From one of the world's hottest cities came the immense talent of one of the world’s greatest country music stars; Dierks Bentley. Born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, Dierks Bentley is the man with two last names and two platinum records. He is the man with a 2005 CMA Horizon Award, and the man who boasts a handsome ten singles to date on the U.S. country single charts - five of which have reached the coveted number one spot. And, perhaps most impressively, he is the second to youngest man who currently holds a place in the Grand Ole Opry, the longest running radio show in the U.S. Today, Bentley stands tall as a paragon of talent and achievement.
In his early years, he seemed to emulate the behavior of a rogue tumbleweed subject entirely to the whims of the indecisive desert wind. Unable to settle, he traveled to Lawrenceville, New Jersey where he attended high school. At the age of 19 he moved to Nashville, Tennessee, enrolling at the prestigious Vanderbilt University. As a child, Bentley casually learned how to play guitar, his budding abilities influenced by George Strait and Hank Williams. Casual interest became full-fledged passion when he discovered the Nashville music scene. Somewhat discouraged with the homogeneity exhibited by the denizens of the local music business - one marginally talented, indistinguishable country singer after another - Bentley took it upon himself to emerge as a fresh, new voice in the once detached Nashville Country music scene. Taking what he learned of Bluegrass from the famous Station Inn (seen as a Mecca for the bluegrass genre by fans worldwide), Bentley combined that sound with the good ole' country music of his roots. Fully engrossed and determined to create quality music, he even delved deep into the past to learn about his predecessors, bringing their sounds together with his own, creating an interesting fusion of bluegrass, old country, and his own innovations for the genre.
Armed with a seemingly limitless amount of talent and passion, Bentley played as many shows as he could. His hard work paid off - a demo that he recorded caught the attention of the country music industry and subsequently lead to a publishing deal. Capitol Nashville released his first self-titled album in 2003, which featured his first single, What Was I Thinkin'? From there, the only place for Bentley to go was up. In 2005 he released Modern Day Drifter, which increased his popularity due to the smash hits Lots of Leavin' Left to Do, Come a Little Closer and Settle For a Slowdown. A prolific musician, he soon after released his third album, Long Trip Alone, which featured the single Every Mile a Memory. Now, stepped deeply in fame and success, Bentley lives in Nashville with his wife, Cassidy Black. He continues to tour and create soulful, entertaining music.