Today we feature an artist who many consider the leader of the modern outlaw movement, doing things his own way, including dropping a whole new album with absolutely no advance press (or warning).

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An artist who is just as much at home creating in his workshop as he is at crafting multi-platinum albums in a recording studio.

Eric Church definitely does things his own way. He grew up in Granite Falls, North Carolina, the son of an executive for a local furniture company. He spent many days around the factory, learning the intricacies of creating the furniture. He also heard music calling at an early age, teaching himself to play guitar at age 13 and almost immediately beginning to write his own songs. By his senior year he had started his first band and was playing in local bars and clubs, playing Jimmy Buffett covers and his own originals.

By college he had upgraded his band, which now included his brother and his college roommate. They continued to play local spots in the Boone, NC area, while Church attended Appalachian State University, where he earned his degree in marketing. After graduation, Church's fiance's father attempted to persuade Eric to forgo his music career by offering the singer a corporate job. He refused the job and she broke off the engagement, freeing Church to head to Nashville.

Eric Church Celebrates Release Of New Album "The Outsiders" With The Outsiders Live Tour
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With his father's support, Church concentrated on his songwriting. In 2005 he sold "The World Needs A Drink" which would end up being the lead single for Terri Clark's unreleased album Honky Tonk Songs. While writing for other artists, Church would record demos with various producers, and while these demos would peak the interest of several record companies, Capitol Records Nashville seemed to show the most interest, yet just weren't quite convinced on pulling the trigger to sign Church. The singer would then change producers, working with Jay Joyce on the song "Lightening". The power of the song convinced Capitol Nashville that Church was ready.

Church has released six albums with Capitol Nashville, each one has earned at gold certification, with his 2011 album, Chief, being certified triple platinum. Many consider this album to be Church's break-through, containing two #1 singles, "Drink In My Hand" and "Springsteen" as well as three more top-20 singles. In total, Church's six studio albums have produced 8 top-20, 8 top-10 and three number-1 hits. Church has also had three number 1's performing with other artists, including, most recently, the CMA tribute single "Forever Country" as part of the Artists of Then, Now and Forever.

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His most recent release was a live album called Mr. Misunderstood On The Rocks, Live and (Mostly) Unplugged, which features live, acoustic versions of songs from his most recent album, Mr Misunderstood, as well as cover versions of songs that he plays regularly in concert. Church has just released the fourth single from the Mister Misunderstood album, which also appears on his live album. Brought to you All-American Car Wash, Eric Church and "Round Here Buzz" is today's Catch of the Day, new music you haven't heard, but you'll want to hear it again.

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