Coy Taylor is a Kentucky son who knows what it means to put in a hard day’s work, from toiling in the tobacco fields of his family’s farm, to forging a path across the U.S. in the name of country music.
These days, the down-to-earth singer-songwriter has found himself on the road at least 120 days each year. And as of late, his inaugural single is steadily moving up the country charts, thanks to the growing acclaim his contemporary-meets-traditonal sound is generating.
Singer Lands Debut Song on the Country Singles Charts
Now available for download on iTunes, “Fall for You” is the debut track from Taylor’s forthcoming EP titled Bigger Than Life. In just a few short weeks, the song—at this writing—has moved from No. 118 to No. 107 on the breakout-singles chart of industry trade Music Row and claimed the No. 109 spot on the Activator chart. Moreover, all signs suggest the tune, which was co-penned by Taylor, will break onto even more charts in the coming weeks, as it continues to gain adds at country radio.
A one-time auto mechanic who’s never had a guitar far from his toolbox, the 31-year-old performer signed in August 2011 with new management, the Music City-located Verge, and joined the roster of Flying Island Entertainment, which is staffed with a slate of country music-industry pros, including Nancy Tunick, Sheila Shipley Biddy and Brian Fee, in addition to founders Nancy Eckert, entertainment attorney, and booking veteran Louis Newman.
In short order, Taylor's amassed a growing roster of endorsements sponsorships, too, from Corral Boots and Carvin, big-name makers of music equipment, to vodka-producer Firefly, which also happens to be the largest micro-distillery in South Carolina.
Coy Taylor Scores with Brady Seals, Little Jimmy Connections
But for Taylor, one of the biggest thrills of his music career, hands down, has been working with Brady Seals, a founding member of Little Texas and hit-songwriter, who is now a solo artist and business owner, as well as an in-demand record producer for a select few, including Taylor. The pair teamed to cut Taylor’s forthcoming seven-song EP at Nashville’s famed Blackbird Studio, also known in industry circles as the studio that country-superstar Martina McBride built.
During a short break from his current radio and live-show tour in support of “Fall for You,” the now-Nashville-based songster—who counts Johnny Paycheck, Merle Haggard and Brooks & Dunn among his musical influences—took time out of his jam-packed schedule to field a few questions from Suite101 about his upcoming EP and career.
Q: How did you connect with artist-turned-producer Brady Seals and come to work with him on your debut EP?
"We were introduced through one of my managers, Stephen Shutts. Brady is from Cincinnati, and I toured and played that area for almost 10 years, and that started our connection."
Q: What was that experience like for you, and is Seals a hero of yours?
"Little Texas was one of my favorite bands growing up. Brady Seals was definitely one of my Idols; he has had so many great songs that he has written and recorded. It is an honor to have worked with him."
Q: Are you pleased with the Bigger Than Life EP, and do you think it represents you accurately as an artist in terms of its sound?
"The Bigger Than Life EP is my first large project, (and) I am very honored to have accomplished that, with so many great people who helped me complete it. This project captured me very well; I am honing my sound and growing as a professional artist. If you listen close to the tracks, you can tell my sound has evolved (because) they all were not recorded at the same time."
Q: What made you re-make “Out Behind the Barn,” a former top-10 hit by Grand Ole Opry star Little Jimmy Dickens, who is nearly 91 years old, and how did you manage to get him in the studio cut it?
"I have always been a huge Jimmy Dickens fan, as well as a country-music historian. I met Jimmy’s manager, Robbie Wittowski, and Robbie introduced me to Jimmy. He listened to some of my music, and I asked him if he would mind if I re-recorded a classic and had him (sit in at the studio) on it."
Q: Regarding the current single, I know you have filmed a music video in its honor. Any idea when that will be released?
"I have been consulting with my management, and they tell me that it will be out, for sure, within two weeks (November 2011),"
Q: History tells us, traditionally, that a single moves up the charts when it has an accompanying video. You've made great headway in that regard just in a handful of weeks, since “Fall for You” debuted in late September 2011. Can you tell me how you measure your success at this point? Is it chart rankings? Fan response?
"Well, charts are just numbers and fans are the only reason we need a chart. Without them, it’s pointless to be out on the road. My fan base has rapidly grown, and live shows--getting in front of real-live folks--is what sells me."
To learn more about Taylor, including to view his forthcoming tour dates and music news, please access his official website at www.coytaylor.com.
Lisa L. Rollins - Texas native Lisa L. Rollins, Ph.D., is an award-winning feature writer, interviewer and journalism educator.
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