Daughtry

Biography

Daughtry is an American rock band formed and fronted by namesake Chris Daughtry, who was a finalist on the fifth season of American Idol. Their self-titled debut album was released in November 2006 and reached number one on the Billboard 200. The album went on to sell more than six million copies in the United States, and has been certified six times platinum by the RIAA. Daughtry was also named the best selling album of 2007 by Billboard, becoming the fastest-selling debut rock album in Nielsen SoundScan history. The album produced four top 20 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including top five hits "It's Not Over×It's Not Over1 November 2006 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1It's Not Over (radio edit)3:282It's Not Over (Callout Hook)0:14" and "Home".
The band's second album, Leave This Town×Leave This Town14 July 2009 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1You Don't Belong4:002No Surprise4:303Every Time You Turn Around3:394Life After You3:265What I Meant to Say3:106Open Up Your Eyes4:197September4:008Ghost of Me3:409Learn My Lesson3:5110Supernatural3:3911Tennessee Line4:3712Call Your Name4:03, was released in July 2009 and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, becoming Daughtry's second number one album in the United States. To date, Leave This Town has sold over 1.3 million copies in the United States and has been certified platinum by the RIAA. The album's lead single, "No Surprise×No Surprise5 May 2009 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1No Surprise4:102Back Again3:39", became the band's fifth top 20 hit on the Hot 100. Their third studio album, Break the Spell×Break the Spell21 November 2011 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Renegade3:342Crawling Back to You3:453Outta My Head3:314Start of Something Good4:245Crazy3:246Break the Spell3:327We're Not Gonna Fall3:198Gone Too Soon3:369Losing My Mind3:4910Rescue Me3:2311Louder Than Ever3:3712Spaceship3:51, was released in November 2011 and debuted within the top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album has been certified Gold by the RIAA. Daughtry's fourth studio album, Baptized×Baptized15 November 2013 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Baptized3:122Waiting for Superman4:273Battleships3:524I'll Fight3:015Wild Heart3:516Long Live Rock & Roll3:367The World We Knew3:368High Above the Ground3:119Broken Arrows4:0910Witness4:1111Traitor3:041218 Years4:5113Undefeated3:4014Cinderella3:1315Battleships (acoustic)3:4216Long Live Rock & Roll (acoustic)3:37, was released in November 2013, and debuted at number six on the Billboard 200 chart, selling approximately 90,000 units. They released their fifth and sixth albums, Cage to Rattle×Cage to Rattle27 July 2018 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Just Found Heaven4:142Backbone3:013Deep End3:514As You Are3:415Death of Me3:316Bad Habits3:317Back in Time4:108Gravity3:419Stuff of Legends3:5110White Flag4:54 and Dearly Beloved×Dearly Beloved17 September 2021 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Desperation4:482World on Fire3:353Heavy Is the Crown3:544Changes Are Coming3:415Dearly Beloved3:426Cry for Help3:537Asylum3:558Evil3:319The Victim3:4110Somebody3:4011Call You Mine4:1512Lioness3:3513Break Into My Heart3:4914Hunger Strike4:04, in July 2018 and September×September1 June 2010 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1September4:002What Have We Become3:43 2021, respectively. To date, Daughtry has sold over 9 million albums and over 25.6 million digital tracks in the U.S.

2005–2008: Origins, Daughtry and breakthrough success

Chris Daughtry, who finished in fourth place on the fifth season of American Idol in 2006, stated that he would form a new band after turning down Fuel's offer to become their lead singer. On July 10, 2006, Chris Daughtry had signed with RCA Records and 19 Recordings, which held contracts with fellow American Idol contestants such as Kelly Clarkson and Clay Aiken, and among others. Chris Daughtry is a singer-songwriter himself and has collaborated with several other songwriters, such as Live's Ed Kowalczyk, Seether's Shaun Morgan, Goo Goo Dolls's John Rzeznik, Fuel's Carl Bell, 3 Doors Down's Brad Arnold, Matchbox Twenty's Rob Thomas, SR-71's Mitch Allan, Shinedown's Brent Smith, Three Days Grace's Adam Gontier, and the former The Click Five singer Eric Dill, Theory of a Deadman's Tyler Connolly, Lifehouse's Jason Wade and Nickelback's Chad Kroeger.

