 With his first two singles reaching
number one upon their release,
Clay Walker immediately established himself as a
commercial success. Unlike most of his new country
contemporaries of the mid-'90s, he was able to sustain that
success over a couple of years, racking up no less than five
number one singles in the first three years of his career.
Clay Walker (born August 19, 1969) was born and raised
on a farm in Beaumont, TX, the hometown of
George Jones.
Clay Walker fell in love with country music at an early age,
when his father gave him a guitar when he was only nine
years old. After he graduated from high school,
Clay Walker pursued a musical career full-time, playing
concerts across the South, the Midwest, and Canada. For over
three years, he toured and went to school, taking courses
about the music business. During this time, he acted as his
own manager. Eventually, he became the house singer at the
Neon Armadillo bar in Beaumont. While performing at the
club, producer
James Stroud heard
Clay Walker and offered to work with the singer.
Stroud helped
Clay Walker secure a contract with Giant Records, and the
pair began working on the vocalist's debut album.
"What's It to You" became a number one hit upon its
release in August of 1993, with "Live Until I Die" following
it into the pole position later that same year. Both singles
were featured on his debut album, Clay Walker, which was
released in the fall of 1993. "Where Do I Fit in the
Picture," the third single from the album, became a number
11 hit in early 1994. "White Palace" was a flop, failing to
crack the Top 40, but "Dreaming With My Eyes Open" became
his third number one hit in the summer of 1994, helping make
his debut record a platinum album. If I Could Make a Living
was not quite as successful as his debut, yet it still
yielded the number one title track. Hypnotize the Moon,
Clay Walker's third album, appeared in the fall of 1995,
preceded by the number two single "Who Needs You Baby." He
followed with Self Portrait in 1996 and Rumor Has It in
1997. A Greatest Hits collection appeared in 1998 and a new
album, Live, Laugh, Love, was released in 1999. Say No More
followed two years later. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All
Music Guide
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