Chris Knight (singer)
Chris Knight | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Chris Knight June 24, 1960 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Genres | Rock Folk rock Country rock Americana |
| Occupation | Singer-songwriter |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Labels | Decca Dualtone Drifter's Church Productions |
| Website | www |
Chris Knight (born June 24, 1960) is an American singer-songwriter from Slaughters, Kentucky. In addition to releasing solo records of his own material, Knight has had a successful career writing songs that have been recorded by Confederate Railroad, John Anderson, and Randy Travis among others.[1][2]
Biography
[edit]Early life
[edit]Knight was born in St. Louis, Missouri,[3] and grew up in Slaughters, Kentucky.[1] His extended family lives in the same area of Kentucky. Knight has three brothers and a sister. His father was a pipe liner.[4]
When he was three years old, he asked for a plastic guitar for Christmas. At 15, he became serious and began teaching himself John Prine songs on his older brother's guitar.[5] In an interview, Knight commented "At one point I could play probably 35–40 John Prine songs."[6]
Knight earned a degree in agriculture from Western Kentucky University. He worked for ten years as a mine reclamation inspector and as a miner's consultant for the Kentucky Department of Surface Mining.[7]
Music career
[edit]Knight started composing when he was 26, but didn't start performing until he was 30. He got his first record deal when he was 37.[8]
Nashville
[edit]In 1986, he heard Steve Earle on the radio and decided to start writing songs. After six years he came to Nashville and won a spot on a songwriters' night at the Bluebird Cafe.[5]
He attracted the interest of music producer Frank Liddell, who signed him to a contract with Bluewater Music. When Decca Records hired Liddell for an A&R position, Knight received a contract and in 1998 Decca released his self-titled debut. Knight still lived in a 10'-x-15' trailer[8] on 90 acres (36 ha) in Slaughters when the album was released.[5] Decca folded at the end of the 1990s, only two years after Knight joined the label. After a couple years without a label, Knight signed with Dualtone Music Group.
Knight licensed his music to Dualtone Records for two records, then decided to release his music independently with the help of his manager.[2]
Texas
[edit]Knight is well known and because of his particular fame in Texas, was named an "Honorary Texan" in 2006 by Texas Governor Rick Perry.[9]
Early releases
[edit]He recorded his first demo tapes, bootlegged—and then self-released—while living alone in a trailer on his property outside Slaughters.[10] Called The Trailer Tapes, they were officially released in 2007.[11] They were one of his best-selling records.[12]
Little Victories
[edit]It took Knight four years to release Little Victories in 2012. Knight's former Decca labelmate Lee Ann Womack collaborated with him on "You Lie When You Call My Name."[13] Long-time musical hero John Prine sings on the title track.[14] Buddy Miller plays guitar and sings on two tracks: "Missing You" and "Nothing on Me."[15]
Discography
[edit]Studio albums
[edit]| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Sales | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country [16] |
US [17] |
US Heat [18] |
US Indie [19] | |||
| Chris Knight |
|
— | — | — | — | |
| A Pretty Good Guy |
|
— | — | — | — | |
| The Jealous Kind |
|
67 | — | — | — | |
| Enough Rope |
|
— | — | 49 | 48 | |
| The Trailer Tapes |
|
68 | — | 40 | — | |
| Heart of Stone |
|
37 | — | 7 | 31 | |
| Trailer II |
|
64 | — | — | — | |
| Little Victories |
|
25 | 148 | 4 | 33 |
|
| Almost Daylight |
|
— | — | 3 | 12 |
|
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | ||||||
Singles
[edit]
| Year | Song | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | "Framed" | Chris Knight |
| "It Ain't Easy Being Me" | ||
| 2001 | "Becky's Bible" | A Pretty Good Guy |
| 2002 | "Oil Patch Town" | |
| 2003 | "The Jealous Kind" | The Jealous Kind |
| 2006 | "Cry Lonely" | Enough Rope |
| 2012 | "In the Mean Time" | Little Victories |
Music videos
[edit]| Year | Video | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | "Framed" | Roger Pistole |
| "It Ain't Easy Being Me" | ||
| 2002 | "Oil Patch Town" | |
| 2006 | "Cry Lonely" | Milton Sneed |
| 2013 | "In the Mean Time" | James Weems[22] |
| 2019 | "I'm William Callahan" | Nathaniel Maddux[23] |
Songs written or co-written by Knight
[edit]- "A Pretty Good Guy" – Fred Eaglesmith
- "A Train Not Running" – Stacy Dean Campbell
- "Becky's Bible" – Jason Savory
- "Cry Lonely" – Cross Canadian Ragweed
- "Heart of Stone" – Dan Baird
- "Highway Junkie" – Randy Travis, Gary Allan, The Yayhoos, The Von Ehrics
- "I Don't Want to Hang Out With Me" – Confederate Railroad
- "It Ain't Easy Being Me" – John Anderson, Jason McCoy, and Blake Shelton
- "Love and Gasoline" and "She's Leaving This Town" – The Great Divide
- "Love at 90 Miles an Hour" – Ty Herndon
- "She Couldn't Change Me" – Montgomery Gentry
- "The Hammer Goin Down" – The Road Hammers
- "Devil behind the wheel - Matraca Berg
Television appearances
[edit]In 2015, Chris Knight was featured in Season 1, Episode 2 of CarbonTV's original series, American Elements.[24]
References
[edit]- 1 2 "Lonesome Highway lines up a treat with Kentucky Chris". Edinburgh Evening News. January 19, 2007. Retrieved October 24, 2013.
