songs in the United States to date and a total of sixteen top ten hits, including 'Somebody Like You,' 'You'll Think of Me,' 'Days Go By,' 'Making Memories of Us,' 'Stupid Boy,' and 'Better Life.'
Biography
Keith was born in Whangarei, New Zealand, though later moved with his parents to Caboolture, Queensland, Australia. By age seven, Urban was already thinking about getting into the music business and making his mark in Nashville. He began learning the techniques at age six and began winning young singing contests by age eight. By twelve he was booking his band in local clubs, and at 15 he quit school to hit the road. In 1990, Urban signed with EMI in Australia and recorded his first solo album, which charted four No. 1 country hits in Australia. In 1992, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where he found work as a guitarist for Brooks & Dunn and can be seen backing Alan Jackson in his music video for 'Mercury Blues'. Later, Urban formed The Ranch, a three-piece group that released one album in 1997 to critical acclaim. Originally the front man for The Ranch, Urban disbanded the group to pursue a solo career in 1998.
In Nashville, Keith became a frequent user of cocaine. After reaching a personal nadir in 1998, he became determined to give up the habit and checked into Cumberland Heights, a treatment center in Nashville. After cleaning up, Urban released his self-titled American debut in 1999, which produced three top 5 hits and secured for him the Top New Male Vocalist Award at the 2001 Academy of Country Music Awards and the 2001 Country Music Association's Horizon Award. Widely regarded for his guitar skills, he has performed as a session musician on albums such as Charlie Daniels, Emerson Drive, Garth Brooks' "Double Live", Dixie Chicks' "Fly", and Paul Brandt's "This Time Around".
Urban released "Golden Road" in 2002, and the success of the single 'Somebody Like You' sent his career into high gear. The single spent eight consecutive weeks at the top of the charts, remaining at No. 1 longer than any other country artist in 2002. Touring as a supporting act for renowned country acts Brooks & Dunn and Kenny Chesney honed Urban's skills and stage-craft. Country video channel CMT signed on as the title sponsor of Urban's first headlining arena tour titled "Keith Urban Be Here '04" with opening act Katrina Elam. Urban continued his meteoric rise to fame in 2005 with a very successful tour with Elam called "Alive in '05". He performed in the Live 8 Philadelphia concert on July 2 2005 and had been chosen by The Gap to appear alongside seven other musical stars in their 'Favorites' campaign. He was named the 2005 CMA's Entertainer of the Year. He released a DVD in late September 2005 entitled "Livin' Right Now", recorded in at the Wiltern Theater in California in December 2004.
In 2005 Urban played in front of European audiences for the first time. In May Urban supported Bryan Adams on his UK and Ireland tour, which included dates in Earls Court, London, SECC, Glasgow and The Point, Dublin. On June 6 a UK only album, "Days Go By" was released, this album contained songs from both "Be Here" and "Golden Road" .
In October Urban returned for a headlining tour with Nerina Pallot and Richard Winsland as support acts.
Urban has recently performed 'Better Life' on the CMA Awards and 'You'll Think of Me' on the American Music Awards. He also performed at the Grammys playing 'You'll Think of Me' and 'The Lucky One' with Faith Hill. At the 2006 ACM Awards Urban performed 'Tonight I Wanna Cry' and played guitar for Brooks & Dunn's song 'Believe.'
On Monday August 21, 2006, Urban made history when his new single 'Once in a Lifetime' debuted at #17, setting a new record for the highest-debuting country single in the 62-year history of Billboard's country charts. The record was formerly held by Garth Brooks' 'Good Ride Cowboy' and Eddie Rabbitt's 'Every Which Way But Loose', both of which debuted at #18. 'Good Ride Cowboy' was the highest in the BDS era (1990-present).
Urban is also a winner of numerous 'Golden Guitars', which are presented annually during the Tamworth Country Music Festival at 'The Country Music Association of Australia's Annual Awards' in Tamworth, Australia. He is also a former winner of the Toyota Starmaker Contest, which is held each year in conjunction with the CMAA Awards and the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
Keith was named artist of the month for July 2007 on the television network GAC (Great American Country). He answered a question of the day every day that month, and did multiple interviews about love, life, his new album and his stay in rehab.
On July 7, 2007 (Keith performed with Alicia Keys at one of Al Gore's Live Earth concerts held around the world. The concerts were held to raise awareness of global warming. Keith performed at the concert held in New York City and said in an interview that global warming is not a political issue, and what he is doing to help the environment is running all bio-diesel buses in his Love, Pain and The Whole Crazy World Tour.
Personal life
In 1992, Urban dated veterinary technician Laura Sigler for eight years. Urban proposed to Sigler in 2001 but the pair eventually split in 2002.
Urban also dated former supermodel Niki Taylor on and off from 2002-2004.
Urban met Australian actress Nicole Kidman at G'Day LA, a Hollywood event honouring Australians, in January 2005 but they didn't begin dating until 6 months later. Kidman and Urban were married on Sunday June 25, 2006, at the Cardinal Cerretti Memorial Chapel in the grounds of St Patrick's Estate, Manly in Sydney.
On Oct. 19, 2006, Urban checked himself into the Betty Ford Center in California. On Oct. 20, Urban issued a statement saying: "I deeply regret the hurt this has caused Nicole and the ones who love and support me. One can never let one's guard down on recovery, and I'm afraid that I have." On Jan. 18, 2007, Urban announced his completion of rehab and his plans to go on tour to promote his new album, "Love, Pain & the whole crazy thing". .
On Feb. 2, 2007, Urban filed a lawsuit on a New Jersey painter by the same name, who has a web site http://www.keithurban.com. The singer wants to acquire the rights to the URL.. Keith Urban the singer's URL is http://www.keithurban.net. The painter has countersued.
