Dream Big, Work Hard

Talent and focus take Luke Bryan to the top of his industry

Thomas Luther Bryan (’99) is probably one of the steadiest acts in country music, but before he became a household name, he was cutting his teeth in Statesboro establishments as a student at Georgia Southern.

Better known to his fans as Luke Bryan, the Leesburg, Ga., native has slowly, but steadily built his country music career as a teenager writing songs in his hometown church all the way to being named the Top New Artist and Top Solo Vocalist by the Academy of Country Music.

Bryan counts Alabama, George Strait and Brooks & Dunn as his early musical influences – and now he’s in the same league with some of his country music idols.

But hey – if y’all are part of the diehard Bryan fan club called the Nut House – you already knew that.

Bryan’s journey to Nashville began with an unspeakable tragedy and temporary detour for the award-winning artist.

After graduating high school, he was honing his songwriting skills and performing with his band in hometown venues, ready to pursue his music career in Nashville. Tragically, his older brother, Chris, was killed in an auto accident the very day that he was to move to The Music City.

Bryan wanted to stay close to family, so he scrapped his plans for Nashville and enrolled at Georgia Southern. His music career continued to grow, and the business management major and his band played every weekend at venues ranging from Dingus MaGee’s to fraternity parties. “It was the best experience of my life. I had a great time, made great friends, and it was real social,” he said with a laugh. Bryan also continued writing songs and recorded his first album.

Instead of striking out for Nashville after graduation, surprisingly, Bryan returned to Leesburg to work on the family farm. After a year-and-a-half, Bryan’s father wanted to see his son pursue his talent and gave him an ultimatum: move to Nashville, or be fired. When Bryan left for Nashville at the age of 25, he followed his heart, but he was ready. “I was mature, and really clear on my vision for my career,” he said.

Within two months of his arrival in 2001, he landed a publishing contract, continued building a catalog of songs, and eventually signed with Capitol Records.

And the rest, as they say, is history.
Bryan released his first hit single “All My Friends Say” from his debut album, “I’ll Stay Me,” and wrote the song “Good Directions” – a number one hit that was recorded by his friend Billy Currington.

The next few years saw huge successes for Bryan with the release of his second and third albums, “Doin’ My Thing” and “tailgates & tanlines,” plus several platinum and gold hits. Bryan’s new single, “I Don’t Want This Night To End,” became his fourth No. 1 hit, and last year he was one of only three country artists – along with Lady Antebellum and Taylor Swift – to have multiple singles sell more than 100,000 tracks in a week.

Bryan’s appealing music has explored love, trucks and honkytonks – among other themes – and his concerts reach out to audiences ranging from college students to farmers. “My music pulls from my life experiences, and I want it to be fun,” he said about his connection with fans through his music.

Last year for the first time, he headlined a series of 22 concerts for the CMT Tour, and he also continued his popular Farm Tour concerts, which paid tribute to hardworking farmers. Bryan’s outdoor concerts drew thousands of fans to farm fields across the states of Georgia and South Carolina while benefitting Georgia Southern students. For the past three years, a portion of the proceeds from the Farm Tour have provided a one-year scholarship to a University freshman from a rural Georgia farming community, preferably his hometown in Lee County.

“The Farm Tour is real special to me,” he said about the concerts that honor his upbringing while also providing a chance for him to give back to rural communities.

If the success of 2011 was a clear indicator, it’s a sure sign that Bryan won’t have any plans to slow down in 2012.

Coming soon to a city near you: “My Kinda Party.” That’s the new tour he’s already kicked off with Jason Aldean, and this spring Bryan will release his popular annual Spring Break album of four songs for college students.

“I’m always working and writing,” said Bryan, about the release of another new album in 2013.

While it can be tough as an aspiring singer and songwriter, Bryan only gives advice that he follows himself: “Dream big and work hard. Understand that it is tough, but you have to be slow and steady with your career and continue pushing the envelope.”

Wise words from a country man.