Born in 1966, Tracy Byrd grew up in Vidor, Texas, listening to traditional country and western swing music. Even so, Byrd didn't become seriously involved in music until he attended Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos. While in school, he began to play in local clubs. Eventually, Byrd dropped out of college when he decided to pursue music full-time. He formed a band called Rim Fire and started playing in southwest Louisiana and southeast Texas. In January of 1990, he walked into Cutter's in Beaumont which had recently produced another local country crooner, Mark Chesnutt. Byrd landed the gig at Cutter's and set a goal of making it to Nashville. He worked at the club with Chesnutt for about ten months and then became their featured singer when Chesnutt left for Nashville.

Once he found enough music to showcase, Byrd headed for Music City. After a few tries, Byrd landed a recording contract with MCA Records. His debut album Tracy Byrd was released in 1993. Byrd's first single "Holdin' Heaven," brought together Byrd's unique combination of easy vocals and dance hall energy and went to #1 that same year. His second album, No Ordinary Man, yielded three hits: "Lifestyles Of The Not So Rich And Famous," "Watermelon Crawl" and "The First Step" that became favorites in country dance halls. The fourth single, "The Keeper Of The Stars," introduced country audiences to a new romantic balladeer. It became Byrd's second #1 single, was a Top 5 nominee for CMA's Single of the Year, was named "Song of the Year" at the ACM Awards, and helped push No Ordinary Man to two million sales.

Since breaking onto the country music scene, Byrd has been one of the most consistent country performers, producing at least one album nearly every year. In 1998, he released a greatest hits recording titled Keepers. In addition to music, Byrd has a passion for the outdoors as well as philanthropic endeavors. He gives back to his southeast Texas community with the annual Tracy Byrd Homecoming Weekend held in March. This event includes a fishing tournament, concert and golf tournament which raise money for the Children's Miracle Network. Proceeds have underwritten the Tracy Byrd Hyperbaric Medicine and Wound Care Center at Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont. Byrd also hosts the Mossy Oak's "Hunting the Country" TV show on ESPN2. In addition, Byrd has published Eat Like a Byrd: The Tracy Byrd Cookbook which "uses rubs and marinades to create memorable meals." Byrd resides in Beaumont, Texas with his wife Michelle, a Port Arthur native, and their children.

Return to Music Legends...