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Clint Black

Born in Long Branch, NJ

Clint Black's Genre:

New Traditionalist, Contemporary Country, Country

Biography

A country music traditionalist from Texas, Clint Black was one of the first artists to kick-start the mass-market popularity of country in the '90s. Black is also one of the first artists of a generation that was equally inspired by rock-oriented pop -- like '70s singer/songwriters and '60s rock & roll -- as well as country artists like Merle Haggard, Bob Wills, and George Jones. He offered a shiny, marketable version of traditional country and in the process paved the way for a new generation of country artists, particularly Garth Brooks. After Brooks broke through into the pop mainstream, Black's career began to fade somewhat, but he remained one of the most popular and acclaimed vocalists of the '90s.

Black was born in New Jersey but raised in Katy, TX, a suburb of Houston. As a child, he listened to both country and rock & roll, but he didn't begin playing guitar until the age of 13, when he started playing harmonica. Two years later, he began writing songs, as well as performing in his brother Kevin's band, where he played bass and sang. In the early '80s, he began busking on the streets of Katy, eventually working his way into coffeehouses, bars, and nightclubs.

In 1987, Clint met Hayden Nicholas, a guitarist and songwriter who had a home studio. Nicholas and Black began collaborating together, writing songs and recording demos; Nicholas would become the bandleader for Black, playing lead guitar and co-writing a large majority of his hit singles. A tape of their songs made its way to Bill Ham, the manager of ZZ Top. Impressed with the tape, Ham became Black's manager; the singer had a contract with RCA Nashville by the end of 1988.

"A Better Man," Black's first single, was released early in 1989 and it went to number one -- he was the first new male country artist to have a number one hit with his debut single in 15 years. Black was an immediate sensation throughout country music and he played the Grand Ole Opry in April, one month before his debut album, Killin' Time, was released. Killin' Time was an immediate hit, going gold within six months and spawning four other hit singles, including the number ones "Killin' Time," "Nobody's Home," and "Walkin' Away." At the end of 1989, he won the Country Music Association's Horizon Award, as well that organization's Best Male Vocalist Award. He also won Best Album, Best Single, Best Male Vocalist, and Best New Male Vocalist awards from the Academy of Country Music and the NSAI Songwriter/Artist of the Year Award. By the end of 1990, Killin' Time sold over two million copies in America.

Black released his second album, Put Yourself in My Shoes, in 1990. Like the debut, Put Yourself in My Shoes was a major success, spawning four Top Ten hits ("Put Yourself in My Shoes," "One More Payment," and the number ones "Loving Blind" and "Where Are You Now"), selling over two million copies, and peaking at number 18 on the pop charts. Even though it sold well, it didn't receive the same critical acclaim as the debut. Nevertheless, Black was named Best Male Vocalist that same year. Throughout 1990, Black was on tour with Alabama and appearing on television shows across the country. In 1991, several singles from Put Yourself in My Shoes charted and he was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry. On New Year's Eve of 1991, he married the television actress Lisa Hartman.

Black began 1992 in a lawsuit with his manager. Black claimed that his original contract gave Ham too large of a percentage of the singer's royalties and publishing rights. For seven months he was embroiled in the lawsuit, during which he was recording his third album. By the summer, the suit was settled and his new album, The Hard Way, finally was released. The Hard Way received positive reviews and became an immediate hit, peaking at number two on the country charts and crossing over into the pop Top Ten. The first single from the album, "We Tell Ourselves," reached number one that summer. Black began a lengthy world tour in June of 1992 to support The Hard Way.