- 1 2 Banister, C. Eric (October 23, 2008). "Something to Keep Me Going – A Conversation with Chris Knight". AmericanRoots.com. Archived from the original on January 26, 2009. Retrieved October 24, 2013.
- ↑ shane e. calhoon (February 1, 2017), chris knight 2011 09 30 st louis, mo, archived from the original on December 15, 2021, retrieved March 20, 2017
- ↑ Mayshark, Jesse Fox (September–October 2001). "Kentucky straight • Chris Knight has no tall tales to tell, but his characters speak volumes". No Depression. The Long Way Around (Feature) (35). Retrieved October 24, 2013.
- 1 2 3 Wahlert, Brian. "Chris Knight – Biography – All Music". Allmusic.com. All Media Network, LLC. Retrieved November 2, 2013.
- ↑ "Chris Knight interview & three tracks from Almost Daylight". Americana Music Show. September 2, 2019. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
- ↑ Tarradell, Mario. "Interviews: Chris Knight". Lone Star Music. Archived from the original on April 15, 2007. Retrieved October 24, 2013.
- 1 2 Lynch, Bill (July 17, 2013). "Chris Knight makes music on his terms". Charleston Gazette, The (WV). Retrieved November 2, 2013.
- ↑ Nichols, Patrick (July 20, 2006). "Album Review: Chris Knight, Enough Rope". this is texas music. Archived from the original on July 3, 2007. Retrieved October 24, 2013.
- ↑ Frazier, Chip (September 21, 2012). "Chris Night – Small Victories". Twangville. Retrieved October 24, 2013.
- ↑ Dickens, Tad (November 16, 2009). "Chris Knight has won over fans". Roanoke Times, The (VA).
- ↑ Chancellor, Jennifer (September 14, 2010). "Chris Knight sets Cain's Ballroom show date". Tulsa World (OK).
- ↑ Dauphin, Chuck (September 21, 2012). "Chris Knight Scores 'Little Victories,' First Album in 4 Years". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2013.
- ↑ Shelburne, Craig (September 21, 2012). "Chris Knight Takes Pride in Little Victories". CMT Edge. Retrieved October 24, 2013.
- ↑ Harrison, Alan (September 20, 2012). "CD Review – Chris Knight "Little Victories"". No Depression. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved October 24, 2013.
- ↑ "Chris Knight > Chart History > Top Country Albums". Billboard.
- ↑ "Chris Knight > Chart History > Billboard 200". Billboard.
- ↑ "Chris Knight > Chart History > Heatseekers Albums". Billboard.
- ↑ "Chris Knight > Chart History > Independent Albums". Billboard.
- ↑ Bjorke, Matt (September 19, 2019). "Chart News For September 19 2012: A "Tornado" of Success For Little Big Town". RoughStock. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
- ↑ Bjorke, Matt (October 21, 2019). "Top 10 Country Albums Sales Chart: October 21, 2019". RoughStock. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
- ↑ "CMT : Videos : Chris Knight : In the Mean Time". Country Music Television. Archived from the original on January 11, 2013. Retrieved January 9, 2013.
- ↑ McKenna, Brittney (September 27, 2019). "Chris Knight Debuts Video For "I'm William Callahan"". American Songwriter. Retrieved September 13, 2025.
- ↑ "Chris Knight : American Elements". CarbonTV. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
External links
[edit]| International | |
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| National | |
| Artists | |
