Morgan Evans (singer)

Morgan Evans
Evans performing on stage at CMC Rocks 2016
Background information
Birth name Morgan John Evans
Born (1985-04-24) April 24, 1985
Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
Genres Country
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active 2002–present
Labels
Associated acts
Website morganevans.com.au

Morgan John Evans (born 24 April 1985) is an Australian country music singer and songwriter. He released a self-titled debut studio album in March 2014, which peaked at number 20 on the ARIA Albums Chart. Evans married US-born country pop singer-songwriter, Kelsea Ballerini, on 2 December 2017 in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and they reside in Nashville. Also in that month Evans released a single, "I Do", which references his marriage to Ballerini.

Biography

1985–2010: Early life and career beginnings

Evans was born on April 24, 1985 in Newcastle.[1] He has a younger brother, Tom, who is also a musician playing bass guitar.[2] At the age of 13, Evans performed his first gig.[3] Whilst attending Warners Bay High School he was in a local rock trio, Extortion, which won a state high school band competition, Youthrock, in 2002.[2]

Extortion were renamed, Solver.[2] As of 2006 Evans provided lead vocals and guitar in that group, Tom was on bass guitar and a friend, Nicholas Cook, was the drummer.[2] The band won Artist of the Year and Best Rock Act at the MusicOZ Awards of 2006.[3]

In 2007 Evans won the Road to Tamworth competition and for his prize he flew to Nashville to record a single.[3] He was signed to Sony BMG and released his debut extended play (EP), Big Skies, in September 2007.[4] The title track received airplay on Australian country music radio stations.[3]

2012–2016: Debut studio album

In January 2012 Evans released his second EP, Live Each Day, through Warner Music Australasia. This was followed in August of that year by a third EP, While We're Young. Evans supported Taylor Swift and Thirsty Merc on their Australian tours. He was named the New Oz Artist of the Year at the 2013 CMC Music Awards.[5]

In March 2014 Evans released a self-titled debut studio album in March 2014, which peaked at number 20 on the ARIA Albums Chart.[6] At the 2014 CMC Music Awards he won the Oz Artist of the Year, Male Artist of the Year and Best Australian Video of the Year.[7] His track, "Like a Tornado", was short-listed for the Vanda and Young Songwriting Competition of 2014.[8]

He hosted the CMC Music Awards for three consecutive years, from 2015 to 2017.[9] He is the 2016 Country Music Association Global Artist of the Year and has won five fan voted Country Music Channel Awards, including Male Artist of the Year.

2017–present: Things That We Drink To

Following his relocation to Nashville, Evans signed with Warner Music Nashville in May 2017, which led to the release of his debut US single, "Kiss Somebody".[10]

Evans released a single, "I Do", on 8 December 2017. He explained via Instagram that it was written, "about his girlfriend, recorded it about my fiancée, releasing it about my wife" Kelsea Ballerini, whom he married on 2 December 2017 in Mexico.[11][12] Drew Fitzgerald from One Country felt, "The track sums up everything found in that simple vow: falling in love, what he loves about his new wife Kelsea Ballerini, and his hope for their lifelong union" adding "Look out for this one at every 2018 wedding."[13] Courtney Carr from The Boot described it as, a "feel good", explaining, "Evans uses those two sacred words not only as a wedding vow but to show the progression through which every happy relationship goes."[14] It appeared on the ARIA Singles Chart top 100, No. 16 on the ARIA Digital Tracks, No. 8 on the Australian Artist Singles and No. 4 on the Hitseekers Singles charts.[15] In August, Evans released his fourth EP titled, Morgan Evans EP. Evan's second studio album, Things That We Drink To is was released in October 2018.

Personal life

Morgan and Kelsea being interviewed by Australian radio before the romance was made public
Evans and Kelsea Ballerini being interviewed by Planet Country with Big Stu and MJ before they hosted the 2016 CMC Awards together in Brisbane, Australia. The romance was made public by Ballerini shortly after.

Evans married American country pop singer-songwriter, Kelsea Ballerini, on 2 December 2017 in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.[16] They had started dating in March 2016 and were engaged on Christmas Day of that year. The couple reside in Nashville.[17]

Discography

Albums

Title Details Peak chart positions
AUS
[18]		 AUS Country [19]
Morgan Evans 20 1
Things That We Drink To

Extended plays

Title EP details
Big Skies[21]
Live Each Day[22]
  • Released: 20 January 2012
  • Label: Warner Australasia
  • Format: CD, digital download
While We're Young[23]
  • Released: 24 August 2012
  • Label: Warner Australasia
  • Format: CD, digital download
Morgan Evans EP[24]
  • Released: 10 August 2018
  • Label: Warner Bros. Nashville
  • Format: Digital download, streaming

Singles

Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
AUS
[15]		 US
[25]		 US
Country
[26]		 US
Country Airplay
[26]
"Big Skies" 2007 ———— Big Skies
"Live Each Day" 2012 ———— Live Each Day
"Carry On" 2013 ———— While We're Young
"One Eye for an Eye" 2014 ———— Morgan Evans
"Like a Tornado" ————
"Kiss Somebody" 2017 5353113 Things That We Drink To
"I Do" 72———
"Day Drunk"[28] 2018 48
[29]		———
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released.