Although it was a success, The Hard Way wasn't as popular as Black's first two records, selling no more than a million copies. Released in 1993, No Time to Kill, his fourth album, continued the stagnation in his record sales, even though its sales were more than respectable -- the album went platinum and spawned the hit single "When My Ship Comes In." During the fall of 1994, Black released his fifth album, One Emotion, followed a year later by the seasonal effort Looking for Christmas. Nothin' But the Taillights appeared after a two-year hiatus, and in 1999 Black celebrated a decade of recording with D'Lectrified. Several hits collections followed into the new millennium. In 2004, Black returned with Spend My Time, his first batch of new material in over six years, closely followed by Drinkin' Songs & Other Logic in 2005. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

AOL Radio Stations Clint Black is Featured on (7)

Justin Moore Showcase

This is the Justin Moore Artist Showcase station on Slacker Radio. Tune in to hear music hand-picked by Justin as well as commentary about the songs that influenced his music and his life.

'90s Country

The popularity of country music exploded in the 1990's fueled by new artists like Garth Brooks, Shania Twain, and Brooks and Dunn. They not only changed the sound of country music, but created a whole new generation of country fans. Hear the biggest country songs from one of the biggest decades in country music on 90's Country on Slacker Radio.

Country

Country on Slacker Radio plays the biggest country hits of the '90s and today with a few of the all-time favorites sprinkled in just to make things interesting! Country is the number one music choice in America and this fun, up-tempo blend of music will keep your boots scootin'! You’ll hear all of the big artists of today including Keith Urban, Tim McGraw, Martina McBride, Rascal Flatts mixed in with all-time greats like George Strait, Alan Jackson and Reba McEntire.

Classic Country

Classic Country on Slacker Radio is for folks who really want it COUNTRY! If you’ve found that most country radio stations around today don’t play real country music, well Classic Country is just for you. All the big names are here including Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Conway Twitty, Dolly Parton and more!

Country Love

Country music is the music of our lives; the good, the bad, love, and loss. Country Love on Slacker Radio takes the best of Country and focuses only on the love songs: old fashion All-American love stories. Country Love on Slacker Radio plays everything from today’s superstars to yesterday’s timeless country. Fall in love with the boy or girl next door all over again. If you already enjoy Country on Slacker Radio, this is your Valentines Day soundtrack.

Country Christmas

Get in the spirit of the season with Country Christmas on Slacker Radio. You'll hear all the holiday standards and new seasonal releases from today's biggest country stars including Carrie Underwood, George Strait, Alan Jackson and Rascal Flatts--plus classic artists like Willie Nelson, Brenda Lee, Gene Autry and Merle Haggard.

Clint Black

This station plays the best music from and music from related artists like Travis Tritt, Alan Jackson, George Strait, Garth Brooks, Brooks & Dunn, Alabama, Randy Travis, Mark Chesnutt, Trace Adkins, Toby Keith and more.

All Stations

Clint Black's Selected Discography (21)

Artists Related to Clint Black (50)

