Mark Chesnutt is one of Country’s true musical treasures. Critics have
hailed him as a classic Country singer of the first order and some
of Country music’s most elite entertainers from George Jones to
George Strait echo this sentiment. Mark Chesnutt’s stature is
easily gauged; he has 14 No. 1 hits, 23 top ten singles, four
platinum albums and five gold records.
Country music critics and fans alike need look no further when it
comes to Country music basics. If you ask Mark Chesnutt he’ll tell
you, “It’s the music that has kept me around this long.” In a world
that sometimes confuses style with substance, Mark Chesnutt
possesses both. Remaining true to himself as a traditional country
artist while still keeping up with the ever-changing country
landscape, Mark has a knack for picking great songs; delivering them
with his world-class vocals; and with real heart-felt emotion. Mark
has set the bar for his generation—not just for his being a
consistent hit maker, but because of his love of genuine country
music. Mark Chesnutt’s personal integrity as well as his principal
to record a genuine country song has made him a fixture on radio and
in the honky tonks.
Chesnutt got his start in the honky tonks of Beaumont, Texas,
learning from his father, Bob Chesnutt, a singer, record collector,
and major fan of classic country music. Playing along side his dad,
one set at a time, Mark embraced his father’s influence and began
making a name for himself. Mark sang covers by Lefty, Merle,
George, and Waylon to develop his unmatched crowd-pleasing rapport
and his authentic country style.
Bob Chesnutt often traveled to Nashville to record and to broaden
his exposure. He began taking Mark along to record when he was just
17. After nearly a decade of recording on regional labels, word got
out about this young country vocalist. Music Row executives came to
hear Mark on his own Texas turf and recognized the depth of Mark
Chesnutt’s raw talent. In 1989, he was signed to MCA Nashville and
his list of accolades tells the rest of his story. With the
release of his first single, “Too Cold At Home,” Mark established
himself as one of country’s most authentic and talented vocalists.
He won the CMA Horizon Award getting the attention of country legend
George Jones who stated “This boy from Beaumont, Texas is the real
deal.” That recognition and initial success opened the door to
give Mark the chance to do what he enjoyed most — sing country music
for country fans but this time, on a national level. “The first
couple years it was non-stop.” Mark says. “I can remember one time
during a tour, I didn’t see home for ten months, with exception of
a day or a day and a half, then, it was right back out again.”
Mark’s dedication paid off. He developed a fan base that is true blue which
in turn helped his records climb the charts one right after the
other; making him one of Billboard’s ten most-played radio artists
of the ‘90’s. Mark’s singles were some the decade’s most memorable;
from the fun tempo “Bubba Shot The Jukebox” to emotional ballad
“I’ll Think Of Something”. Mark is easily identified for his string
of hits including “Brother Jukebox”, “Blame It On
Texas,” “Old
Flames Have New Names”, “Old Country”, “It Sure Is
Monday”, “Almost Goodbye”, “I Just Wanted You To
Know”, “Going Through The Big D”,
“It’s A Little Too Late”, “Gonna Get A Life” and one of his
biggest, “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” which held its position at
the top of the charts for four consecutive weeks.
All the recorded highlights he has emassed take a back seat,
however, to his first love. Mark Chesnutt lives for the stage. “I
just make records because I want people to come see my show,” he
says with a grin. “Just listening to music is great,” he says, “but
I’ve got to be out there on stage making it.” Fans who have seen
him perform agree. Known as one of the industry’s hardest-working
concert performers, maintaining a hefty tour schedule and steady
presence in front of his fans, Mark’s dedication to deliver live
music is unsurpassed. Mark has been on the road since 1990. His
last tour Rockin’ Roadhouse Tour with friends Tracy Lawrence and Joe
Diffie wrapped last summer. This year, you will find Mark doing
what he was born to do, touring and playing the clubs and honky
tonks across our great nation. “Clubs and honk tonks are home for
me; it’s comfortable and I’m always with friends,” says Chesnutt.
His tour theme is “Savin’The Honky Tonk” and if Mark Chesnutt is on
the stage, then we can be assured that the Honky Tonk is alive and
well, no matter what part of the country Mark Chesnutt is playing
in.
“Mark Chesnutt gave honky tonk music back its soul,” noted music
critic Robert K. Oermann. “When he appeared on an arid musical
landscape back in 1990, I dubbed him the hillbilly messiah.” Oermann
states. “I still feel that way today and I’ll feel that way decades
from now.”
Married since 1992, Mark and Tracie Chesnutt are the loving parents
of three boys, Waylon, Casey, and Cameron.
Signing to Vivaton Records, Mark released his debut single,
“The Lord Loves The Drinkin’ Man” in June 2004, and released
his album, Savin’ The Honky Tonk,
(produced with Jimmy Ritchey) later that year.
Mark Chesnutt is one of Country’s true musical treasures. Critics have
hailed him as a classic Country singer of the first order and some
of Country music’s most elite entertainers from George Jones to
George Strait echo this sentiment. Mark Chesnutt’s stature is
easily gauged; he has 14 No. 1 hits, 23 top ten singles, four
platinum albums and five gold records. 
