Darryl Worley Bio

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Darryl Worley (born October 31, 1964 in Pyburn, Tennessee) is an American country music artist. Signed to DreamWorks Records Nashville in 2000, Worley released four albums for the label: Hard Rain Don't Last (2000), I Miss My Friend (2002), Have You Forgotten? (2003), and Darryl Worley in 2004. After the label closed in 2005, he moved to 903 Music, an independent label owned by Neal McCoy, releasing Here and Now in 2006, shortly before that label's closure. His most recent studio release is 2009's Sounds Like Life via Stroudavarious Records, owned by James Stroud.

Worley's six albums have produced seventeen singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, including three Number Ones: "I Miss My Friend", "Have You Forgotten?", and "Awful, Beautiful Life", from 2002, 2003 and 2004-2005, respectively. "Have You Forgotten?" spent seven weeks at Number One. Nine other singles have reached the Top 40.

Darryl Worley: Biography

Darryl Worley was born October 31, 1964 in Pyburn, Tennessee. His father was a Methodist preacher, and his mother sang in the church choir. Worley attended the University of North Alabama and earned a degree in biology with a major in chemistry. He worked in the chemical industry prior to pursuing country music, and wrote for FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. One of his first cuts as a songwriter was a track on Archer/Park's 1994 debut album.

Darryl Worley: Musical career

Darryl Worley - Hard Rain Don't Last (1999-2001)

Worley was signed to DreamWorks Records in 1999. His debut single "When You Need My Love" followed in early 2000, the first of four single releases from his debut album Hard Rain Don't Last. Following this song were "A Good Day to Run", "Second Wind" and "Sideways". Respectively, these singles peaked at #15, #12, #20 and #41 on the Billboard country charts. Production duties on the album were split between Frank Rogers and James Stroud. Also in 2000, George Jones charted with the single "Sinners & Saints", which Worley co-wrote.

Darryl Worley - I Miss My Friend (2002)

His second album, I Miss My Friend, followed in 2002. Its title track became his first Number One hit on the country charts that year, and was followed by the top 30 "Family Tree", written by Darrell Scott. This album was also his first Number One album on Top Country Albums.

Darryl Worley - Have You Forgotten? (2003)

Worley had his biggest hit in 2003 with the song "Have You Forgotten?", the first release from his 2003 album of the same name. This song reached Number One in its fifth week on the charts, and held its position for seven weeks. The album included only four new tracks counting "Have You Forgotten?", as well as six each from his first and second albums. "Tennessee River Run", one of the carryovers from I Miss My Friend, was issued as a single in 2003, peaking at #31. After it came his lowest-peaking single, "I Will Hold My Ground" at #57. Have You Forgotten? is also certified gold by the RIAA.

Darryl Worley - Darryl Worley (2004-2005)

2004 saw the release of Worley's fourth studio album, the self-titled Darryl Worley. Its lead-off single, the Harley Allen co-write "Awful, Beautiful Life", became his third Number One hit in early 2005. Following this song was the Top Ten "If Something Should Happen", as well as "I Love Her, She Hates Me", which stopped at #56 due to the closure of DreamWorks Records in mid-2005.

Darryl Worley - Here and Now (2006-2007)

Later that same year, Worley signed on with country singer Neal McCoy's vanity label 903 Music. His first release for 903 was "Nothin' but a Love Thang", which peaked at #35. This was the first of three singles from Here and Now, his fifth studio album. Also released from it were the Top 20 "I Just Came Back from a War" and the #54 "Here and Now", the chart run of which was halted by the closure of 903 music in May 2007.

Darryl Worley - Sounds Like Life (2008-Present)

Worley signed in 2008 to his third recording contract, this time with Stroudavarious Records, a label that Stroud founded in 2008. His sixteenth chart entry, "Tequila on Ice", was issued in the middle of that year, peaking at #44. Following it was "Sounds Like Life to Me", which has reached the Top 20. Both songs are included on his sixth release, Sounds Like Life.

Darryl Worley: Personal life

Darryl Worley performing for the troops at the Pentagon, April 2003

He opened a restaurant, the Worleybird Cafe, in Savannah, TN, with his wife, Beverly (whom he divorced in July 2006). He also has two brothers, Tommy and Barry.

Worley posed nude (non-full-frontal) for the July 2007 issue of Playgirl magazine.

Darryl Worley: Charitable works

Each year, Worley hosts a Charity Foundation Event, the "Tennessee River Run." Proceeds benefit the Darryl Worley Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that provides funds to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.