Awards

APRA Awards

Since 1982 the APRA Awards are run by Australian Performing Right Association to recognise songwriting skills, sales and airplay performance by its members annually.

Year Nominee/work Award Result
2018 Country Work of the Year[30] "Kiss Somebody" Won

CMC Awards

The CMC Awards are awarded annually by Country Music Channel Australia.[31][32]

Year Nominee/work Award Result
2013HimselfNew Oz Artist of the YearWon
2014HimselfOz Artist of the YearWon
2014HimselfMale Artist of the YearWon
2014"Carry On"Australian Video of the YearWon
2015HimselfMale Artist of the YearWon
2018HimselfMale Artist of the YearNominated
2018HimselfAusralian Artist of the YearNominated

ASTRA Awards

The Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association awarded 'Excellence in subscription television in production, programming and talent' from 2003–15.[33]

Year Nominee/work Award Result
2015HimselfMost Outstanding New TalentNominated

References

  1. ↑ "'A Song for the Radio' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 6 January 2018. Note: For additional work user may have to select 'Search again' and then 'Enter a title:' or 'Performer:'
  2. 1 2 3 4 Winterford, Brett (15 December 2006). "Solver Chair – Music – Entertainment". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "2011 APRA Professional Development Awards: Country Finalists". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). 2011. Archived from the original on 1 December 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  4. ↑ Redman, Melissa (8 March 2014). "Album Review: Morgan Evans – Morgan Evans". Renowned for Sound. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  5. ↑ "Morgan Evans sweeps CMC music awards; photos". The Herald. 14 March 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  6. ↑ "Morgan Evans – Morgan Evans (Album)". Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  7. ↑ "Morgan Evans is fans' choice in CMC Country Music Awards". Daily Mercury. 15 March 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  8. ↑ "My Mixtape: Vanda and Young Shortlist". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society]] (AMCOS). 10 December 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  9. ↑ "7TH ANNUAL CMC MUSIC AWARDS" (PDF). ASTRA. February 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  10. ↑ "Warner Music Nashville Signs Morgan Evans". 17 May 2017.
  11. ↑ Casey, Jim (11 December 2017). "Morgan Evans Drops New Single, "I Do" [Listen]". Nash FM 103.3. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  12. ↑ Hoffman, Lauren (11 December 2017). "Listen: Morgan Evans Releases New Song, 'I Do'". KSON 103.7. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  13. ↑ Fitzgerald, Drew (8 December 2017). "Morgan Evans' New Song Is a Beautiful Love Song for His Wife Kelsea Ballerini". One Country. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  14. ↑ Carr, Courtney (13 December 2017). "Hear Morgan Evans' Brand-New Song About Kelsea Ballerini, 'I Do'". The Boot. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  15. 1 2 Peaks in Australia:
    • "Kiss Somebody": Wallace, Ian (13 November 2017). "Week Commencing ~ 13th November 2017 ~ Issue #1446" (PDF). The ARIA Report. Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) (1446): 4, 9, 16, 21. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 November 2017. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
    • "I Do": Wallace, Ian (25 December 2017). "Week Commencing ~ 25th December 2017 ~ Issue #1452" (PDF). The ARIA Report. Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) (1452): 4, 9, 16, 21. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 December 2017. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  16. ↑ Jeff Nelson (2 December 2017). "Kelsea Ballerini Engaged to Morgan Evans – See the Ring". People.com. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  17. ↑ "Kelsea Ballerini Gets Engaged to Morgan Evans". Billboard. 27 December 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  18. ↑ "Australian Album Chart > Morgan Evans". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  19. ↑ "ARIA Report issue 1256" (PDF). ARIA. 24 March 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  20. ↑ "Things That We Drink To Morgan Evans". Sanity. 31 August 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  21. ↑ https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/big-skies-ep/262665043
  22. ↑ "LIve Each Day (EP)". iTunes Australia. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  23. ↑ "While We're Young (EP)". iTunes Store (AU). Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  24. ↑ "Morgan Evans EP by Morgan Evans on iTunes". iTunes Store (AU). Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  25. ↑ "Billboard Hot 100: August 25, 2018". Billboard. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  26. 1 2 "Billboard Country Update: August 20, 2018" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  27. ↑ "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2018 Singles". ARIA. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  28. ↑ "Day Drunk - single". iTunes Australia. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  29. ↑ "ARIA Australian Top 50 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. 15 October 2018. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  30. ↑ "2018 APRA AWARDS : The Winners". auspOp. 11 April 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  31. ↑ "CMC Music Awards: winners". TV Tonight. 15 March 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  32. ↑ "2018 CMC Music Awards". Country Music Channel. March 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  33. ↑ "ASTRA Awards 2015 Finalists & Winners". ASTRA. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
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