Darryl Worley

Aug. 24, 2005

At 6’ 6” Tennessee native Darryl Worley looks like he could play power forward for the Memphis Grizzlies. The dismal Grizzlies could use him but they will have to stand in line because Worley is one of the bright stars on the country circuit, and fans are packing venues and scooping up his CD.
Worley comes to the Leelanau Sands Showroom on Saturday, August 27 in support of his fourth CD which is self-titled. Usually self-titled is one’s debut album and, considering the directional change, in many ways this is like a debut for the singer whose previous works produced the hits, “I Miss My Friend,” “A Good Day to Run” and “Have You Forgotten.”
“This almost feels like my first album,” said Worley. “The other records got me ready to make this one. We did some things in the studio very differently this time. I wanted this to have a bit more of an edge. I wanted some honky-tonk ‘grease’ on it. I wanted to pick up the tempo. I wanted to have fun.”

THROWBACK MOVEMENT
Worley burst on the scene five years ago and has been a part of the throwback movement that is exploring the roots of country music. But Worley felt he needed to pump things up a little bit both in the studio and on the stage.
“I took a look around while I was touring, at some of the other guys who were successful, like Keith Urban, Montgomery Gentry and Trace Adkins,” said Worley. “What I noticed was that these guys had a better groove on stage and in the studio. The tempo flowed better for them. So I decided to kick it up a notch with this album, but one area I wasn’t going to change was my philosophy that songs should have a hard hitting message to them.”
His current CD has songs that tackle rural drug abuse to coping with death. Worley’s belief that music should have a social message to it comes from the fact that he promised his father that he would explore a professional career first before taking on the music world. While both sides of his family are musical and Worley began writing songs in high school, he graduated with a science degree from University of North Alabama in 1987.
“My first job out of college was a research biologist,” said Worley. “Eventually I formed my own chemical supply company all the while I was writing songs and lots of them. I think going out into the world the way I did gives me a perspective that maybe some of my piers don’t have. So I believe that I have a responsibility to write songs that have social messages to them.”

A TRADITIONALIST
While Worley took an untraditional route to becoming a country star, he is still a southern traditionalist and that means family and home come first.
“I was making great money but I always wanted to make music, and I knew in order to be successful at that I needed my father’s blessing,” said Worley. “When I finally decided to choose music I had a lot of people telling me ‘you’re losing your mind.’ My father wasn’t opposed to my music, he just wanted me to have regular paycheck. Ultimately it was my mother, who is a great singer in her own right, that convinced me by saying, ‘Don’t let the sun go down on your dreams.’ So I walked away from my day job and security for a $150 a week songwriting gig.”
That was in 1992 and by 1994 he was struggling to make ends meet and his career was sputtering.
“I returned home and worked as a landscaper and kept writing songs,” said Worley. “Eventually, in 1995, EMI offered me a contract originally to write songs, but after I recorded five of them, they felt they could get me a record deal.”
It took three years but eventually Worley struck a deal with DreamWorks Records and released his debut in 2000 that resulted in three top 20 hits, “When You Need My Love,” “A Good Day to Run” and “Second Wind.” In 2002 the release of his second album produced Worley’s first number one hit “I Miss My Friend,” and he followed up with a topical song about the Afghan War titled “Have You Forgotten,” that quickly went to number one on the charts.
Despite his fame and success Worley remains active in his hometown of Savannah, Tennessee. He has created the Darryl Worley Foundation and contributes thousands of dollars annually to people in need in his community.
“Since the beginning, I have stayed true to my hometown and to my roots in traditional country music,” said Worley. “I want the reputation with the fans as being someone they can depend on. Maybe with most artists, you’re going to buy an album and get maybe three or four good songs on it. But if you buy that Darryl Worley CD, you’re gonna get 12 good songs - every time. You’re going to get your money’s worth. It’s not rocket science: It’s three chords and the truth. But it’s good music.”
For more on the “Three Chords and the Truth” philosophy catch Darryl Worley and his band on August 27, at the Leelanau Sands Showroom, part of the Grand Traverse Resort & Casinos located in Peshawbestown, just north of Suttons Bay. For tickets visit www.casino2win.com or call the box office,
(800) 922-2WIN.