Debut Album Includes Mega-Hit “I Met A Girl”
Available Friday, September 30
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – On the eve of the release of his debut album, VINYL, Rolling Stone Country Artist You Need To Know singer/songwriter WILLIAM MICHAEL MORGAN is ramping up for a big week! Riding high on the momentum of lead single, “I Met A Girl,” which is approaching No. 1 on the radio charts, Morgan will be hanging with fans on the road, at radio, and in person to celebrate the career milestone.
On Friday, September 30, Morgan will be performing at the Route 91 Harvest Festival, followed by a hometown in-store appearance at the Vicksburg, Mississippi Wal-Mart on Saturday, October 1. He will head to New York City afterwards for a special Opry in the Park performance on Monday, October 3 at Bryant Park and other media in support of album launch. He’ll round out the week with an Opry Classics show at the mother church, the Ryman, in Nashville on October 6.
“I Met A Girl,” co-written by Sam Hunt, along with Trevor Rosen (Old Dominion) and Shane McAnally, continues to climb towards No.1 on the Billboard and Mediabase airplay charts and has already topped SiriusXM’s “The Highway” Top 45 Countdown chart. The track boasts impressive vocals and numbers with half billion plus in audience, and more than 13 million streams, including over 5.7 million views of its official video.
William Michael Morgan was 11 years old when he got his first guitar and by age 13, he started playing out with guys three or four times his age, learning the old songs and savoring that classic honky-tonk style. His parents were right there, driving him to and from late-night gigs, often hours away, getting little sleep before they headed to their own jobs.
“They always encouraged me,” he says, “and a lot of people say it, but I wouldn’t be anywhere without them.” His dad handled an early MySpace account, networking and looking for opportunities. One came in the form of the Hayride, which William Michael played at least once a month for years starting at 14. That set in motion a chain of events that led to Nashville songwriting appointments and meetings with Music Row executives that eventually landed him both a publishing deal and a major label record deal with Warner Bros. Nashville.
He has written with and drawn from many of Music City’s biggest present-day hit-making songwriters all the while taking inspiration from country music heroes like Keith Whitley, George Jones and his friend and mentor, ’90s honky-tonk king Mark Chesnutt. The captivating combination creates a neo-traditional sound that is all his own.
VINYL which is produced by award-winning Scott Hendricks and Jimmy Ritchey, includes 11 songs and is available tomorrow at: iTunes: http://smarturl.it/vinylwmm, Google Play:http://smarturl.it/vinylwmm_gp
VINYL is already receiving rave reviews from some of music’s toughest critics:
“Must hear.” – Rolling Stone.
“Country Song of the Summer” – “I Met A Girl” – Billboard
“…He knows his stuff and stands on solidly traditional footing.” – NPR
“Steeped in all the goodness of ’90s country…William Michael stands in stark and proud contrast to the plethora of urban-influenced and inspired country songs on the radio today. And that’s a good thing.” – Nash Country Daily
“…Reminiscent of a young George Strait in its straightforward earnestness.” – Taste of Country
The 23-year-old Vicksburg, MS native continues on the road throughout the fall before kicking off 2017 by joining country music stars Lee Brice and Justin Moore on the “American Made” Tour. Morgan will start the trek January 12 in Indianapolis, IN and continue through March, playing 20 cities across the country.
For more information and tour dates, please visit www.williammichaelmorgan.com / follow William Michael Morgan on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram.