‘Catch of the Day’ – Jake Owen – “American Country Love Song” [AUDIO]

Today our focus is on an artist who, while he was in college at Florida State University, focused more on making birdies and eagles than making country hits.

Jake Owen was born in Winter Haven, FL, and while growing up his focus wasn't on making music, it was on sports, most predominately golf. Owen won his first tournament at age 15, and after graduating from Vero Beach High School, he went off to FSU on a golf scholarship. But a golf future just wasn't in Owen's bag, and a wakeboarding accident, which resulted in reconstructive ankle surgery ended his pro golf dreams.

But, what at first looked like a curse became a blessing, because while recovering from the surgery, Owen borrowed a neighbor's guitar and taught himself how to play. After seeing a guitarist perform at a local bar, Owen asked the owner for a chance to play, soon becoming a regular at the campus club. After honing his talents locally, Owen moved to Nashville, where his first break came almost immediately.

While opening a bank account in Nashville, Jake told the teller he was a singer and songwriter. She asked him if he had any recordings available. He gave her a CD of his songs, which was soon passed on to Warner/Chappell Music. Warner/Chappell didn't sign Owen, but doors began to open. He met producer Jimmy Ritchie and together, along with songwriter Chuck Jones wrote a song they intended for Kenny Chesney. Chesney didn't record the song, "Ghosts", but it did draw the attention of Sony BMG Nashville, who saw Owen's promise and signed him to the label in 2005.

Owen debuted in 2006 with the single "Yee Haw", which peaked at a respectable #16 on the country charts. His debut album Startin' With Me soon followed, featuring "Ghosts" and a duet with Alabama's Randy Owen called "You Can Thank Dixie". The album produced two more singles, the title track, which became Owen's first top-10 hit, peaking at #6 and "Something About A Woman", which climbed to #15.

After the release of the album, Owen, along with Little Big Town hit the rode as part of  Sugarland's tour. Owen and the two groups would perform the 80's hit "Life In A Northern Town" every night as part of the show, and though the song was never officially released as a single, through the video released by CMT, the song would go viral online and would climb to #27 based strictly on unsolicited airplay.

3 albums later, Owen has amassed 8 top-10 singles and 5 number 1 hits. He is currently working on his fifth studio album and the second single from the project, as yet unnamed, is in our spotlight today. Jake Owen and "American Country Love Song" is the Catch of the Day, new music you haven't heard, but you'll want to hear it again.