Keith Urban

'''Keith Lionel Urban''', born 26 October 1967, is an Australian country music singer.

Biography

Keith Lionel Urban was born in Whangarei, North Island, New Zealand. Before he turned two years old his family moved to Australia. By age seven, Urban was already thinking about emigrating to America and making his mark in Nashville. Urban began to learn the guitar at age six and began winning talent contests at age eight. By twelve he was booking his band in local clubs, and at fifteen 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 to pursue the largest country music market in the world. Originally the front man for The Ranch, a three-piece group that released one album in 1997 to critical acclaim, Urban disbanded the group to pursue a solo career.

In the late 90's Urban battled an addiction to cocaine."Up from Down Under" by Stephanie Mansfield, ''USA WEEKEND'', November 4, 2001 After reaching a personal rock bottom 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 2000, achieving three top 5 hits and securing the title of Top New Male Vocalist Award at the 2001 Academy of Country Music Awards. Urban, openly regarded as a modern day guitar virtuoso, has performed as a session musician on albums such as Garth Brooks' ''Double Live'' and the Dixie Chicks' ''Fly''.

In an attempt to gain more exposure, Keith then appeared semi-nude in an interview for ''Playgirl'' magazine's April 2001 issue. The publicity attempt worked as Keith was on the cover of the magazine's readers' most requested issue.

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. Three other singles were released, two went to No. 1 and the third was No. 3. The album went platinum in every country where it has been released and is triple platinum in the United States. In 2004 ''Be Here'' was released and nominated for best country album at the Grammy Awards and at the Academy of Country Music Awards. Out of the five singles released from ''Be Here'', three went No. 1, and two fell just shy of that mark to land at No. 2. In 2006 the album went triple platinum in the U.S. Urban has also released ''Days Go By'', a greatest hits collection, in Europe. With a career total of 13 singles released, seven singles went to No. 1, two went to No.2, two went to No.3, one went to No. 4, and one went to No.18.

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 Keith Urban's first headlining arena tour titled ''Keith Urban Be Here '04''. Urban continued his meteoric rise to fame in 2005 with a very successful tour with Katrina 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. Also, he was recently named the 2005 CMA's Entertainer of the Year. He released a DVD in late September entitled ''Livin' Right Now'', recorded in California on December 2004. 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 gave two performances when he performed "Tonight I Wanna Cry" and played guitar for Brooks & Dunn's song "Believe."

Personal life

In 1992, Urban dated veterinary technician Laura Sigler. The pair shared an on and off relationship for eight years, and after proposing to Sigler in 2001, the pair broke up in 2002.

Later in 2002, Urban met supermodel Niki Taylor, who played his love interest in his music video for "Somebody Like You." Urban and Taylor dated on and off for three years until they split up in July of 2005. In addition to starring in a music video together they also sported the same tattoo. "Omnia Vincit Amor" was inscribed around their right wrists - translated it means "Love Conquers All"

Urban met actress Nicole Kidman at an event in Hollywood in January of 2005. In May of 2006, Urban and Kidman announced their engagement. They got married in Australia on 25 June, 2006 at the Cardinal Cerretti Memorial Chapel in the grounds of St Patrick's Estate, Manly, Sydney.

Discography

Albums

* 1991 ''Keith Urban (1991)''
* 1997 ''The Ranch'' (with The Ranch)
* 1999 ''Keith Urban (1999)'' #145 US (Billboard 200) - #17 US BB Top Country Albums
* 2002 ''Golden Road'' #11 US (BB 200) - #2 US BB Top County Albums (108 wks on chart)
* 2004 ''In the Ranch'' (reissue) #34 US BB Top Country Albums
* 2004 ''Be Here'' #3 US (Billboard 200) - #1 US Billboard Top Country Albums (98 wks +)
* 2005 ''Days Go By'' (UK) #40 UK

Singles

align="left" valign="bottom"|Year

align="left" valign="bottom"|Single

align="left" valign="bottom"|Album

align="center" valign="bottom" width="55"|'''US'''

align="center" valign="bottom" width="55"|'''US Country'''

align="center" valign="bottom" width="55"|'''US AC'''

align="center" valign="bottom" width="55"|'''US Pop'''

align="center" valign="bottom" width="55"|'''US Dig'''

align="center" valign="top" width="65"|'''AUS Country'''

align="center" valign="top" width="55"|'''AUS'''

