‘Catch of The Day’- Craig Morgan – “When I’m Gone” [AUDIO]

The spotlight today falls on an artist who, prior to signing a recording contract, spent nine and a half years in the army, serving as an emergency medical technician for the 101st and 82nd airborne divisions. Born Craig Morgan Greer in Kingston Springs, TN, Craig Morgan took the road less traveled to finding success in Nashville. After returning home from his tour of duty in the army, Morgan worked construction, as a security guard and at Wal-Mart, before landing a job singing demos for other songwriters and publishing companies. This led to Morgan being signed by Atlantic Records Nashville in 1999, releasing his self titled debut album in 2000.

Atlantic Records closed its Nashville division in 2001, and Morgan was set adrift, signing with indy label Broken Bow records in 2002. His first album for the label, I Love It, featured four singles, including Morgan's first top-10 hit "Almost Home". The song would win the BMI award for Song of the Year. The album would be certified gold and would cement Morgan's reputation as not only a performer, but also as a songwriter.

In 2004, Morgan's third album, My Kind of Livin' featured Morgan's only number one to day "That's What I Love About Sundays". It was also the first #1 for Broken Bow, becoming the first independently released single to hit the top of the chart since 1977. The follow up single, "Redneck Yacht Club" climbed to #2. The album and both singles have been certified gold.

Morgan's third and final album for Broken Bow, Little Bit of Life was released in 2006 and featured the top-10 hits "Tough", "International Harvester" and the title track. A greatest hits album was released in 2008 and soon after, Morgan left the label.

2008 saw a new label, BNA, and a new album, That's Why. The album's lead single, "Love Remembers" became Morgan's sixth top-10 hit. After the next two singles from the album failed to make the top-10, BNA re-released the album with two new tracks, "Bonfire" and "This Ain't Nothin'", which was released as the album's next single, climbing to #4 on the Billboard chart.

Morgan would sign with Black River Entertainment in 2011, releasing the album This Ol' Boy the same year. The album failed to release a top-30 single. In 2013 he would release a second greatest hits package, The Journey (Livin' Hits), featuring the single "Wake Up Loving You".  He is currently working on a second studio album for Black River, as yet unnamed.

The first single from Morgan's new project, slated for release in early 2016, is our focus today. Craig Morgan and "When I'm Gone" is today's Catch of the Day, new music you haven't heard, but you'll want to hear it again.