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Keith Urban





BIOGRAPHY

Keith Urban was born Keith Lionel Urbahn on October 26 1967, Keith spent his early years in New Zealand , before moving to Australia and then relocating to Nashville . By age seven, Urban was already thinking about coming to America and making his mark in Nashville, Tennessee.

Urban began to learn the guitar at age 6 and began winning talent contests at age 8. 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, ''Urban'' 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, the blue eyed, 5'10" Urban battled a vicious addiction to cocaine. {Link without Title} . 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 his act, 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 .
Keith, openly regarded as a modern day guitar virtuoso, has performed as a Session Musician on albums such as Garth Brooks ' ''Double Live'' and Dixie Chicks ' '' Fly ''.

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 #1 longer than any other country artist in 2002. Three other singles were released, two went to #1 and the third was #3. The album went platinum in every country where it has been released and is triple platinum in the U.S.

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 four singles released from "Be Here" three went to #1 and the fourth was #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.

His second single "It's a Love Thing" off his self-titled debut only went to #18 on the charts 2000. Since then 11 singles have been released and everyone of them has made it into the top 4. (career total of 13 singles released - Seven singles went to #1, one went to #18, one went to #4, two went to #3 and two went to #2).

Touring as a supporting act for renowned country acts Brooks And 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 the very successful ''Alive in '05'' tour. He performed in the Live 8 Philadelphia concert on July 2nd 2005 and has been chosen by The Gap to appear alongside seven other bright musical stars in their "Favorites" campaign, and he was named CMA's Entertainer of the Year. He released a DVD in late September entitled Livin' Right Now , recorded in California.

Keith 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 Grammy s playing "You'll Think of Me" and "The Lucky One" with Faith Hill .


DISCOGRAPHY



Albums



Australian Singles



U.S. Singles



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 - 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

  • 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"



Gold/Platinum Albums

  • 1999 - Self-Titled Keith Urban 1999 certified Platinum in 2003

  • 2002 - Golden Road certified Triple Platinum in 2005

  • 2004 - Be Here certified Triple Platinum in 2006

  • 2005 - Video Hits DVD certified Platinum

  • 2005 - Livin' Right Now DVD certified Platinum



Albums Keith has performed on

  • Garth Brooks Double Live (1998) Guitar (Electric)

  • Glen Campbell Legacy 1961-2002 (2003) Author

  • Charlie Daniels Fiddle Fire: 25 Years of the... (1998) Guitar

  • Charlie Daniels Tailgate Party (1999) Guitar

  • Dixie Chicks Fly (1999) Guitar (Electric), Performer

  • Dolly Parton - Those Were the Days (2005) - vocals on "Twelfth of Never"

  • INXS Live Baby Live (1991) Vocals (bckgr)

  • INXS Definitive INXS (2002) Vocals (bckgr)

  • Paul Jefferson Paul Jefferson (1996) Guitar (Electric)

  • Carolyn Dawn Johnson Dress Rehearsal (2004) Guitar (Acoustic), Vocals (bckgr), Soloist

  • Neal McCoy Luckiest Man in the World (2003) Guitar (Electric)

  • John Mohead Mary's Porch (1998) Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric)

  • Olivia Newton-John 2 (2002) Guitar - co-wrote and sang "Sunburned Country"

  • Ranch (1997) Ganjo, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Vocals (bckgr)

  • Sons of the Desert Change (2000) Banjo

  • Tim Wilson Gettin' My Mind Right (1999) Guitar

  • Original Soundtrack How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003) Producer

  • Various Artists Twang!: A Tribute to Hank Marvin & (1996) Guitar, Performer

  • Various Artists Not So Dusty (1998) Producer, Mixing

  • 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

  • Various Artists Kids' Country Hits (2003) Guitar

  • 1991 Keith Urban 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



REFERENCES



EXTERNAL LINKS