Will Hoge

Will Hoge was born on November 14, 1972, and raised in Franklin, Tennessee, a city located south of Nashville. His early exposure to music came through his father and uncles, who were musicians and maintained an extensive record collection. Initially, Hoge pursued higher education at Western Kentucky University, where he studied history with intentions of becoming a high school history teacher and basketball coach. However, his aspirations shifted towards rock and roll, leading him to leave the university to focus on writing and performing music.

In the mid-1990s, Will Hoge formed a band called Spoonful and released an early EP of original music. Though the band ultimately disbanded without a record deal, some of these initial songs were later re-recorded and released on subsequent albums. Transitioning to a solo career, Hoge began touring the American South, often accompanied by former The Georgia Satellites guitarist Dan Baird. His independent release, “Live At The Exit/In,” recorded at a Nashville club, garnered attention. This led to his first studio album, “Carousel,” whose unique sound and Hoge’s consistent touring efforts helped build a dedicated fan base.

Hoge’s career progressed with a record deal from Atlantic Records in early 2002, which saw “Carousel” re-released to a wider market. In 2003, he released “Blackbird On A Lonely Wire,” his major label debut. Following this, he chose to leave Atlantic Records to regain control of his music. Over the years, Hoge has independently released several albums, including “The America EP” (featuring a Bob Dylan cover) and “The Man Who Killed Love.” He has consistently toured with established artists such as Midnight Oil, Shinedown, and ZZ Top, and his songs like “Even If It Breaks Your Heart” have achieved notable recognition, including a Grammy nomination, CMA nomination, and ACM nomination.