Brooks and Dunn saw it.
The talent of Keith Urban was evident when the iconic duo invited the singer to join them on their 2001, Neon Circus and Wild West Show! The 23-year old New Zealand born crooner and guitarist had picked another pair of legends to emulate in his craft….Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits and Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac. Urban has called Buckingham his “favorite mad scientist”!
These days, Urban’s “laboratory” is a fresh World Tour named after his 9th studio album, “Ripcord”. The tour includes Brett Eldredge and Maren Morris and comes to Blossom Music Center on July 15th. It then works it’s way throughout North America into December, with Carrie Underwood joining up later in the year.
1992 was the year that Urban made the jump to Nashville. Alan Jackson first put him into a video, “Mercury Blues”. Then the youngster co-wrote for artists like Toby Keith before forming his own band known as The Ranch. A few mid-chart hits followed as Urban carved out his reputation as one of the finest guitarists in Music City.
The self titled debut came in 1999 and immediately made a mark. Urban became the first male artist from New Zealand to reach the top 10 on the US Country chart with “Your Everything”. The first number one, “But for the Grace of God” came shortly after…a song written by Charlotte Caffey and Jane Wiedlin of the Go-Gos. Still, it was the instrumental track, “Rollercoaster” that showed off his “chops” on the Stratocaster. When the singer comes to Blossom, he will bring 2 dozen guitars with him.
After many hits, an early addiction to cocaine, and subsequent rehab…Urban’s public life headed to a new level when he met and married American-born Australian actress Nicole Kidman in 2006…They instantly joined Tim/Faith and Garth/Trisha as celebrity couples in Country Music. Maintaining privacy became a priority and one incident had Urban rolling his motorbike avoiding an ambitious photographer. The singer was unhurt. Good thing as the next year the Urbans would welcome the first of two daughters, further fodder for the paparazzi.
Still the power couple has done a good job of that balance between successful careers, families and keeping their sanity with their fans. In addition too the studio work and touring, Urban launched his own signature line of guitars and accessories a few years back. The Home Shopping Network moved tens of thousands of items with a big chunk of the proceeds benefiting the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, a group that gets musical instruments into schools with under funded music programs.
When Urban became the 2001 ACM top New Male Vocalist, it was the equivalent of Country Music’s “when pigs fly”…Here was an entertainer more likely making a guest appearance in “Crocodile Dundee” than making his way onto the Grand Ole Port. Urban bucked the trend with his good looks and musical abilities. A CMA Male Vocalist of the Year in 2004 was the icing on the cake.
These days, Urban has become known to a whole new audience as a judge on “American Idol”. His celebrity sidekicks on “Idol” have included Nicki Minaj, Harry Connick Jr., Mariah Carey and Jennifer Lopez. He was a judge for the final season that wrapped up back in April. The eventual winner, Trent Harmon has launched his career with his first single, “Falling”…a tune penned by, you guessed it, Keith Urban. The three final season judges, (Urban, Connick Jr, and Lopez) bonded like few other groupings on the show and are close friends.
That bond helped him through the death of his Father this past December.
The “post Idol” Urban now heads in a new direction…like much of his music.
That direction sends him through Blossom for our enjoyment.
By Steve Brown
Keith Urban will be performing at Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio on Friday, July 15 at 7:30pm along with special guests Brett Eldridge and Maren Morris on the “Ripcord World Tour 2016”. Tickets are available at www.Ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000.
