Phil Vassar
Encyclopedia
Phil Vassar is an American country music
artist. Vassar made his debut on the country music scene in the late 1990s, co-writing singles for several country artists, including Tim McGraw
("For a Little While
", "My Next Thirty Years
"), Jo Dee Messina
("Bye, Bye", "I'm Alright
"), Collin Raye
("Little Red Rodeo
"), and Alan Jackson
("Right on the Money
"). In 1999, he was named by American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) as Country Songwriter of the Year.
Later that same year, Vassar was signed to Arista Nashville
as a recording artist. His debut album, Phil Vassar
, was released in early 2000; it produced five hit singles on the U.S. Billboard country singles charts
and was certified gold in the United States. He followed it in 2002 with American Child
, Shaken Not Stirred
in 2004, and finally Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 in 2006 before Vassar left the label for Universal South Records. His first album for that label, Prayer of a Common Man
, was released in early 2008. He has charted nineteen singles on the Billboard
Hot Country Songs
charts, including two Number Ones: 2000's "Just Another Day in Paradise
" and 2004's "In a Real Love
".
.
While in college at James Madison University
in nearby Harrisonburg, VA , Vassar had taken up playing the piano, and eventually found work as a singer in clubs. He had decided to move to Nashville, Tennessee
in order to pursue a career in music. Eventually, he was signed to a small publishing contract, but was unable to land any hits on this contract.
("Postmarked Birmingham"), Collin Raye
("Little Red Rodeo
"), Jo Dee Messina
("Bye, Bye", "I'm Alright
"), Tim McGraw
("For a Little While
"), Alan Jackson
("Right on the Money
"), and Neal McCoy
("I Was"). Of these, "Bye, Bye", "I'm Alright", and "Right on the Money" all reached Number One on the country charts. "Bye, Bye" earned Vassar his first American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) award for Song of the Year, and in 1999 he was named ASCAP's Songwriter of the Year.
label. His debut single, "Carlene
", was issued that year, and by mid-2000 the song had gone on to peak at #5 on the Billboard
country charts.
The lead-off single to Vassar's self-titled debut album
, "Carlene" was followed by "Just Another Day in Paradise
", which became his first Number One hit as a singer. Shortly after that song peaked, another song written by Vassar reached the top of the country charts — Tim McGraw's "My Next Thirty Years
". This, along with Marshall Dyllon
's "Live It Up", would be among Vassar's last contributions for another artist. Overall, Phil Vassar produced three more singles: the #16 "Rose Bouquet", "Six-Pack Summer
" at #9, and finally "That's When I Love You" at #3. In addition, the album itself earned a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America
(RIAA) for shipping 500,000 copies. Its success led to tours with Kenny Chesney
.
was the title of Vassar's second album, co-produced by Byron Gallimore
. It was released in 2002, the same year in which he married Julie Wood, with whom he co-wrote "That's When I Love You". The album's autobiographical title track served as its lead-off single, reaching a peak of #5 on the country charts, and the album itself peaked at #4 on the Top Country Albums charts. In mid-2002, he also co-wrote and performed a charity single called "Words Are Your Wheels" to promote literacy. Released exclusively through Wal-Mart
stores, this song featured guest vocals from Kenny Chesney
, Brooks & Dunn
, Martina McBride
and Sara Evans
.
While "American Child" was climbing the charts, Arista tested another song written by Vassar, "This Is God". This song was so well-received by test audiences that American Child was recalled and re-released in early 2003. (The re-issue featured "This Is God" along with a cover of Huey Lewis and the News
's "Workin' for a Livin'
".) "This Is God" was subsequently issued as the album's second single, becoming a Top 20 country hit. After it came "Ultimate Love," which peaked at #41.
. The album produced Vassar's second number one hit in the song "In a Real Love
". Also released from this album were the #17 "I'll Take That as a Yes (The Hot Tub Song)" and the #22 "Good Ole Days". Unlike with his first two albums, Vassar recorded Shaken Not Stirred with his road band. Vassar produced the album with Nick Brophy and Frank Rogers
.
