Matt Kennon
| Matt Kennon | |
|---|---|
 Matt Kennon at BamaJam Music & Art Festival, in June 2010 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Matthew Carl Ferguson[1] |
| Origin | Conyers, Georgia, U.S.[2] |
| Genres | Country |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 2001-present |
| Labels | BamaJam/Stroudavarious |
| Associated acts | James Stroud, Randy Travis |
| Website | http://mattkennon.com/ |
Matthew Carl Ferguson (born in Conyers, Georgia) is an American country music singer and songwriter known professionally as Matt Kennon. He has co-written a song for Randy Travis and has released one album for BamaJam Records. This album includes the top 40 hit "The Call".
Biography
Matthew Carl Ferguson was born in Conyers, Georgia.[2] He was adopted at birth by two parents, who had previously lost three of their four biological children to a house fire. Kennon's birth mother, who already had another son, made a decision to have an abortion, but she arrived at her doctor's office two weeks too late and was told she had to carry the child to full term.[3]
He began playing the drums at age seven, and went on to play drums in high school jazz bands.[4] Later on, he began performing at clubs in the Atlanta, Georgia area, playing cover versions of country and southern rock songs.[4]
In the late 2000s, Kennon self-released an album of his music, which he began selling at his concerts. He then moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where he met Travis Tritt's former manager Gary Falcon, who recommended him to Kyle Lehning, a record producer known for his work with Randy Travis.[4] After Travis recorded Kennon's "Turn It Around" and released it as a single,[5] Kennon was signed to a publishing contract. He also began working with another producer, James Stroud.[2]
Later in 2009, Kennon signed to BamaJam Records in association with Stroudavarious Records (which Stroud owns) and released his debut single "The Call,"[6] which he wrote with Jeremy Campbell and Noah Gordon. The song debuted at number 55 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts dated for the week of October 17, 2009.[7] Matt Bjorke of Roughstock gave the song a mostly-favorable review, saying that he did not enjoy the song upon first listen because of Kennon's voice, but said that the lyrics are "where it shines."[8]
Kennon's self-titled debut album was released on May 11, 2010. In advance of the album's release, he released a three-song extended play featuring "The Call" and two other songs from the album.[9][10]
In April 2011, Kennon self-released a second album titled 77.[11]
In October 2012, Kennon self-released a third album titled Makin Music That Matters.
In August 2013, Kennon also released an extended play titled Four on the Floor, which included four new songs and a previously recorded track.
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country [12] |
US [13] |
US Heat [14] |
US Indie [15] | ||
| Matt Kennon |
|
19 | 116 | 1 | 24 |
| 77 |
|
— | — | — | — |
| Makin' Music That Matters |
|
— | — | — | — |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||||
Extended plays
| Title | Album details | Peak positions |
|---|---|---|
| US Country [12] | ||
| The Call |
|
65 |
| Four on the Floor |
|
— |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | ||
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Country [16] | |||
| 2009 | "The Call" | 33 | Matt Kennon |
| 2010 | "You Can Still Wear White" | — | |
| 2011 | "Too Loud" | — | |
| "You Had to Pick on Me" | — | 77 | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||
Music videos
| Year | Video | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | "The Call" | Trey Fanjoy |
References
- ↑ "Search results for Ferguson, Matthew Carl". Broadcast Music Incorporated. Retrieved 2010-02-09.
- 1 2 3 Floydd, Michelle (2010-02-05). "Local hits charts in Nashville". Rockdale Citizen. Retrieved 2010-02-07.
- ↑ Hughes, Donna (25 January 2010). "Matt Kennon Discovers Shocking Details About His Adoption". The Boot. Retrieved 22 September 2010.
- 1 2 3 Leggett, Steve. "Matt Kennon biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 March 2010.
- ↑ "Digging Up Bones Xclusive: Interview With Matt Kennon". Randy Travis.com. Retrieved 2009-10-19.
- ↑ "Matt Kennon". BamaJam Records. Retrieved 19 October 2009.
- ↑ Morris, Edward (10 October 2009). "Miranda Lambert's Revolution seizes the album summit". CMT. Retrieved 19 October 2009.
- ↑ Bjorke, Matt (19 October 2009). "Matt Kennon — "The Call"". Roughstock. Retrieved 19 October 2009.
- ↑ "Matt Kennon's self titled album". Music Remedy. 11 February 2010. Retrieved 12 February 2010.
- ↑ Smith, Peter J. (8 February 2010). "New Country Music Star Born as Pro-Life Ballad Climbs the Charts". Life Site News. Retrieved 12 February 2010.
- ↑ "Matt Kennon: 77". CDBaby. Retrieved 21 May 2011.
- 1 2 "Matt Kennon Album & Song Chart History - Country Albums". Billboard. Nielsen Company. Retrieved October 24, 2010.
- ↑ "Matt Kennon Album & Song Chart History - Billboard 200". Billboard. Nielsen Company. Retrieved October 24, 2010.
- ↑ "Matt Kennon Album & Song Chart History - Heatseekers Albums". Billboard. Nielsen Company. Retrieved October 24, 2010.
- ↑ "Matt Kennon Album & Song Chart History - Independent Albums". Billboard. Nielsen Company. Retrieved October 24, 2010.
- ↑ "Matt Kennon Album & Song Chart History - Country Songs". Billboard. Nielsen Company. Retrieved October 24, 2010.