PLATINUM PROFILE: DIERKS BENTLEY

Name: Dierks Bentley

GEORGE JONES, HANK WILLIAMS Jr., DEL McCOURY Band ARE THE ONES THAT INFLUENCED THIS ARTIST.

Dierks Bentley was born on November 20, 1975 in Phoenix. When he was 19, he moved to Nashville, where he got a job with The Nashville Network (now Spike TV), researching country music performances. He played nights at various venues all over town, and recorded a demo, which lead to a songwriting deal.
In 2003, he was signed to Capitol Nashville, where he recorded his self-titled debut album, which contained the No. 1 hit "What Was I Thinkin'." The album went on to sell over one million copies, earning Dierks a Platinum certification.
In 2005, he released his sophomore release, entitled Modern Day Drifter. The album was another success, earning him another Platinum certification, and two more No. 1 songs, with "Come a Little Closer" and "Settle for a Slowdown." That year, he also won the CMA Horizon Award, and he was invited to join the Grand Ole Opry , Arizona. At the age of 13, he taught himself to play guitar, and played mostly the rock songs his friends listened to, until a friend played him a Hank Williams, Jr. song, called "Man to Man."

Long Trip Alone was released in 2006, bringing Bentley another pair of No. 1 songs, with "Every Mile a Memory" and "Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go)."

With all the hits he had scored in his young career, a Greatest Hits album was planned, and Dierks offered his fans the chance to be executive producers, and help him choose the name of the album. Greatest Hits: Every Mile a Memory 2003-2008 was released on May 6, 2008.

In February 2009, Dierks released his fifth studio album, entitled Feel That Fire. Dierks will tour in 2009 with BRAD PAISLEY on the American Saturday Night Tour starting in the Summer, as well as play headlining dates on his own.

this info came from about.com

Y'ALL GO OUT AND SEE THIS PLATINUM PROFILE ARTIST ON TOUR!! C