‘Catch of the Day’ – Keith Urban – “Wasted Time” [AUDIO]

Today we feature who, although he got his big break in Australia and who most consider an Aussie, was actually born and raised in Whanarei, Northland, New Zealand. An artist who got his big break on a singing contest television program and who is now a judge on one of the most successful singing contest programs of all time.

Keith Urban is definitely the most successful artist to hale from the OTHER land down under. His reputation as a singer and songwriter is impeccable, and he is one of the best instrumentalists in country music, mastering the keyboards, drums, bass, banjo and piano. Then there is his guitar playing...

Paired with Brad Paisley in the argument "who is the best guitarist in country music", Paisley and Urban decided to "settle the argument" in 2008 when the recorded the song "Start A Band" together; both picker's knocked it out of the park and the question was far from answered. Urban has appeared as a guest guitarist for artists such as The Dixie Chicks, Olivia Newton-John, Nelly Furtado, Dolly Parton, Richard Marx, Martina McBride, Don Williams, Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift and many others.

And he almost didn't make it this far.

Urban moved to Nashville in 1992, appearing as a session musician on recordings from Alan Jackson (also appearing in Jackson's video for "Mercury Blues"), Toby Keith and the Raybon Brothers. He formed The Ranch, a country/rock band that recorded one album on Capitol Records Nashville, releasing two singles. After the band dissolved, Urban returned to session work and writing, appearing on projects by the Dixie Chicks, Charlie Daniels and comedian Tim Wilson. But there was a cloud hanging over Urban at this time, and it almost ended his success before it was achieved.

He began to have problems showing up on time for scheduled sessions, sometimes missing them altogether. His reputation began to take a hit. In 1998, finally Urban checked himself into a treatment center in Nashville for an addiction to cocaine. He returned to his music after treatment, but he continued to have a substance abuse problem. After marrying actress Nicole Kidman in June of 2006, she convinced him to check himself in the Betty Ford Clinic in California for his addiction.

Urban emerged from the clinic happy and healthy, and with a revitalized zest for his music. In 2011 he began a 1 season stint as a coach on the Australian version of The Voice. He turned down the program's offer to return for the show's second season, instead deciding to sign on in a similar role on the most popular singing contest program in television history, American Idol, replacing Aerosmith's Steven Tyler as a judge for the program's twelfth season. Urban survived an almost complete overhaul of the panel for the show's thirteenth season. He has remained on the panel through the current season, the program's 15th and final.

Urban released a signature line of guitars and accessories in October of 2013, sold through the Home Shopping Network. A portion of the proceeds raised are donated by Urban to the Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation, and organization dedicated to keeping music programs alive in public by donating instruments to under-funded schools. Another portion of the proceeds is donated to Grammy Foundation, striving to cultivate the understanding, appreciation and advancement of the contribution of recorded music.

In between judging Idols, selling guitars, donating to needy causes, being a good husband to Nicole and a great father to Sunday Rose and Faith Margaret, Urban hasn't given up his day job. 9 albums and 19 #1 hits later, Keith is preparing to release his 10th studio album, Ripcord. The second single from the album, which Urban premiered at the ACM awards, is in our spotlight today. Keith Urban and "Wasted Time" is today's Catch of the Day, new music you haven't heard, but you're going to want to hear it again.