Brad Paisley Singer, songwriter, guitarist In what seemed a meteoric rise to fame, singer, songwriter, and guitarist Brad Paisley went from obscurity to near-superstardom with the release of his debut album in 1999. In the early and middle 2000s he was a fixture on the country touring and recording scene who evolved into a consistent chart-topper. Paisley's success sprang from years of study, practice, and experience—he started young, worked very hard, and controlled every aspect of his recording career. That included his work in the studio; he was one of few mainstream contemporary artists who used his own band in recording sessions rather than relying on studio musicians. Born on October 28, 1972, in West Virginia, Paisley was a native of Glen Dale, a town of fewer than 2,000 people. He spent his after-school time with his grandfather, Warren Jarvis, who worked the afternoon shift at the railroad. Jarvis, who also played bluegrass acoustic guitar, gave his grandson a guitar—a Sears Danelectro Silvertone, complete with an amplifier and case—at age eight. Jarvis also sent Paisley to Clarence "Hank" Goddard, a local guitar pro. In a genre where lead vocalists often have only average guitar skills, Paisley grew into a musician proficient on a variety of acoustic and electric guitars. "Yeah, I'm a nut case," he told Andy Ellis of Guitar Player. "I really love gear." With Goddard's encouragement, Paisley learned to fret and riff like a professional musician. His earliest live performances were at his church at age nine; he wrote his first song, "Born on Christmas Day," at age 12. That year he played a radio concert on USA Jamboree Live, a popular Saturday night program broadcast on WWVA radio in Wheeling, West Virginia. The public response was so positive that the young singer-guitarist spent the next eight years as a regular on the show and sang warmups for many popular recording stars, including George Jones and Little Jimmy Dickens. It was an invaluable apprenticeship in the business as well as the traditional side of country music. When Paisley was 13, Goddard invited him to join his own band. Goddard was also a dedicated teacher who encouraged his progress. Paisley also joined the roster of the yearly Jamboree in the Hills at age 14, and for the next for 6 years entertained about 60,000 spectators annually in the hills outside of Wheeling. In 1991 Paisley began his college career at West Liberty State College, West Virginia, but two years later he moved to Nashville, a decision spurred in part by encouragement from a professor. There, Paisley enrolled in a music business curriculum at Belmont University. After completing college internships at the American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers (ASCAP), Atlantic Records, and Fitzgerald-Hartley Management, Paisley had a solid background and extensive experience in the music business by the time he graduated in 1995. Paisley made many contacts during his various internships, including scouts from EMI Music Publishing. The connections proved invaluable, and within a week of graduation he had signed a songwriting deal with EMI. Eventually one of his song demos attracted the attention of singer Alan Jackson, who requested a hold on the composition, called "I'm Gonna Miss Her." Arista Records, after hearing the demo, requested a longer demo and signed Paisley to a recording contract soon afterward. Paisley began work on his first album, Who Needs Pictures, in 1998. He had already written a large repertoire of songs, enough for several albums. Opting not to hire a studio guitarist, he played all the parts himself and used his tour band in the studio despite the group's limited recording experience. The album was under production and nearing completion when he decided to bring in a former college friend and musical collaborator, Frank Rogers, as producer. Rogers had no experience as a major record producer, but Paisley had faith in him. The debut album, Who Needs Pictures, was released on June 1, 1999.
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