Tennessee-born troubadour Larry Fleet grew up on a stack of records spanning Merle Haggard, Otis Redding, Willie Nelson, and Marvin Gaye. A thoughtful songwriter with a knack for a one-liner, an ear for a sturdy hook, and a powerhouse voice that strikes like a match, Fleet was working blue-collar jobs to make ends meet before a chance encounter with Jake Owen led to an opening slot on the road and a recording contract with Big Loud Records. Six years later, the devout family man is turning heads among fans and critics alike with albums full of soon-to-be-classics; 2021’s tribute to the music that raised him, Stack of Records, and his aptly titled 2019 debut, Workin’ Hard. Saving Country Music puts it simply: “If you’re looking for the future of traditional country music, then look no further than…Larry Fleet.” A road-tested live show standout, Fleet wrapped 2022 with his first-ever headline One For The Road Tour, following up crowd-winning opening slots in front of Darius Rucker, Willie Nelson, Jamey Johnson, Jon Pardi, and many more. He just extended his current headlining run, Larry Fleet Live, and will open tours for Pardi and Parker McCollum throughout the spring and summer.
Don’t let Larry Fleet’s humble demeanor fool you: the Chattanooga-based Country singer-songwriter is the real deal, with fans in contemporary heavy-hitters like Jake Owen and living Country legends like Willie Nelson. He’s a thoughtful songwriter with a knack for a one-liner, an ear for a good hook and a powerhouse voice that strikes the perfect balance of soul and twang.
You can hear all this and more on Fleet’s new single “Where I Find God.” Written alongside award-winning songwriter Connie Harrington, “Where I Find God” is a beautifully heartfelt ode to family, fishing and Fleet’s unyielding faith. “Sometimes, whether I’m lookin’ for him or not / That’s where I find God,” Fleet sings, with his soul-drenched twang adding an element of gospel to the track’s stripped-down Country arrangement.
“Where I Find God” has already received an immensely positive response from fans, many of whom have shared their own experiences of faith and finding God. Some fans even count hearing the song itself among their life’s religious experiences, a life-changing phenomenon that gets right at the heart of why Fleet writes songs in the first place.
“I’ve had older people tell me, ‘I found God in 1982,'” Fleet says. “They’re telling their stories. Then other people tell me they fought with addiction. They heard this song and turned their truck around and tried to mend some fences with their family and go to Alcoholics Anonymous. To me, as a songwriter, that’s about as good a compliment that you can get: a song you wrote has changed someone’s life, for the good. I’m so proud of this song.”
“Where I Find God” has roots in Fleet’s “Gospel Song Sunday” series on social media. The wildly popular series caught the attention of Harrington, who invited Fleet to write with her. The two began with the line “Where I Find God,” and Fleet was overcome by memories of peaceful moments at the lake, quiet days spent in deer stands, nights on well-worn barstools and time spent with his son, Waylon. Those were his religious experiences, and he had a hunch that others may have had similar experiences, too.
The official video for “Where I Find God” follows Fleet and his family as they visit their favorite lake, providing an intimate visual for one of Fleet’s most personal songs. The footage is candid and real, perfectly encapsulating the deep well of emotion and vulnerability of the track itself. The video has made its way around the world, racking up millions of views and finding Fleet fans in such far-flung places as Madagascar and Japan. “Where I Find God” has clearly struck a chord, one that announces Fleet as a major new voice in Country music.
Fleet first showed off his masterful musicianship on his acclaimed debut album Workin’ Hard, which released via Big Loud Records in late 2019. Sonically, Workin’ Hard draws from Fleet’s eclectic musical influences, which include Outlaw Country icons like Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson as well as classic Soul singers like Marvin Gaye and Otis Redding. Fleet’s blue-collar roots shine across the album’s lyrics, which show him to be a hard worker, a family man and the kind of guy you’d want to slow-sip a beer with.
Fleet recorded Workin’ Hard alongside producer Joey Moi (Jake Owen, Morgan Wallen) after two whirlwind years that saw him on tours with Owen and Nelson, and landing his first record deal. “Some nights I sang for money, some nights I sang for beer,” Fleet sings on “Workin’ Hard,” a sentiment made all the more powerful when considered alongside his swiftly rising profile.