Vassar's first greatest hits compilation, Greatest Hits, Vol. 1, was issued in 2006. This album comprised the biggest hits from his studio albums to that point, as well as his renditions of "Bye, Bye", "I'm Alright", "My Next Thirty Years" and "Little Red Rodeo". The album's also included three new songs. Two of these were released as singles, starting with the #2 "Last Day of My Life
", which Vassar was inspired to write after attending the funeral of his friend Robert Byrne, with whom he co-wrote his 2001 single "Rose Bouquet". The second and final single from Greatest Hits, "The Woman in My Life" (another song co-written by Vassar and his wife), reached #20 on the country charts, shortly before Vassar parted ways with Arista Nashville.
in December 2009. His first single for the label, "This Is My Life", was released in mid-2007, peaking at #35 on the country music charts. Succeeding it was "Love Is a Beautiful Thing
" This song was co-written by Jeffrey Steele
and Craig Wiseman
, and was previously recorded in 1999 by Canadian singer Paul Brandt
under the title "It's a Beautiful Thing". By April 2008, "Love Is a Beautiful Thing" had reached #2 on the country charts, and Vassar's first album for Universal South (Prayer of a Common Man
) was released. A third single from this album, "I Would", was issued in July 2008 and peaked at #26. It was followed in early 2009 by the album's title track, which became the lowest-peaking single of his career at #53.
, released in December 2009. It peaked at #46 after eight weeks on the charts, and was followed by "Everywhere I Go".
, is also a country music artist, who recorded one studio album on Imprint Records
in 1997 and charted three singles, in addition to co-writing album tracks for Vassar and other artists. Vassar has two daughters: Presley Jade (born December 4, 2003 with Wood-Vassar) and Haley (born August 27, 1998), from a previous marriage.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
artist. Vassar made his debut on the country music scene in the late 1990s, co-writing singles for several country artists, including Tim McGraw
Tim McGraw
Samuel Timothy "Tim" McGraw is an American country singer and actor. Many of McGraw's albums and singles have topped the country music charts with total album sales in excess of 40 million units in the US, making him the eighth best-selling artist, and the third best-selling country singer, in the...
("For a Little While
For a Little While
"For A Little While" is the title of a song written by Steve Mandile, Jerry Vandiver, and Phil Vassar. It was recorded by American country music artist Tim McGraw and was released in November 1998 as the sixth and final single from his 1997 album, Everywhere....
", "My Next Thirty Years
My Next Thirty Years
"My Next Thirty Years" is the title of a song written by Phil Vassar and recorded by Tim McGraw. It was released in July 2000 as the fifth single from McGraw's A Place in the Sun album. The song reached Number One on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and peaked at number 27 on the U.S...
"), Jo Dee Messina
Jo Dee Messina
Jo Dee Marie Messina , known professionally as Jo Dee Messina, is an American country music artist. She has charted nine Number One singles on the Billboard country music charts. She has been honored by the Country Music Association, the Academy of Country Music and has been nominated for two...
("Bye, Bye", "I'm Alright
I'm Alright (Jo Dee Messina song)
"I'm Alright" is the title of a song written by Phil Vassar and recorded by American country music singer Jo Dee Messina. It was released in May 1998 as the second single from her 1998 album of the same name. It became her second consecutive Number One hit on the Billboard country charts, spending...
"), Collin Raye
Collin Raye
Floyd Collin Wray Floyd Collin Wray Floyd Collin Wray (born August 22, 1959 or 1960,Although multiple online sources all indicate Raye's date of birth as 1959, Raye's MySpace lists his date of birth as 1960. Furthermore, the 2004 Deseret News article cited in this article indicates the singer as...
("Little Red Rodeo
Little Red Rodeo
"Little Red Rodeo" is a single by American country music artist Collin Raye. It was released in December 1997 as the third and final single from his CD, The Best of Collin Raye: Direct Hits, it was a Top 5 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart....
