Among the many extraordinary things about Hunter Hayes, the
multi-talented musician, writer, producer and performer, perhaps what is
most astonishing is that in truth, he’s just getting started. And it is
that fact which holds the promise of Hunter Hayes becoming one of the
most significant musical talents to emerge, not just from Nashville, but
from anywhere, in a long, long time.
Already, he has accomplishments beyond most musicians wildest dreams:
Singing “Jambalaya” with Hank Williams Jr. in front of 200,000 people
(15 million YouTube views) at the age of four; appearing with Robert
Duvall (who gave Hunter his first guitar) in “The Apostle” at the age of
six; playing with Johnny and June Cash, and Charlie Daniels at a BBQ;
performing for President Clinton and many more. You might say that he’s
lived a charmed life. But those experiences are simply the natural
result of Hunter’s prodigal talent, one that’s been there from the
beginning as though a gift from God, and one that he’s always conscious
to be in service to.
Having moved to Nashville three years ago, Hunter was quickly signed
to Universal Music Publishing Group where he has co-written songs for
Rascal Flatts and Montgomery Gentry. At the same time, he was introduced
to Atlantic Records’ Chairman/CEO and music visionary Craig Kallman, who
he signed with at Atlantic Records. “I’m blessed to be surrounded by
people who appreciate music and support what I do.”
Born in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, Hunter has been making music since
about the time he learned to walk. As he recounts, “By the time I was
almost two, I was picking up everything and making an instrument out of
it. My grandmother gave me a toy accordion for my second birthday and I
immediately began picking up Cajun songs by ear from the radio.” While
both of Hunter’s parents are music lovers, neither are musicians, so as
he says, “The way I picked up music was out of left field, but, I
suppose, a pleasant surprise for them.”
For the Hayes’, most Friday night’s in the early part of Hunter’s
childhood were spent at a Cajun restaurant a couple of blocks from their
home that featured live music, and it was there where Hunter joined his
first band at the age of four, first as the accordionist, and then as
the front man at the age of five.
Taking up guitar at the age of 6, Hunter’s ability to pick up
instruments (including bass guitar, drums, keyboards, and more) became
evident. He says, “I’ve never had the patience to sit down and learn
from anyone. So with the guitar, and with every subsequent instrument
and piece of studio equipment, it’s been a process of experimentation –
pressing every button I can.”
Songwriting, too, has been a constant undertaking of Hunter’s. “I
wrote my first song at 6,” he recalls, “I spent every day with the
guitar and I just made up songs.” Hunter’s songwriting has been informed
by an eclectic grouping of influences. “When I was really young, Garth
Brooks was enormous, and I was a huge fan. I always loved LeAnn Rimes
and especially Clint Black for his soulfulness. As I’ve gotten older, my
influences have broadened – John Mayer, Michael Buble, Stevie Wonder,
Keith Urban, Stevie Ray Vaughn, the Beatles – all of these artists have
somehow been a part of my development as a songwriter.”
Like playing and songwriting, performing has become almost second
nature to Hunter who, in just his short life, has shared the stage with
the likes of Taylor Swift, Hank Williams, Jr., Brad Paisley, Trace
Adkins, Keith Urban and Lady Antebellum . “I’ve been doing at least
thirty dates a year for the past fifteen years. I’ve done a lot of the
festivals several times and built up relationships with the people that
go every year.” Now Hunter, in the producer’s chair with Dann Huff
(Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, Trace Adkins) releases his self-titled
Atlantic Records debut album. “I’ve released independent records before,
but this feels like the first real record – with the high stakes,” he
says excitedly. For Hunter, even with those high stakes, he was
committed to doing it his way – “playing everything on the album, having
fun and experimenting,” he stops, and then says with a smile, “I
literally lived in the studio.”
The expectations may be high, but no one has set higher expectations
and ambitions for his music than Hunter himself. He declares, “I hope
people half my age and twice my age will listen to my music – I want it
to live forever and for my audience to feel like they have a friend in
my music.” He continues, “Music is a spirit. It heals. It’s an amazing
thing to be loved and appreciated, and sometimes, music has not just
been my best friend, it’s been my only friend.”
In 2011, Hunter released his debut album, toured with superstar
Taylor Swift, kicked-off his first ever headlining tour, made his
national network television debut on CBS’ Late Show with David Letterman
and made his Grand Ole Opry debut. The world at large now has the
opportunity to see this prodigiously talented artist, a young man who
respects the gift his talent is, and has already learned how to give it
the honor it commands. He says, “I’ve been lucky as a kid. I’ve met some
of the greats, and whether it’s Johnny and June (Cash), Charlie Daniels
or Brad Paisley, you could sense they were in it for the love of the
music. That was the thing I took away from every single one of those
people.”
“I don’t know if I’m worthy of being considered of ‘carrying the
torch,’ but I would love to be told that by somebody someday. A lot of
the decisions I make are from answering the question ‘are we doing it
for the right reasons?’ I want people to say about me, ‘I know he’s
making music because he loves it.’”
