Matt Kennon

At the age of seven, Matt Kennon decided he wanted a life on stage after his parents brought him to a Survivor concert. Days later he started teaching himself drums and began putting on living-room performances with friends while also developing a taste for country music. Growing up in Georgia placed him near key influences, including Alan Jackson and Travis Tritt. In high school he concentrated mainly on drumming, playing in a jazz band and taking any available gigs with other musicians. He eventually began to sing, first at karaoke bars and later by forming bands that delivered country and Southern rock covers in Atlanta clubs. Under the direction of producer and songwriter Chip Martin, Kennon started laying down original songs and assembled a homemade album for sale at his shows. Solid sales of that independent project encouraged him to move to Nashville. Once there he met Gary Falcon, Travis Tritt’s former manager, who listened to the demo and recommended him to producer Kyle Lehning. Lehning’s involvement led to Randy Travis recording Kennon’s song “Turn It Around,” which in turn earned the songwriter a publishing deal. Producer James Stroud later signed him to BamaJam Records, where he began recording a full Nashville album. The label issued the debut single “The Call” in the fall of 2009, followed by the self-titled album the next May.