"), and Alan Jackson
Alan Jackson
Alan Eugene Jackson is an American country music singer, known for blending traditional honky tonk and mainstream country sounds and penning many of his own hits. He has recorded 13 studio albums, 3 Greatest Hits albums, 2 Holiday albums, 1 Gospel album and several compilations, all on the Arista...
("Right on the Money
Right on the Money
"Right on the Money" is a single by American country music singer Alan Jackson. Released in 1998 as the second single from his CD, High Mileage, and co-written by Phil Vassar, the song became Jackson's sixteenth number-one single on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.-Content:The song is in...
"). In 1999, he was named by American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) as Country Songwriter of the Year.
Later that same year, Vassar was signed to Arista Nashville
Arista Nashville
Arista Nashville is an American record label that is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment, operated under the Sony Music Nashville division. Founded in 1989, the label specializes in country music artists, including Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood...
as a recording artist. His debut album, Phil Vassar
Phil Vassar (Album)
Phil Vassar is the self-titled 2000 debut album from American country music artist Phil Vassar. It features the singles "Carlene", "Just Another Day in Paradise", "Rose Bouquet", "Six-Pack Summer" and "That's When I Love You". All of these, except "Rose Bouquet", charted in the Top Ten on the...
, was released in early 2000; it produced five hit singles on the U.S. Billboard country singles charts
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
and was certified gold in the United States. He followed it in 2002 with American Child
American Child
American Child is the second studio album by American country music artist Phil Vassar. Released in 2002, the album initiailly contained twelve tracks, with the title track serving as the lead-off single, reaching Top Five on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts.After the lead-off...
, Shaken Not Stirred
Shaken Not Stirred (album)
Shaken Not Stirred is the third studio album by American country music singer Phil Vassar. Released in 2004 on Arista Nashville, the album produced Vassar's second Number One single on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts in the track "In a Real Love"...
in 2004, and finally Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 in 2006 before Vassar left the label for Universal South Records. His first album for that label, Prayer of a Common Man
Prayer of a Common Man
Prayer of a Common Man is the fourth studio album from American country music artist Phil Vassar. It was released on April 22, 2008 on Universal South Records. The album has produced two singles for Vassar on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts: "This Is My Life" and "Love Is a Beautiful Thing"...
, was released in early 2008. He has charted nineteen singles on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
charts, including two Number Ones: 2000's "Just Another Day in Paradise
Just Another Day in Paradise (song)
"Just Another Day in Paradise" is a single by country music singer Phil Vassar that reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, becoming Vassar's first Number One as an artist. It was the second single released from his self-titled debut album...
" and 2004's "In a Real Love
In a Real Love
"In a Real Love" is a single, released on May 4, 2004, by American country music singer Phil Vassar. The song reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart on November 6.-Background:...
".
Biography
Phil Vassar was born May 28, 1964 in Lynchburg, VirginiaLynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 75,568 as of 2010. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the banks of the James River, Lynchburg is known as the "City of Seven Hills" or "The Hill City." Lynchburg was the only major city in...
.
While in college at James Madison University
James Madison University
James Madison University is a public coeducational research university located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, U.S. Founded in 1908 as the State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Harrisonburg, the university has undergone four name changes before settling with James Madison University...
in nearby Harrisonburg, VA , Vassar had taken up playing the piano, and eventually found work as a singer in clubs. He had decided to move to Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
in order to pursue a career in music. Eventually, he was signed to a small publishing contract, but was unable to land any hits on this contract.
As a songwriter
Starting in the late 1990s, Vassar began writing songs that were recorded by several country music artists. Among the artists who recorded his material were BlackhawkBlackhawk (band)
Blackhawk is an American country music group founded in 1992 by Henry Paul , Van Stephenson , and Dave Robbins...