	Travis Tritt	Travis Tritt was one of the leading new country singers of the early '90s, holding his own against Garth Brooks, Clint Black, and Alan Jackson.
	Alan Jackson	After Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson was the most popular male country singer of the '90s. An heir to the new traditionalist movement of the '80s, Jackson's approach was rooted in classic honky tonk yet remained comfortably within the contemporary mainstream.
	George Strait	Out of all the new country singers to emerge in the early '80s, George Strait stayed the closest to traditional country.
	Garth Brooks	Garth Brooks is a pivotal figure in the history of country music, no matter how much some country purists would like to deny it.
	Brooks & Dunn	The undisputed kings of the '90s line-dancing craze, Brooks & Dunn are not only the biggest-selling duo in country music history, they've also sold more records than any other duo period, including Simon & Garfunkel.
	Alabama	Before Alabama, bands were usually relegated to a supporting role in country music. In the first part of the century, bands were popular with audiences across the country, but as recordings became available, nearly every popular recording artist was a vocalist, not a group.
	Randy Travis	Like the Beatles in rock, Randy Travis marks a generational shift in country music. When his Storms of Life came out in 1986, country music was still wallowing in the post-urban cowboy recession, chasing elusive crossover dreams.
	Mark Chesnutt	Neo-honky tonker Mark Chesnutt parlayed a solid grounding in classic country into chart-topping stardom during the '90s.
	Trace Adkins	Trace Adkins helped keep country's traditionalist flame burning during the crossover-happy late '90s, mixing classic honky tonk with elements of gospel, blues, and rock & roll.
	Toby Keith	Toby Keith spent the '90s as a solid, workmanlike country star who met with considerable chart success, yet never quite broke free of the neo-traditionalist pack to become a household name like Garth Brooks or Alan Jackson.
	Tracy Lawrence	Part of the commercial rise of rock-tinged honky tonk in the early '90s, Tracy Lawrence was one of the decade's most reliable country hitmakers.
	John Michael Montgomery	Part of the '90s wave of honky tonk hitmakers that brought country to new commercial heights, John Michael Montgomery made his name primarily as a romantic balladeer.
	Tim McGraw	When Tim McGraw debuted in the early '90s, few would have predicted that he would eventually take over Garth Brooks' position as the most popular male singer in country music.
	Vince Gill	Vince Gill paid nearly a decade-and-a-half of dues en route to becoming one of the most popular country stars of the '90s.
	Sawyer Brown	One of those rare acts who actually became stars directly from winning Star Search, country-rockers Sawyer Brown wound up enjoying a long, hit-filled career and remained commercially viable into the new millennium.
	Kenny Chesney	Contemporary country star Kenny Chesney didn't have the immediate breakout success that many of his peers enjoyed upon signing with major labels, but gradually built up a significant following via hard work, pop-friendly ballads, and a likable, "Average Joe" persona.
	Sammy Kershaw	Sammy Kershaw rode in on the new traditionalist wave in the early '90s, finding success with a penchant for ballads and a blend of updated honky tonk (especially the vocal stylings of George Jones), Southern rock, and a hint of Cajun flavor.
	Diamond Rio	Diamond Rio found major commercial success in the '90s by playing an eclectic hybrid of modern country, traditional bluegrass (especially in their harmony singing), and a hint of rock & roll.
	Tracy Byrd	Tracy Byrd's brand of new traditionalist country made him a star in the '90s, particularly his playful, good-time party singalongs (though he also turned in the occasional ballad success).
	Aaron Tippin	Aaron Tippin was part of the commercial explosion of new traditionalist country in the early '90s, making his name with a mixture of macho, rowdy honky tonkers, sentimental ballads, and patriotic working-man's anthems.
	Clay Walker	With his first two singles reaching number one upon their release, Clay Walker immediately established himself as a commercial success.
	Joe Diffie	Joe Diffie was regarded by many of his peers as one of the better vocalists in contemporary country, and lent his traditional sensibilities to humorous, rock-tinged novelties and plaintive ballads.
	Montgomery Gentry	Country duo Montgomery Gentry evokes the sound and spirit of Southern rockers like Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Marshall Tucker Band, and Charlie Daniels, painting themselves as rowdy redneck rebels who still hold small-town values.
	Reba McEntire	Reba McEntire was the most successful female recording artist in country music in the 1980s and 1990s, during which time she scored 22 number one hits and released five gold albums, six platinum albums, two double-platinum albums, four triple-platinum albums, a quadruple-platinum album, and a quintuple-platinum album, for certified album sales of 33.
	Dwight Yoakam	With his stripped-down approach to traditional honky tonk and Bakersfield country, Dwight Yoakam helped return country music to its roots in the late '80s.