While Fleet’s undeniable talent would have brought him success one way or another, he had a lucky encounter with Jake Owen in 2017 that led to a fruitful collaborative friendship. Fleet performed a mix of original music and Classic Country cover songs at a friend’s barn party, which Owen attended. After Fleet wrapped up his performance, Owen was wowed by his talent and introduced himself and invited him to his home to hang out and play music. Before Fleet knew it, he was on the road with the country star.
Before that chance meeting, Fleet was working construction jobs. He found success in the difficult field of masonry and eventually landed a gig working for an engineering firm, where he further showcased his construction expertise. Fleet had already been working on making a living at music for 10 years, and when he met Owen it seemed his hard work had finally paid off.
After touring extensively with Owen, Fleet was offered an opening slot for a string of shows with Willie Nelson. Nelson was so impressed by Fleet’s performance that he brought him on stage during his own set to sing Gospel songs, which was a dream come true for a life-long Nelson fan like Fleet.
“It was just me and my guitar in front of Willie’s crowd,” Fleet says. “That’s why I wanted to start writing songs, because of Willie Nelson… The crowd really got what I did. They seemed to love me.”
Fleet wrote six of Workin’ Hard’s eight tracks, enlisting the co-writing talents of songwriters like Will Bundy, Brett James and Rhett Akins. The upbeat, romantic lead track “Tied Down” showcases Fleet’s clever lyricism, while “Lied About Love” smolders with his soulful vocal performance and swampy, Southern Rock guitar. The sweet, rootsy “Best That I Got” is another standout track and shows just how seamlessly Fleet brings together his Soul and Country roots, both of which he attributes to the musical tastes of his parents. Tying the album together is Fleet’s masterful voice, which finds the sweet spot between Classic Country and the contemporary sounds of today.
Larry Fleet is a tireless artist who knows who he is and what he wants to do. And he may be humble, but Fleet has paid his dues and he’s rightfully poised for stardom. Turn up the volume and see what all the fuss is about.
NOAH GUTHRIE BIO
Music has been at the forefront of Noah’s life for as long as he can remember. With his family’s musical roots running deep, Guthrie’s dream was always to be an artist and musician, but he didn’t realize he could make it a reality until he started posting videos online. At that point, he knew he had the opportunity to turn his dream into a career.
With a sound described as Southern Soul that is similar to Chris Stapleton’s country/rock tracks, the unique tones in his richly textured voice and the unmistakable Southern influence in his music makes him capable of conveying an emotion that only a handful of artists can in today’s musical landscape. Noah’s versatility and distinct voice is evident in each song. Noah isn’t trying to box himself into any specific genre; for him, it’s just about making good, honest music – music that sounds like him.
Although his musical journey as an artist has been exciting and fulfilling thus far, he has dreams that his original music will continue to be heard and embraced around the world. While he’s received national attention for his creative YouTube covers, including posting a blues-filled version of LMFAO’s “Sexy and I Know It,” which has received more than 26 million views, and his pivotal role as Roderick Meeks on FOX’s hit TV show, “Glee,” it’s clear to see that Noah’s real talent shines through putting pen to paper and crafting original music. While he was able to showcase his unscripted musical talents with his semi-finals run on season 13 of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent,” he is committed to giving his fans original music and being the authentic singer-songwriter that he’s always wanted to be.
To date, Noah has built a strong following through social media and television and released two critically-acclaimed albums. He has also performed on NBC’s Today Show and Tonight Show, Hallmark Channel’s Home & Family, and ABC’s Dancing with the Stars. Noah has opened for a wide variety of artists, including Ed Sheeran, Ben Rector, Corey Smith, Sister Hazel, Matt Nathanson, and Dwight Yoakam. With career highlights like opening up for Willie Nelson on multiple occasions and touring Europe five times, it’s just a matter of time before the world sees what Noah will accomplish next. With new music on the horizon, an energetic band by his side, a loyal fanbase behind him, the sky’s the limit for Noah Guthrie.