("Postmarked Birmingham"), Collin Raye
Collin Raye
Floyd Collin Wray Floyd Collin Wray Floyd Collin Wray (born August 22, 1959 or 1960,Although multiple online sources all indicate Raye's date of birth as 1959, Raye's MySpace lists his date of birth as 1960. Furthermore, the 2004 Deseret News article cited in this article indicates the singer as...
("Little Red Rodeo
Little Red Rodeo
"Little Red Rodeo" is a single by American country music artist Collin Raye. It was released in December 1997 as the third and final single from his CD, The Best of Collin Raye: Direct Hits, it was a Top 5 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart....
"), Jo Dee Messina
Jo Dee Messina
Jo Dee Marie Messina , known professionally as Jo Dee Messina, is an American country music artist. She has charted nine Number One singles on the Billboard country music charts. She has been honored by the Country Music Association, the Academy of Country Music and has been nominated for two...
("Bye, Bye", "I'm Alright
I'm Alright (Jo Dee Messina song)
"I'm Alright" is the title of a song written by Phil Vassar and recorded by American country music singer Jo Dee Messina. It was released in May 1998 as the second single from her 1998 album of the same name. It became her second consecutive Number One hit on the Billboard country charts, spending...
"), Tim McGraw
Tim McGraw
Samuel Timothy "Tim" McGraw is an American country singer and actor. Many of McGraw's albums and singles have topped the country music charts with total album sales in excess of 40 million units in the US, making him the eighth best-selling artist, and the third best-selling country singer, in the...
("For a Little While
For a Little While
"For A Little While" is the title of a song written by Steve Mandile, Jerry Vandiver, and Phil Vassar. It was recorded by American country music artist Tim McGraw and was released in November 1998 as the sixth and final single from his 1997 album, Everywhere....
"), Alan Jackson
Alan Jackson
Alan Eugene Jackson is an American country music singer, known for blending traditional honky tonk and mainstream country sounds and penning many of his own hits. He has recorded 13 studio albums, 3 Greatest Hits albums, 2 Holiday albums, 1 Gospel album and several compilations, all on the Arista...
("Right on the Money
Right on the Money
"Right on the Money" is a single by American country music singer Alan Jackson. Released in 1998 as the second single from his CD, High Mileage, and co-written by Phil Vassar, the song became Jackson's sixteenth number-one single on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.-Content:The song is in...
"), and Neal McCoy
Neal McCoy
Hubert Neal McGaughey, Jr. is an American country music singer of mixed Irish and Filipino descent. Known professionally as Neal McCoy, he has released ten studio albums on various labels, and has released 34 singles to country radio...
("I Was"). Of these, "Bye, Bye", "I'm Alright", and "Right on the Money" all reached Number One on the country charts. "Bye, Bye" earned Vassar his first American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) award for Song of the Year, and in 1999 he was named ASCAP's Songwriter of the Year.
As a singer
In late 1999, Vassar was signed to his first recording contract, with the Arista NashvilleArista Nashville
Arista Nashville is an American record label that is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment, operated under the Sony Music Nashville division. Founded in 1989, the label specializes in country music artists, including Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood...
label. His debut single, "Carlene
Carlene
"Carlene" is the debut single of country music artist Phil Vassar. The first single from his self-titled debut album, "Carlene" reached a peak of #5 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts, and #45 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and it reached #1 in Canada.-Content:"Carlene" is a...
", was issued that year, and by mid-2000 the song had gone on to peak at #5 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
country charts.
The lead-off single to Vassar's self-titled debut album
Phil Vassar (Album)
Phil Vassar is the self-titled 2000 debut album from American country music artist Phil Vassar. It features the singles "Carlene", "Just Another Day in Paradise", "Rose Bouquet", "Six-Pack Summer" and "That's When I Love You". All of these, except "Rose Bouquet", charted in the Top Ten on the...
, "Carlene" was followed by "Just Another Day in Paradise
Just Another Day in Paradise (song)
"Just Another Day in Paradise" is a single by country music singer Phil Vassar that reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, becoming Vassar's first Number One as an artist. It was the second single released from his self-titled debut album...
