Pride of Porter, Texas
From American Idol to The Voice, country singer Sundance Head gets a second chance at fame
Anybody want to take a guess at who has had the No. 1 song on iTunes this week? Bruno Mars? The Chainsmokers? Andy Grammer?
Nope, it’s the pride of Porter, Texas — Sundance Head. Never heard of him? Then you must not watch NBC’s The Voice. The highly-rated show, which features celebrity coaches Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, Miley Cyrus and Alicia Keys, features various levels of competition to determine who America thinks has the strongest and most memorable singing talent.
Head busted out "Me and Jesus" during Monday night's show. The song, written by Tom T. Hall, quickly rose to the top of the iTunes chart and now is at No. 3. Head starts it off slow and than takes off like a freight train, with a sound reminiscent of the Soggy Bottom Boys from the movie Oh Brother, Where Art Thou.
Head may not be your typical county musician, but there is much more to his repertoire than those"cry in your beer" songs. Check out his cover of Cyrus’s “Climb.” Not only does he perform it in front of the pop superstar, it’s only his voice and guitar. No professional musicians backing him up, it’s just a guy and his guitar, and he blows everyone away.
Head has music in his genes. His dad, Roy Head was in the band The Traits, best known for their 1965 hit, "Treat Her Right." When he was 20, Sundance Head recorded with ZZ Top, made possible through a friend of his dad's. Thirteen years later, he started to play music professionally.
A contestant during season six of American Idol, Sundance finished in 13th place, becoming the first American Idol contestant in history to score a recording contract with a major record label, Universal Motown, without finishing in the Top 12.
His band, aptly named Sundance Head, plays all over Texas, but with his exposure and popularity on the rise, you better catch the self-proclaimed founder of Soul Country while you can.