*'''Notes:'''
#Keith Urban's first four singles were not released outside of Australia and therefore did not chart on any US charts.
#"Somebody Like You" was '''#1''' on the US Country Chart for 8 weeks.
#"You Look Good In My Shirt" wasn't officially released as a single, but received enough radio airplay to chart.
#"Days Go By" was '''#1''' on the US Country Chart for 6 weeks.
#"Making Memories of Us" was '''#1''' on the US Country Chart for 5 weeks.
#"Making Memories of Us" didn't chart on the US Adult Contemporary chart until 2006.
#"You'll Think of Me" was '''#1''' on the US Country Chart for 4 weeks.
#"Better Life" was '''#1''' on the US Country Chart for 6 weeks.
#"Tonight I Wanna Cry" was #1 on Billboard's Hot Country Recurrents Chart 05-13-06
#"Live to Love Another Day" like "You Look Good In My Shirt" wasn't officially released as a single, but is receiving enough airplay to chart. It's been on the BB chart for 13 weeks and counting.

Awards and achievements

Awards

* 1983 - CCMA Junior Male Vocalist
* 1990 - CMAA Star Maker Award
* 1991 - CMAA Golden Guitar/Best New Talent
* 1992 - CMAA Golden Guitar 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 - XM Country Artist of the Year
* 2005 - XM "So You Wanna Be a Movie Star?" Artists We'd Like to See Crossover to Films
* 2005 - Radio Music Awards Artist of the Year
* 2005 - Billboard Music Award: Top-selling Pop Catalog Album of the Year "Golden Road"
* 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.

Gold/Platinum singles, videos and albums

* 1999 - Self-Titled Keith Urban 1999 certified Platinum in 2003
* 2002 - Golden Road certified Triple Platinum in 2005
* 2002 - Somebody Like You certified Gold in 2005.
* 2004 - Be Here certified Triple 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 (Import) certified Gold (Ireland)
* 2005 - Video Hits DVD certified Platinum
* 2005 - Livin' Right Now DVD certified Platinum in U.S. and Australia
* 2005 - Making Memories of Us certified Gold in 2005.
* 2005 - Days Go By certified Gold in 2005.

Albums Urban has performed on

* INXS Live Baby Live (1991) Vocals (bckgr)
* Paul Jefferson Paul Jefferson (1996) Guitar (Electric)
* Various Artists Twang!: A Tribute to Hank Marvin & (1996) Guitar, Performer
* Ranch (1997) Ganjo, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Vocals (bckgr)
* Garth Brooks Double Live (1998) Guitar (Electric)
* Charlie Daniels Fiddle Fire: 25 Years of the... (1998) Guitar
* John Mohead Mary's Porch (1998) Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric)
* Various Artists Not So Dusty (1998) Producer, Mixing
* Charlie Daniels Tailgate Party (1999) Guitar
* Dixie Chicks Fly (1999) Guitar (Electric), Vocals (bckgr) "Some Days You Gotta Dance"
* Tim Wilson Gettin' My Mind Right (1999) Guitar
* Sons of the Desert Change (2000) Ganjo
* Various Artists New Country, Vol. 7 (2000) Performer
* Various Artists Country Goes Raffi (2001) Multi Instruments, Producer
* Various Artists Totally Country (2002) Performer
* Various Artists Totally Country, Vol. 2 (2002) Producer
* INXS Definitive INXS (2002) Vocals (bckgr)
* Olivia Newton-John 2 (2002) Guitar - co-wrote and sang "Sunburned Country"
* Original Soundtrack How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003) Producer
* Neal McCoy Luckiest Man in the World (2003) Guitar (Electric)
* Glen Campbell Legacy 1961-2002 (2003) Author
* Various Artists Kids' Country Hits (2003) Guitar
* Amazing Grace Vol. III - Salute to Gospel (2003) Vocals "I'll Fly Away"
* Carolyn Dawn Johnson Dress Rehearsal (2004) Guitar (Acoustic), Vocals (bckgr), Soloist
* Dolly Parton - Those Were the Days (2005) - Duet on "Twelfth of Never"
* 1991 Keith Urban (Import): guitarist, writer, co-producer
* 1999 Keith Urban: guitarist, writer and co-producer.
* 2002 Golden Road: guitarist, cardboard box, writer, and co-producer.
* 2004 Be Here: guitarist, writer, and co-producer.
* 2005 Days Go By (Import): guitarist, writer, and co-producer.

References

* "Up from Down Under", from USAweekend.com
* "Kidman, Urban in Sydney for Wedding", from AP.com

Notes

External links

* Keith Urban lyrics

For more information about Keith Urban, please visit: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Urban

Biography courtesy of the brilliant Wikipedia!

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