", which became his first Number One hit as a singer. Shortly after that song peaked, another song written by Vassar reached the top of the country charts — Tim McGraw's "My Next Thirty Years
My Next Thirty Years
"My Next Thirty Years" is the title of a song written by Phil Vassar and recorded by Tim McGraw. It was released in July 2000 as the fifth single from McGraw's A Place in the Sun album. The song reached Number One on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and peaked at number 27 on the U.S...
". This, along with Marshall Dyllon
Marshall Dyllon
Marshall Dyllon was an American country music group formed in 2000, comprising vocalists Daniel Cahoon, Jesse Littleton, Michael Martin, Paul Martin, and Todd Michael Sansom...
's "Live It Up", would be among Vassar's last contributions for another artist. Overall, Phil Vassar produced three more singles: the #16 "Rose Bouquet", "Six-Pack Summer
Six-Pack Summer
"Six-Pack Summer" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Phil Vassar. It was released in June 2001 as the fourth single from his 2000 self-titled debut album Phil Vassar. It peaked at #9 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks and at #56 on the U.S...
" at #9, and finally "That's When I Love You" at #3. In addition, the album itself earned a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
(RIAA) for shipping 500,000 copies. Its success led to tours with Kenny Chesney
Kenny Chesney
Kenneth "Kenny" Arnold Chesney is an American country music singer and songwriter. Chesney has recorded 15 albums, 14 of which have been certified gold or higher by the RIAA. He has also produced more than 30 Top Ten singles on the U.S...
.
American Child
American ChildAmerican Child
American Child is the second studio album by American country music artist Phil Vassar. Released in 2002, the album initiailly contained twelve tracks, with the title track serving as the lead-off single, reaching Top Five on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts.After the lead-off...
was the title of Vassar's second album, co-produced by Byron Gallimore
Byron Gallimore
Byron Gallimore is an American record producer known for his work in the field of country music. He has worked with artists such as Sugarland, Lee Ann Womack, Jo Dee Messina, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, whose 1999 album Breathe won him the Grammy Award for Best Country Album.-Biography:Byron...
. It was released in 2002, the same year in which he married Julie Wood, with whom he co-wrote "That's When I Love You". The album's autobiographical title track served as its lead-off single, reaching a peak of #5 on the country charts, and the album itself peaked at #4 on the Top Country Albums charts. In mid-2002, he also co-wrote and performed a charity single called "Words Are Your Wheels" to promote literacy. Released exclusively through Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
stores, this song featured guest vocals from Kenny Chesney
Kenny Chesney
Kenneth "Kenny" Arnold Chesney is an American country music singer and songwriter. Chesney has recorded 15 albums, 14 of which have been certified gold or higher by the RIAA. He has also produced more than 30 Top Ten singles on the U.S...
, Brooks & Dunn
Brooks & Dunn
Brooks & Dunn was an American country music duo consisting of Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn, who were both vocalists and songwriters. They were paired by record producer Tim DuBois in 1990. Before the duo's foundation, both members of the duo were solo recording artists...
, Martina McBride
Martina McBride
Martina McBride is an American country music singer and songwriter. McBride has been called the "Céline Dion of Country Music" for her big-voiced ballads and soprano range....
and Sara Evans
Sara Evans
Sara Lynn Evans is an American country singer and songwriter.Evans was one of the few traditional-styled singers to emerge from Nashville in the late 1990s, according to Allmusic. Since emerging in the late 1990s, Evans has made five No. 1 Country hits and Gold and Platinum-certified albums by...
.
While "American Child" was climbing the charts, Arista tested another song written by Vassar, "This Is God". This song was so well-received by test audiences that American Child was recalled and re-released in early 2003. (The re-issue featured "This Is God" along with a cover of Huey Lewis and the News
Huey Lewis and the News
Huey Lewis and the News is an American rock band based in San Francisco, California. They had a run of hit singles during the 1980s and early 1990s, eventually scoring a total of 19 top-ten singles across the Billboard Hot 100, Adult Contemporary and Mainstream Rock charts...
