Gary Allan Biography

Gary Allan has become one of the biggest stars in Country by making music his way and his way alone.

Gary Allan: Early Years
Despite growing up in California, a young Gary Allan Herzberg was not drawn to the rockers of the day but to the Texas Country Outlaws. With a musician for a father, Gary Allan quickly developed his musical talent and was offered a record deal at age 15, which he rejected. Gary Allan took some time playing in bars to develop his own style and began to mix Outlaw Country with the Bakersfield sound. Gary Allan tickets became all the rage for the bar scene, and this time playing small venues would have a formative effect on his style and career.

Gary Allan: Unlikely Big Break
Many Nashville labels were after Gary Allan when he decided to finally go for a record deal, but politics and squabbling in the industry proved to be a tough setback. Working as a car salesman to supplement his income, Gary Allan slipped a wealthy couple his demo tape. The pair was so impressed by the demo that they helped fund Gary Allan’s first record and tours. Gary Allan used this opportunity to get on with a major label, and his life and career would never be the same.

Gary Allan: Used Heart For Sale
Fame would not wait for long, and 1997 debut album Used Heart for Sale became an instant hit. Single “Her Man” broke into the charts and Gary Allan found plenty of eyes on him. Many fans bought Gary Allan tickets because of his unique voice and style, which reminded many old-school Country fans of the Outlaw days. Used Heart for Sale would go gold and put Gary Allan as the headliner for his label, which was rising to be a serious challenge to the older record companies on Music Row.

After extensive touring, second album It Would be You was a significant sound change. The influence of intense studio production and scrutiny took the edge off Gary Allan and seemed to be a step back musically. Single “It Would be You” was a hit, however, and Gary Allan’s career stayed on track. Gary Allan knew that he had to return to his style of music to please himself and fans alike. Gary Allan would get his chance when his record label was absorbed by giant MCA Nashville.

Gary Allan: The Big Time
With more freedom and a new promotions staff to work with, Gary Allan returned to the rough sound that made him famous in the first place with album Smoke Rings in the Dark. Fans with Gary Allan tickets were overjoyed with this musical shift and helped make single “Right Where I Need to Be” a hit. Smoke Rings in the Dark would be the first platinum album for Gary Allan but certainly not the last. Album Alright Guy jumped up the charts upon its release and carried singles “The One” and No. 1 hit “Man to Man” along with it.

2003 would see Gary Allan drop not only another platinum album in See If I Care but also launched No. 1 singles “Tough Little Boys” and “Nothing on But the Radio”. Gary Allan also made a successful foray into the world of balladry with “Nothing But the Rain”. Things seemed to be going great for Gary Allan both professionally and personally. Gary Allan’s best work was yet to come, but it would carry with it a terrible price.

Gary Allan: Tough All Over
The suicide of Gary Allan’s wife Angela hit the singer like a shovel to the face, and his career nearly died with her. In the depths of depression and agony, Gary Allan found solace in his music. Using his pen and guitar to cut away the damaged emotional tissue, Gary Allan began work on acclaimed album Tough All Over. Taking more responsibility writing than ever before, Tough All Over became an album that was purely Gary Allan.

Cover song “Best I Ever Had” and its haunting music video were hits, and fans with Gary Allan tickets were glad to see him back to work. “Life Ain’t Always Beautiful” climbed even further up the charts and would become the signature ballad of Gary Allan’s career. Non-single “I Just got Back From Hell” was written by Gary Allan himself and has since become a favorite of fans with Gary Allan tickets. A major tour followed and got Gary Allan back into the rhythm of life on the road and helped return him to normalcy.

Gary Allan: Living Hard
Gary Allan continued themes and styles from Tough All Over with 2007 album Living Hard. “Watching Airplanes” was a smash single and helped bring in a crossover audience. Fans with Gary Allan tickets looked to non-single “We Touched the Sun” as their favorite cut from the album. The dark tone and rough production showed that Gary Allan was committed to producing his own music and was not going to compromise for anyone.

Gary Allan: Touring
Gary Allan is wrapping up his 2008-09 tour with a bang and gives fans one last chance to get their Gary Allan tickets. The biggest of the tour dates for 2009 will be at RodeoHouston, where tons of fans will pack Reliant Stadium to see Gary Allan and other musical acts alongside hard-hitting rodeo action. With a new recording session sure to be in the future, fans will want to get their Gary Allan tickets from OnlineTickets.com today.

Gary Allan: Greatest Hits

• “Her Man” from the Used Heart for Sale album
• “It Would Be You” from the It Would Be You album
• “Smoke Rings in the Dark” from the Smoke Rings in the Dark album
• “Right Where I Need to Be” from the Smoke Rings in the Dark album
• “Tough Little Boys” from the See If I Care album
• “Nothing on the Radio” from the See If I Care album
• “Man to Man” from the Alright Guy album
• “The One” from the Alright Guy album
• “Songs About Rain” from the See If I Care album
• “Life Ain’t Always Beautiful” from the Tough All Over album
• “Best I Ever Had” from the Tough All Over album
• “Watching Airplanes” from the Living Hard album