Dierks Bentley

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Dierks Bentley
Dierks Bentley performing in Saginaw, Michigan, March 31, 2007
Background information
Born	20 November 1975 (1975-11-20) (age 34)[1]
Origin	Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Genres	Country
Instruments	Vocals, guitar
Years active	2003-present
Labels	Dangling Rope, Capitol Nashville
Associated acts	Brett Beavers, Deric Ruttan, The Warren Brothers
Website	http://www.dierks.com/

Dierks Bentley (born November 20, 1975 in Phoenix, Arizona) is an American country music artist who has been signed to Capitol Records Nashville since 2003. That year, he released his self-titled debut album. Both it and its follow-up, 2005's Modern Day Drifter, are certified platinum in the United States. A third album, 2006's Long Trip Alone, is certified gold. It was followed in mid 2008 by a greatest hits package. His fourth album, Feel That Fire was released in February 2009.

Bentley's studio albums have accounted for twelve singles on the country singles charts, of which seven have reached No. 1: his debut single "What Was I Thinkin'", as well as "Come a Little Closer", "Settle for a Slowdown", "Every Mile a Memory", "Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go)", "Feel That Fire" and "Sideways". Three more of his singles have reached Top Five on the country charts as well.

Early life

This section requires expansion.

Dierks Bentley was born in Phoenix, Arizona on November 20, 1975. "Dierks" was his maternal grandmother's maiden name. In his teenage years, he moved to Lawrenceville, New Jersey, where he attended the Lawrenceville School, graduating in 1993. He was also a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity at Vanderbilt University.

Personal life

Bentley is married to Cassidy Black, who also has Phoenix roots and whom he has known since middle school. They live in Nashville, Tennessee with their dogs Jake (who has appeared in a few of Dierks' videos) and Jorge. The couple welcomed their first child, Evalyn Day Bentley, on October 4, 2008.^[2]

Bentley spent a year at the University of Vermont before transferring to Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, failing to graduate. He pledged Sigma Alpha Epsilon while at Vanderbilt.

Music career

This section requires expansion with: Critical reception, musical stylings.

Dierks Bentley opening for Brad Paisley 14 Feb 2009 at Scotiabank Place, Ottawa

Dierks Bentley

Bentley worked at The Nashville Network (now Spike TV), researching old footage of country performances. In 2003, Capitol Nashville released Bentley's self-titled debut album. The album's first single, "What Was I Thinkin'," reached Number One on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts later that year. Two other singles from the album were released and charted: "My Last Name" reached No. 17, and "How Am I Doin'" reached No. 4. The album was certified Platinum by the RIAA.

Modern Day Drifter

Bentley's second Capitol album, Modern Day Drifter, was released in 2005. It featured two No. 1 singles on the Hot Country Songs chart, "Settle for a Slowdown" and "Come a Little Closer." A third single, "Lot of Leavin' Left to Do", reached No. 3. The album was also certified platinum.

Later in 2005 Bentley won the CMA Award for the Horizon Award (now Best New Artist) and was invited to be a member of the Grand Ole Opry. The induction took place on October 1, 2005. Bentley stands as the third youngest member after Carrie Underwood and Josh Turner.

Long Trip Alone

On June 10, 2006, Long Trip Alone was released. The album produced two No. 1 songs, "Every Mile a Memory" in 2006 and "Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go)" in 2007. The title track reached No. 10 on the country charts. A fourth single, "Trying to Stop Your Leaving," hit No. 5.

In 2007, Bentley released a live DVD recorded and filmed in Denver, Colorado entitled Live and Loud at the Fillmore.

This has been claimed as his best album and was nominated for a Grammy for Best Country Album but lost to Dixie Chicks

Greatest Hits/Every Mile a Memory 2003-2008

A March 2008 interview, Bentley said he would let his fans be the executive producers to his first greatest hits album, Greatest Hits/Every Mile a Memory 2003-2008. The album was released on May 6, 2008.^[3] An album cut, "Sweet & Wild," reached No. 51 on the Hot Country Songs chart. The song features an uncredited duet with fellow country singer Sarah Buxton.

Feel That Fire

A fifth studio album, Feel That Fire,^[4] was released in February 2009. Its title track, co-written by Brett Beavers and The Warren Brothers, reached Top 40 in October 2008 and became his sixth Number One in February 2009. The second single from the album Feel That Fire is "Sideways", which was released on March 2. The third single from the album "Feel That Fire" is "I Wanna Make You Close Your Eyes", which was released on September 13.

Tours

Free and Easy Summer Tour (2007)

Throttle Wide Open Tour (2008) w/ Luke Bryan and Bucky Covington

American Saturday Night Tour (2009) w/ Brad Paisley and Jimmy Wayne

Discography

Albums

• Don't Leave Me in Love (2001)
• Dierks Bentley (2003)
• Modern Day Drifter (2005)
• Long Trip Alone (2006)
• Greatest Hits/Every Mile a Memory 2003-2008 (2008)
• Feel That Fire (2009)

Awards

This section requires expansion with: nominations.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Dierks Bentley

• Official web site