Today we feature a singer and songwriter who was at the top of his game in the late 90's, releasing two top-10 albums and 7 top-10 singles from 1995-1999. But, as the century turned, so did his fortunes, leaving him without a record deal, and unable to release an album for almost 8 years.

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Born in Meridian, MS, and raised in Butler, AL. Ty Herndon grew up playing piano singing gospel music. After graduating high school, he headed to Nashville to try his hand at country music. It wasn't as easy as he had hoped, and after playing in and around Music City for almost 10 years without much success, Herndon packed his bags and moved to Texas. He found a gig as the lead singer for a group called The Tennessee River Boys, performing regularly at the Opryland USA theme park in Nashville. Herndon left the group in 1985 to appear on Star Search, and the TRB would replace Herndon with singer Marty Roe changing their name to Diamond Rio.

Herndon returned to Texas, performing throughout the state. He was named Texas Entertainer of the Year in 1993, signing with Epic Records later that year. His debut album, What Mattered Most, was released in 1995, along with the title track, which was released as Herndon's debut single and

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would become his first #1 single. In it's first week of release, the single was added by 133 radio stations across the country, an unheard of amount for a debut single, breaking a record previously held by Tracy Lawrence. The album would feature two more singles, including "I Want My Goodbye Back", which peaked at #7.

Striking while the iron was hot, Epic would release Herndon's follow-up album, Living In A Moment, in 1996. Once again, the title track would serve as the album's lead single, and like his debut album, the single would hit #1 and the album would be certified gold. The album would feature three more top-20 singles and send Herndon back into the studio.

Released in 1998, Big Hopes, showed that Herndon's popularity was beginning to wane. While the album did feature three top-10 hits, including the singer's third #1 "It Must Be Love", the album was not as commercially successful, peaking at #22 on the album chart. In 1999, Steam was released as Herndon's fourth album, and while a little more commercially successful, Herndon's popularity continued to slide as the album failed to produce a top-10 single.

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In 2002, Herndon returned to the studio to work on his fifth album. A single from the project was released, but when "Heather's Wall" peaked at #37 on the country chart the album was shelved. In it's place, a greatest hits compilation was released, featuring the single "A Few Short Years", which failed to crack the top-40. After the single's disappointing performance, Herndon was released by Epic Records. He released a Christmas album on his website and through his fan club in 2002; in 2003 it was repackaged and released on indy label Riviera Records.

Ty Herndon onstage during "TrevorLIVE LA" Honoring Robert Greenblatt, Yahoo and Skylar Kergil for The Trevor Project presented by Wells Fargo at Hollywood Palladium on December 7, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (photo courtesy of Kevin Winter/Getty Images Entertainment)
photo courtesy of Kevin Winter/Getty Images Entertainment
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Herndon signed with Titan Pyramid Records in 2006, releasing his first full album of new material in 2007 entitled Right About Now. The album did not attract much attention and failed to chart a single. He has since released three more albums on FUNL Records, including House On Fire, which was released earlier this year, and the lead single from the album is in our spotlight today. Ty Herndon and "That Kind of Night" is today's Catch of the Day, new music you haven't heard, but you'll wanna hear it again.

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