Artist Profile: Randy Houser
Houser Wrote "Honkytonk Badonkadonk" and Has a Hit with "Boots On"
Aug 16, 2009
Randy Houser was born in Jackson, Mississippi and raised in nearby Lake, Mississippi (population: 400). His parents divorced when Houser was seven years old. He spent several summers with his musician father, who taught him to play guitar and sing. The elder Houser was a first-rate session musician around the deep South.
The younger Houser began singing and playing in clubs at age 15, and began writing his own songs around this time. The Houser's father passed away when Randy was 21 years old.
Windswept Music
In 2003, Houser moved to Nashville and began getting work as a demo singer. He met Mississippi-born songwriters Fred Knobloch and Derek George, who encouraged him, and introduced him to industry executives who later signed Houser to a publishing deal with Windswept Music. Artists such as Justin Moore, John Michael Montgomery, and George Canyon began recording Houser's songs.
Houser's biggest success as a songwriter was with the song "Honkytonk Badonkadonk," which was written in 2005 with songwriting partners Jamey Johnson ("In Color") and Dallas Davidson. The song became a smash hit for country singer Trace Adkins. The song's suggestive video became popular on Country Music Televison (CMT), and on the airwaves; the song also became a danceclub smash.
Anything Goes Album
Windswept Publishing exec Cliff Audretch gave a copy of Houser's songs to producer Mark Wright; Wright loved Houser's voice and offered Houser his own recording deal with Universal South Records.
Houser recorded his debut album, Anything Goes. "I'll Sleep," from Randy Houser's first album, was written about watching his father pass away at a young age.
The album's first single, "Anything Goes," referred to a man's reaction to his failed relationship. The song's lyrics were slightly shocking for country radio, but it was well received. The song caught the attention of television host David Letterman, who invited Houser to perform the song on The Late show with David Letterman.
"Boots On" featuring Drake Dixon
The music video for the album's second hit single, "Boots On," features an interesting concept. Prior to the making of the music video, a Youtube clip featuring then 4-year-old Drake Dixon had become popular on the web. This video featured Dixon lip synching to the song and playing a miniature, plastic guitar. Dixon's nanny had captured the tyke's impromptu performance when he was in the backseat of her vehicle.
Houser watched the video and decided to incorporate it as part of the offical music video for the song. "Boots On" subsequently became another hit single from Houser's debut album.
Summary
Randy Houser has become an in-demand songwriter and singer. His debut album for Universal South Records has spawned two hits, "Anything Goes" and "Boots On."
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