Blake Shelton

Blake Tollison Shelton is an American country singer and television personality. In 2001, he made his debut with the single Austin. The leadoff single from his selftitled debut album, Austin spent five weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. The goldcertified debut album also produced two more tophits . Although the album was released on Giant Records Nashville, he was transferred to Warner Bros. Records Nashville after Giant closed in late 2001.

Shelton was born in Ada, Oklahoma, the son of Dorothy, a beauty salon owner, and Richard Shelton, a used car salesman. Shelton began singing at an early age and by age 12, he was taught how to play the guitar by his uncle. By age 15, he had written his first song. By age 16, he had received a Denbo Diamond Award in his home state. On November 13, 1990, his older brother Richie Shelton was killed in an automobile accident. After graduating from High School at seventeen, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee to pursue a singing career. There he got a job at a music publishing company and, in 1997, he was aided by Bobby Braddock to obtain a production contract with Sony Music.

Source: Wikipedia