's "Workin' for a Livin'
Workin' for a Livin'
"Workin' for a Livin" is a single by American rock band Huey Lewis and the News, released in 1982. Included on their 1982 album Picture This, the song peaked at number 20 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks charts, and number 41 on the Billboard Hot 100.In 2007, Huey Lewis himself recorded the...
".) "This Is God" was subsequently issued as the album's second single, becoming a Top 20 country hit. After it came "Ultimate Love," which peaked at #41.
Shaken Not Stirred and Greatest Hits
In 2004, Vassar released his third studio album, Shaken Not StirredShaken Not Stirred (album)
Shaken Not Stirred is the third studio album by American country music singer Phil Vassar. Released in 2004 on Arista Nashville, the album produced Vassar's second Number One single on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts in the track "In a Real Love"...
. The album produced Vassar's second number one hit in the song "In a Real Love
In a Real Love
"In a Real Love" is a single, released on May 4, 2004, by American country music singer Phil Vassar. The song reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart on November 6.-Background:...
". Also released from this album were the #17 "I'll Take That as a Yes (The Hot Tub Song)" and the #22 "Good Ole Days". Unlike with his first two albums, Vassar recorded Shaken Not Stirred with his road band. Vassar produced the album with Nick Brophy and Frank Rogers
Frank Rogers (record producer)
Frank Mandeville Rogers V is an American record producer, songwriter and session musician. In 1990, Rogers made the trek to Nashville, attending Belmont University and graduating with a Music Business degree. While at Belmont, he met friend and future collaborator Brad Paisley...
.
Vassar's first greatest hits compilation, Greatest Hits, Vol. 1, was issued in 2006. This album comprised the biggest hits from his studio albums to that point, as well as his renditions of "Bye, Bye", "I'm Alright", "My Next Thirty Years" and "Little Red Rodeo". The album's also included three new songs. Two of these were released as singles, starting with the #2 "Last Day of My Life
Last Day of My Life
"Last Day of My Life" is a single by country music singer-songwriter Phil Vassar. Released in 2006, it was the first single released from his CD Greatest Hits, Vol. 1, and Vassar's twelfth chart single overall. The song reached a peak of #2 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.-Content:"Last...
", which Vassar was inspired to write after attending the funeral of his friend Robert Byrne, with whom he co-wrote his 2001 single "Rose Bouquet". The second and final single from Greatest Hits, "The Woman in My Life" (another song co-written by Vassar and his wife), reached #20 on the country charts, shortly before Vassar parted ways with Arista Nashville.
Prayer of a Common Man
In March 2007, Vassar signed to the independent Universal South Records, which became part of Show Dog-Universal MusicShow Dog-Universal Music
Show Dog-Universal Music is an American independent record label specializing in country music artists. It was formed from the merger of Show Dog Nashville and Universal South Records in 2009...
in December 2009. His first single for the label, "This Is My Life", was released in mid-2007, peaking at #35 on the country music charts. Succeeding it was "Love Is a Beautiful Thing
It's a Beautiful Thing (Paul Brandt song)
"It's a Beautiful Thing", is a country music song co-written by American songwriters Jeffrey Steele and Craig Wiseman. The first version of this song was released on September 14, 1999 by Canadian singer Paul Brandt from his 1999 album That's the Truth, from which it was released as a single in...
" This song was co-written by Jeffrey Steele
Jeffrey Steele
Jeffrey LeVasseur is an American country music singer and songwriter, more commonly known by the name Jeffrey Steele...
and Craig Wiseman
Craig Wiseman
Craig Michael Wiseman is an American country music songwriter. Active since the late 1980s as a songwriter, he has had his songs recorded by Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Kenny Chesney, LeAnn Rimes, and several other acts....
