Zachry Alexander Brown[1] (born July 31, 1978) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. He is best known as the co-founder and lead singer of the country Zac Brown Band, as well as electronic dance music group Sir Rosevelt.[2] In 2019, Brown released a pop surprise album titled The Controversy.[3]
Zac Brown | |
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 Brown performing in 2008 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Zachry Alexander Brown |
| Born | July 31, 1978 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Instruments |
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| Years active | 2006–present |
| Labels | Southern Ground |
| Member of | Zac Brown Band |
| Formerly of | Sir Rosevelt |
| Website | zacbrown |
Early life
editBrown was raised on Lake Lanier, Georgia by his mother, Bettye, and stepfather Dr. Jody Moses, a dentist in Cumming, Georgia. The eleventh of twelve children, Brown attended Mashburn Elementary School, South Forsyth Middle School, and South Forsyth High School in Cumming.[4] After a year of high school, he moved to Dahlonega, Georgia where he graduated from Lumpkin County High School.[5] Brown was given his mother's guitar at age 8, and one of his stepfather's patients was enlisted to teach him classical guitar. He completed two years of lessons, but soon after developed a love for bluegrass music while playing with his father and brother on weekend visits. In his mid-teens, Brown spent almost a year being tutored by a vocal coach from his church.
While still in high school, with James Taylor as his inspiration, Brown began playing solo gigs in local venues, performing country and pop cover songs. Brown attended the University of West Georgia, where he became a member of the Zeta Kappa chapter of the Kappa Alpha Order fraternity.[6] He was also a camp counselor at Camp Mikell in Toccoa, Georgia, and Camp Glisson, a United Methodist summer camp and retreat center located in Dahlonega.[7][8] Brown later founded Camp Southern Ground, a 501c3 nonprofit camp in Fayetteville, Georgia.[9]
Other ventures
editIn 2012, Brown purchased Masterlink Studio (formerly Young 'Un Sound and Monument Recording Studios) in Nashville's Music Row and completely overhauled it to create Southern Ground Nashville, a recording studio for artists on Brown's Southern Ground record label.[10]
In 2017, Brown made an investment into the Stillhouse Creek Distillery in Lumpkin County, Georgia, which was later rebranded the Z. Brown Distillery.[11] The distillery closed down on November 18, 2018.[12][13]
Brown appeared in a 2016 episode of Treehouse Masters on Animal Planet.[14] In 2019, Brown appeared on the Lil Dicky charity single "Earth".
Brown founded Southern Grind Knives, a knife company based out of Peachtree City, Georgia. The company specializes in hard-use tactical knives.
Personal life
editIn 2016, Brown was involved in an early morning drug bust at the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts in Palm Beach, Florida.[15][16][17] Although Brown was not arrested, police arrested four other individuals for marijuana and cocaine, and found Brown in possession of prescription pills.[18][19] Reports stated that there were three strippers in the room at the time of the arrests.[20] Reports also state that the Palm Beach Police Officers did not name Brown in their report because they were fans of his music.[21] Brown later apologized saying that he was, "at the wrong place at the wrong time."[17]
In 2018, Brown and his wife Shelly ended their 12-year marriage. They have four daughters and a son.[22]
In August 2023, Brown married the model and actress Kelly Yazdi.[23] In December of the same year, they separated and announced their intention to divorce.[24]
Discography
edit- The Controversy (2019)
Album appearances
editReferences
edit- ^ Brown, Zachry Alexander. "Songwriter/Composer: BROWN ZACHRY ALEXANDER". Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI). Retrieved June 7, 2021.
- ^ "Zac Brown and His Wife of 12 Years Are Separating". 5 October 2018.
- ^ Willman, Chris (September 27, 2019). "Zac Brown Drops Second Pop Album in a Week, as Country Fans Scratch Their Heads". Variety. Archived from the original on December 8, 2019. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
- ^ "Zac Brown Band keeps on rockin". www.forsythnews.com. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
- ^ Kirk, Billy (2021-10-29). "A Rural Georgia High School Shares Its Success". NASSP. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
- ^ "Zac Brown". Kappa Alpha Order. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
- ^ "Alumni News". The Kappa Alpha Order Journal. Summer 2007.
- ^ Ben-Yehuda, Ayala (Oct 25, 2008). "Music: Happening Now - Zac Attack". Billboard. Vol. 120, no. 43. p. 36. ProQuest 1020474.
- ^ "Zac Brown Band | Little Kids Rock". January 15, 2014. Archived from the original on January 15, 2014.
- ^ Bullins, Strother (29 September 2014). "Studio Showcase: Staking A Claim For Sonic Heritage In Southern Ground". MIX. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
- ^ Bowman, Nick (March 29, 2018). "Zac Brown Distillery open in Lumpkin County". The Gainesville Times. Archived from the original on June 7, 2021. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
- ^ McCullough, Nate (November 8, 2016). "Zac Brown Distillery in Lumpkin County shutting down". The Gainesville Times. Archived from the original on June 7, 2021. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
- ^ Hall, Sharon (November 14, 2018). "Z. Brown Distillery Shutting down". The Dahlonega Nugget. Archived from the original on April 20, 2019.
- ^ Pennell, Julie (September 14, 2016). "Zac Brown created a treehouse for kids that's out of this world!". Today. Archived from the original on January 18, 2021. Retrieved February 1, 2017.
- ^ "Zac Brown on Palm Beach drug raid: 'Nothing good ever happens when you stay out late'". The Palm Beach Post. August 13, 2016. Archived from the original on April 20, 2019.
- ^ Savitsky, Sasha (April 15, 2016). "Zac Brown regrets 'using poor judgment' for attending party where strippers arrested for drugs". Fox News. Archived from the original on December 2, 2020.
- ^ a b Deerwester, Jayme (April 15, 2016). "Zac Brown: 'I was in the wrong place at the wrong time'". USA Today. Archived from the original on December 10, 2019.
- ^ Dargan, Michele (September 1, 2016). "Singer Zac Brown admits mistake after coke bust at Palm Beach hotel". The Palm Beach Post. Archived from the original on April 20, 2019 – via The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
- ^ "Zac Brown -- Caught Up in Hotel Drug Bust". TMZ.
- ^ "Zac Brown -- I Didn't Know There'd Be Strippers and Blow". TMZ.
- ^ "Zac Brown -- Starstruck Cops Lied to Protect Country Star". TMZ.
- ^ Dukes, Billy (2018-10-05). "Zac Brown and His Wife of 12 Years Are Separating". Taste of Country.
- ^ "Zac Brown Ties Knot With Model Kelly Yazdi". TMZ. 2023-11-05. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
- ^ Wenger, Stephanie (2023-12-29). "Country Star Zac Brown and Wife Kelly Yazdi Are Divorcing After 4 Months of Marriage". People. Retrieved 2023-12-30.