Keith Urban is planning his first Greatest Hits collection, set for release on November 20, 2007. The CD is to contain most of his #1 hits, including 'Raining On Sunday', 'Somebody Like You', 'Who Wouldn't Wanna Be Me', 'I Told You So', 'Once In A Lifetime' and more, possibly including some new material.
On October 1, 2007, while headed to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, Urban skidded off of his motorbike when a paparazzo followed him near his home in Sydney; Urban was not hurt. In a statement released by his publicists, Urban says the incident was 'the result of one person's desire to do his job and my desire to maintain my privacy.' Urban says he tried to avoid an oncoming car and dropped his bike. He says the photographer came to his assistance without taking photos.
Discography
Singles
ACharted from unsolicited airplay.
B'You'll Think Of Me' charted on the Pop 100 and Hot Digital Songs charts in 2005.
C'Making Memories Of Us' charted on the Adult Contemporary charts in 2006.
D'Once in a Lifetime' charted on the Adult Contemporary charts in 2007.
ECurrent single.
Awards and achievements
Awards
1977 - CCMA Best Solo Act(Junior)
1978 - CCMA Special Encouragement Award (10 Years & under)
1980 - CCMA Best Junior Guitarist
1981 - CCMA Best Gospel Singer
1982 - CCMA Best Duet
1982 - CCMA Best Junior Guitarist
1983 - CCMA Junior Male Vocalist
1990 - CMAA Star Maker Award
1991 - CMAA Golden Guitar
1991 - CMAA Best New Talent
1992 - CMAA Golden Guitar
1992 - CMAA Male Vocalist
1992 - CMAA Golden Guitar Instrumentalist
1997 - CMAA Golden Guitar Instrumentalist
1998 - CMAA Golden Guitar Instrumentalist
2001 - CMAA Golden Guitar Instrumentalist
2001 - ACM Top New Male Vocalist
2001 - CMA Horizon Award (first non-American)
2001 - ARIA Outstanding Achievement Award
2001 - VMA Male Vocalist Award
2001 - Mo Australian Show Business Ambassador of the Year
2003 - ARIA Country Album of the Year (Golden Road)
2003 - Country Weekly Fan Favorite Award for Favorite New Artist
2003 - BMI Song of the Year Category for 'Somebody Like You'
2003 - TCMA Video Clip of the Year - 'Somebody Like You'
2004 - CMA Male Vocalist of the Year (first non-American)
2004 - FCMA Best Foreign Music
2005 - Voted Country Music's Hottest Bachelor by Country Weekly
2005 - #6 on OK! Magazine's Hollywood's Hottest Bachelor list
2005 - CMT Music Awards Video of the Year - 'Days Go By'
2005 - ACM Album of the Year - 'Be Here'
2005 - ACM Top Male Vocalist
2005 - French Association of County Music Artist of the Year
2005 - ARIA Country Album of the Year (Be Here)
2005 - CMA International Artist of the Year!
2005 - CMA Male Vocalist of the Year (Second year in a row)
2005 - CMA Entertainer of the Year (first non-American male. First non-American was Shania Twain in 1999)
2005 - Radio Music Awards Artist of the Year
2005 - Billboard Music Award: Top-selling Pop Catalog Album of the Year 'Golden Road'
2006 - XM Country Artist of the Year
2006 - XM 'So You Wanna Be a Movie Star?' Artists We'd Like to See Crossover to Films
2006 - Grammy for Best Male Country Vocal Performance for 'You'll Think Of Me'
2006 - CMT Music Awards Video of The Year - 'Better Life'
2006 - ACM Top Male Vocalist of the Year (Second year in a row)
2006 - Voted Country Music's Sexiest Man by Country Weekly.
2006 - ASCAP'S Most-Performed Country Songs of 2006 'Better Life' written by Richard Marx and Keith Urban, 'Tonight I Wanna Cry' written by Monty Powell and Keith Urban and 'Making Memories of Us' written by Rodney Crowell (3 out of 56)
2006 - CMA Male Vocalist of the Year (Third year in a row - matching George Strait who won in 1996 through 1998)
2006 - French Association of Country Music Award for Best Live Performance (this is his 4th FACM award)
2006 - Voted #1 on CMT's 20 Sexiest Men
2006 - Country Music Association of Australia award for Outstanding Achievement
2007 - GAC Network's Artist of The Month for July
2007 - ARIA Country Album of the Year (Love, Pain & the whole crazy thing)
Gold/Platinum singles, videos and albums
1999 - Self-Titled Keith Urban 1999 certified Platinum in 2003
2002 - Golden Road certified Triple Platinum in 2005, Double Platinum in Canada
2002 - Somebody Like You (single) certified Gold in 2005.
2004 - Be Here certified Quadruple Platinum in U.S., Double Platinum in Canada & Australia in 2006.
2004 - You'll Think of Me certified Platinum in 2005.
2005 - Days Go By : Anthology (Import) certified Gold (Ireland)
2005 - Video Hits DVD certified Platinum
2005 - Livin' Right Now DVD certified Platinum in U.S. and Australia, Double Platinum in Canada
2005 - Making Memories of Us (single) certified Gold in 2005.
2005 - Days Go By (single) certified Gold in 2005.
2006 - Love, Pain and the whole crazy thing certified Platinum in the U.S., Canada and Australia
External links
(Keith Urban's official website)
(Keith Urban's latest bio, news, photo galleries, and Fan Q&A) at Great American Country
(Keith Urban music, videos, news and more at CMT.com)
(Keith Urban Fans Message Board)
Credit
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article about Keith Urban.