, and was previously recorded in 1999 by Canadian singer Paul Brandt
Paul Brandt
Paul Rennée Belobersycky is a Canadian country music artist, known professionally as Paul Brandt. Growing up in Calgary, he was a pediatric RN at the time of his big break...
under the title "It's a Beautiful Thing". By April 2008, "Love Is a Beautiful Thing" had reached #2 on the country charts, and Vassar's first album for Universal South (Prayer of a Common Man
Prayer of a Common Man
Prayer of a Common Man is the fourth studio album from American country music artist Phil Vassar. It was released on April 22, 2008 on Universal South Records. The album has produced two singles for Vassar on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts: "This Is My Life" and "Love Is a Beautiful Thing"...
) was released. A third single from this album, "I Would", was issued in July 2008 and peaked at #26. It was followed in early 2009 by the album's title track, which became the lowest-peaking single of his career at #53.
Traveling Circus
One week after "Prayer of a Common Man" fell from the charts, Vassar charted his eighteenth single, "Bobbi with an I". Released in April 2009, this was the first single for Vassar's fifth studio album, Traveling CircusTraveling Circus
Traveling Circus is the fifth studio album by American country music singer Phil Vassar. It was released on December 15, 2009 as his second album for the Universal South Records label. The album contains the singles "Bobbi with an I" and "Everywhere I Go," both of which have charted on the U.S....
, released in December 2009. It peaked at #46 after eight weeks on the charts, and was followed by "Everywhere I Go".
Sixth album
Vassar signed with Rodeowave Entertainment in 2011, releasing the single "Let's Get Together".Personal life
On March 26, 2002, Vassar married Julie Wood, with whom he co-wrote his singles "That's When I Love You" and "The Woman in My Life". Wood's brother, Jeff WoodJeff Wood (singer)
-Track listing:#"You Call That a Mountain" - 3:26#"Too Late to Turn It Around" - 3:52#"There's No Place Like You" - 4:11...
, is also a country music artist, who recorded one studio album on Imprint Records
Imprint Records
Imprint Records was an American country music record label established in July 1995. The label has been defunct since 1997.-Artists who have released material on Imprint Records:* Al Anderson* GrooveGrass Boyz* Charlie Major* Gretchen Peters...
in 1997 and charted three singles, in addition to co-writing album tracks for Vassar and other artists. Vassar has two daughters: Presley Jade (born December 4, 2003 with Wood-Vassar) and Haley (born August 27, 1998), from a previous marriage.
Albums
- 2000 Phil VassarPhil Vassar (Album)Phil Vassar is the self-titled 2000 debut album from American country music artist Phil Vassar. It features the singles "Carlene", "Just Another Day in Paradise", "Rose Bouquet", "Six-Pack Summer" and "That's When I Love You". All of these, except "Rose Bouquet", charted in the Top Ten on the...
- 2002 American ChildAmerican ChildAmerican Child is the second studio album by American country music artist Phil Vassar. Released in 2002, the album initiailly contained twelve tracks, with the title track serving as the lead-off single, reaching Top Five on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts.After the lead-off...
- 2004 Shaken Not StirredShaken Not Stirred (album)Shaken Not Stirred is the third studio album by American country music singer Phil Vassar. Released in 2004 on Arista Nashville, the album produced Vassar's second Number One single on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts in the track "In a Real Love"...
- 2006 Greatest Hits, Vol. 1
- 2008 Prayer of a Common ManPrayer of a Common ManPrayer of a Common Man is the fourth studio album from American country music artist Phil Vassar. It was released on April 22, 2008 on Universal South Records. The album has produced two singles for Vassar on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts: "This Is My Life" and "Love Is a Beautiful Thing"...
- 2009 Traveling CircusTraveling CircusTraveling Circus is the fifth studio album by American country music singer Phil Vassar. It was released on December 15, 2009 as his second album for the Universal South Records label. The album contains the singles "Bobbi with an I" and "Everywhere I Go," both of which have charted on the U.S....
- 2011 Noel