Joey + Rory

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Joey + Rory is an American country music duo composed of Rory Lee Feek and Joey Martin Feek, who are husband and wife. Joey is the duo's lead vocalist, while Rory sings background vocals and plays guitar. The duo was the third-place finalist on CMT's competition Can You Duet in 2008. That same year, Joey + Rory signed to Vanguard Records, releasing their debut album The Life of a Song in late October. This album's lead-off single, "Cheater, Cheater", was a Top 40 hit on the Billboard country charts.

History

Before the duo's foundation, Rory Lee Feek worked as a songwriter in Nashville, Tennessee, and he has continued to work as a songwriter even as a member of Joey + Rory. Songs that he wrote for other artists include Clay Walker's Top Five hit "The Chain of Love", Blake Shelton's Number One hit "Some Beach", and Jimmy Wayne's 2008 single "I Will". Rory also founded the independent label Giantslayer Records in 2004, on which Joey had recorded a solo album entitled Strong Enough to Cry in 2005. This album was never physically released, although it was made into a digital download.^[1] Rory also recorded a solo album on Giantslayer Records, titled My Ol' Man, which he also made available only as a download.

Joey + Rory performed on the CMT competition Can You Duet in 2008, in which they were the third-place finalists. Shortly after the competition, they were signed to the independent label Sugar Hill Records. They returned to the Can You Duet stage to perform "Cheater, Cheater" on "Original Song Night" for the series' second season, which aired on July 25, 2009.^[2]

The Life of a Song

The duo's debut album, The Life of a Song, was released on October 28, 2008 on Sugar Hill Records.^[3] The album debuted at #10 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, and #61 on the all-genre Billboard 200. Its lead-off single, "Cheater, Cheater", was originally recorded by the duo Bomshel. Kristy Osmonson, formerly one-half of that duo, co-wrote the song with the Feeks and Wynn Varble. Bomshel's version was released as a single in early 2008 shortly before Osmonson's departure, although it did not chart. Joey + Rory's version was released in September 2008, featuring a music video that has a cameo from Naomi Judd, who had been a judge on Can You Duet.^[4] Joey + Rory's version peaked at #30 on the country music charts in early 2009. The duo has also appeared in television commercials for the online retailer Overstock.com.^[5] In February 2009, the duo were nominated for the Academy of Country Music Awards Top Vocal Duo.^[6] Although a cover of Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Free Bird" was originally to have been released as the second single, it was withdrawn after two weeks, and replaced in March 2009 with "Play the Song", which failed to chart. The albums third single, "To Say Goodbye", was released to radio on July 27, 2009, and also failed to chart.

Recording their second album

Joey + Rory released their first holiday single, "It's Christmas Time," on November 16, 2009 to country radio and November 24, 2009 to digital retailers.^[7] It was done in partnership with CMT One Country, who will donate a portion of proceeds from the single to various charities (including the The Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee).^[7] Additionally, Rory Feek along with Tim Johnson, created the Song Trust; under this an album of holiday songs performed by children, titled Merry Kidsmas, will be released.^[8]

Joey + Rory announced on October 15, 2009, that they were in the studio working on the follow-up album to The Life of a Song.

Discography

Studio albums

Singles

Other charted songs

• ^A Current single.

Music videos

Awards and nominations

Can You Duet performances

References

External links

• Joey + Rory's Official Website
• Joey + Rory at MySpace