	Gary Allan	Gary Allan hit the honky tonk circuit in his native Southern California at the seasoned age of 12. Playing in and out of the smoky, sweaty bars with his dad's band led Allan to follow in his father's footsteps and start his own band.
	Brad Paisley	Contemporary country singer/songwriter Brad Paisley was born October 28, 1972, in Glen Dale, West Virginia; given his first guitar at age eight, he delivered his first public performance at church two years later.
	Lonestar	Though their name might lead you to believe that Lonestar was formed in Texas, the quintet actually hails from Tennessee.
	Martina McBride	Contemporary country singer Martina McBride rose to stardom in the late '90s, starting out with a more traditionalist approach and later moving into more pop-friendly territory.
	Little Texas	One of the most popular country bands of the early '90s, Little Texas was influenced by modern country outfits like Alabama and Restless Heart, as well as country-rock groups like the Eagles.
	Blake Shelton	Oklahoma native Blake Shelton moved to Nashville in 1994, two weeks after his high school graduation, to launch a songwriting career that would eventually make him one of the leading males in contemporary country music.
	John Anderson	Neo-honky tonker John Anderson was born in Apopka, FL, in 1955 and grew up listening to rock & roll, until he discovered country music at age 15 through Merle Haggard.
	Tanya Tucker	Tanya Tucker had her first country hit in 1972, when she was just 13 years old. Over the succeeding decades, Tucker became one of the few child performers to mature into adulthood without losing her audience, and during the course of her career, she notched a remarkable streak of Top Ten and Top 40 hits.
	Hank Williams, Jr.	The offspring of famous musicians often have a hard time creating a career for themselves, yet Hank Williams, Jr.
	Faith Hill	One of the biggest female country stars of the '90s and 2000s, Faith Hill also took advantage of the inroads Shania Twain made into pop territory, becoming an enormous crossover success by the end of the millennium.
	Collin Raye	Contemporary country star Collin Raye burned up the sales charts in the '90s, thanks to a blend of country-rock and smooth balladry, and a willingness to record socially conscious material in between the dance and romance tunes.
	Jo Dee Messina	Part of country music's late-'90s crop of female crossover stars, Jo Dee Messina's appeal nonetheless remained more with country fans than pop audiences.
	George Jones	By most accounts, George Jones was the finest vocalist in the recorded history of country music. Initially, he was a hardcore honky tonker in the tradition of Hank Williams, but over the course of his career he developed an affecting, nuanced ballad style.
	Trisha Yearwood	One of the most popular female country singers of the '90s, Trisha Yearwood initially rose to fame as a protégée of Garth Brooks but quickly staked out her own identity as an assertive yet vulnerable modern woman.
	Dierks Bentley	Growing up in a non-musical family in Phoenix, Arizona, country singer Dierks Bentley got his country music education on his own, listening to recordings.
	Neal McCoy	Neal McCoy's brand of neo-traditionalist honky tonk brought him a string of hits in the mid-'90s. McCoy was born Hubert Neal McGaughey, Jr.
	Zac Brown	Zac Brown is a country singer, songwriter, and bandleader, one of the brightest stars in a generation of performers set on changing the paradigm of the country music business.
	Conway Twitty	Originally a '50s rock & roll singer, Conway Twitty became the reigning country superstar of the '70s and '80s, racking up a record 40 number one hits over the course of two decades.
	Billy Currington	Country singer/songwriter Billy Currington was raised in Rincon, GA. Following high school, he made a couple attempts at relocating to Nashville in the hopes of getting a career in music off the ground, finally landing a job there at a concrete company, while still finding time to play at clubs on the side and work on song demos.
	Shenandoah	Most country groups of the '80s favored a commercial pop-oriented approach that alienated many traditional listeners but captured the ear of the mainstream.
	Waylon Jennings	If any one performer personified the outlaw country movement of the '70s, it was Waylon Jennings. Though he had been a professional musician since the late '50s, it wasn't until the '70s that Waylon, with his imposing baritone and stripped-down, updated honky tonk, became a superstar.
	Jason Aldean	Country singer and guitarist Jason Aldean was born in Macon, Georgia, in 1977. His parents separated when he was three years old, and he spent his childhood with his mother in Macon through the school year while spending the summers with his father in Homestead, Florida.
	The Judds	Up until the rise of Brooks & Dunn in the '90s, the Judds were the most commercially successful duo in country music history.
	Chris LeDoux	Prior to becoming a successful independent country artist, Chris LeDoux was a rodeo champion known for his bareback-riding skill and made his name in music by writing countless songs about the rodeo life.
	Keith Urban	Although born in New Zealand and raised in nearby Australia, Keith Urban made his biggest splash in Nashville, where he helped rewrite the rules of contemporary country music.