Description
An inspiring high school graduation performance and $80 were all it took to get singer/songwriter Kurt Thomas hooked on the music business. And now, the small town country boy from Dahlonega, GA has recorded four CD’s and opened for some of the biggest names in country music including Kenny Chesney, Brooks & Dunn, LeAnn Rimes, Gary Alan, Darius Rucker, Zac Brown Band, Ronnie Milsap and Josh Turner.
Kurt grew up enjoying the close-knit country life in Dahlonega where he heard local musician, Jay Drummonds, sing “Small Town” by John Cougar Mellencamp at his high school graduation. At that moment, he decided that’s what he wanted to do with his life and after graduation; he bought his first guitar for $80 and started his musical career.
Eventually, Kurt started his own band, Kurt Thomas and the Small Town Band, in honor of the night he decided to make music his life and to honor the way of life that he had been raised to love.
The small town way of life is a frequent theme in many of the songs Kurt writes. Kurt recalls that he used to work at an old country store called Pierce’s. “All the old farmers would hang out there in the mornings and tell stories about their lives and I guess that it had a big impact on my life” says Kurt. He has written/produced several albums and has most recently collaborated with Grammy Award Winning writer, Dennis Morgan on Kurt’s soon to be released album “Give it Hell Trying”.
“Kurt’s songwriting ability is one of the most amazing talents I have seen in my many years in the music business”, said Lee Davis of MLD Productions, an opinion supported by Kurt’s win of Kenny Chesney’s Next Big Star contest making him the opening act for Chesney, Brooks & Dunn, Sammy Hagar, LeAnn Rimes, Gary Alan and Sugarland. Kurt has also opened Joe Diffie, Little Big Town and Ronnie Milsap.
After opening for Chesney, Kurt went on to win CMT’s Music City Madness – a nationwide contest that lead to Kurt’s doing an Unplugged Studio 330 session on CMT as well as a mentorship with Grammy-award winning singer, Randy Travis.
Kurt has a unique ability to captivate an audience – whether playing old favorites or his own songs. “I have always tried to stay in touch with the fact that a good song tells a story and most of my songs always do”, says Kurt.
Today, Kurt Thomas is doing what he does best: writing songs and playing shows all over the United States. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Sabrina, and they have four children. “I’m loving life and enjoying the ride”, says Kurt, while living out his dream.