Daughtry and members of his label held auditions. Ultimately, they chose four members for the band: Jeremy Brady, 21, guitarist (no longer in the band); Josh Steely, 36, lead guitarist; Josh Paul (no longer with the band), 29, bassist who played for Suicidal Tendencies; Joey Barnes, 30, drummer, (no longer with the band). Two of the band members hail from North Carolina – Barnes, whom Chris had known for some time, and Brady, who was introduced to him a month before the audition. Steely and Paul are both from California. The decision was made to name the band "Daughtry" in order to keep name recognition. In an interview, Chris Daughtry said, "We could have come out with a really obscure name, but coming from a TV show and having name recognition, it was easier just to go with my last name."
The band's self-titled debut album was produced by Howard Benson and was released by RCA Records on November 21, 2006. Chris Daughtry wrote and co-wrote all but two songs on the album – "Feels Like Tonight×Feels Like Tonight2007 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Feels Like Tonight4:002Crashed (MSN Control Room)3:55" and "What About Now×What About Now1 July 2008 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1What About Now (album version)4:102What About Now (Call Out Hook)0:10". Other notable songwriters Dr. Luke and Max Martin contributed to the album, and session drummer Josh Freese played on all tracks. However, at the time the album was recorded, Chris was the only official member of the band, leading some to mistakenly believe that the band Daughtry is his solo career.
Daughtry was an instant success and spawned several hits for the group, starting with its first single "It's Not Over×It's Not Over1 November 2006 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1It's Not Over (radio edit)3:282It's Not Over (Callout Hook)0:14", which debuted on the radio on December 6, 2006, after being delayed from a planned September release and reaching number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and hitting the top 3 in several other charts. Shortly thereafter, Jeremy Brady departed and was replaced with Brian Craddock, 31, from Virginia. In interviews, Chris Daughtry and Craddock have discussed having known each other when Chris Daughtry was still a member of Absent Element.
After the success of "It's Not Over," the second single from the album, "Home" was released and peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100, after debuting at number 83, weeks ahead of its official release to radio. The song was also the official "kick-off" song on sixth season of American Idol, played after a contestant was voted off the show, also the case during season five of Australian Idol. The Brazilian version of Idol, called Ídolos Brazil, used this song as well in its second season. The album's third single, "What I Want×What I Want23 April 2007 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1What I Want2:48", was released to rock radio on April 23, 2007, featuring musician Slash on lead guitars. The single has peaked at number 6 on the rock charts and is featured as a playable song on Guitar Hero: On Tour for the Nintendo DS. The band's fourth single "Over You×Over You4 February 2008 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Over You3:252There and Back Again (AOL Music Sessions)3:11" was released on July 24, 2007. The band performed this single live on Good Morning America on June 1, 2007. "Crashed×Crashed5 September 2007 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Crashed (mix #2)3:35", the album's fifth single, was released to rock stations on September×September1 June 2010 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1September4:002What Have We Become3:43 10, 2007, where it was also used in a commercial for Lego Bionicle. The song was also performed on the Pre-Race show on ABC for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Chevy Rock and Roll 400. The album's sixth single, "Feels Like Tonight", was released on January 8, 2008, just over a year after the album's release. The video debuted in January and the song was used for the 2007 WWE Tribute to the Troops. Their song "There and Back Again×There and Back Again14 July 2026 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1It's Not Over3:352Over You3:253Home4:164What About Now4:115What I Want2:496There and Back Again3:177Crashed3:318No Surprise4:319Life After You3:2710September4:0011Crawling Back to You3:46" was also the official theme song for WWE Backlash in 2007.
Due to the success of the singles, Daughtry was certified 4× Platinum on April 24, 2008. The group was on page 8 on Myspace.com of the most played artists, with over 29 million plays. In addition, the group has appeared on the famous compilation album series Now That's What I Call Music! five times, with their songs "It's Not Over", "Home", "Over You", "Feels Like Tonight" and "What About Now". The band was also nominated for four Grammy Awards in 2008, for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, Best Rock Album, Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. According to billboard.com, Daughtry has had twenty number one hits around the world.
A deluxe edition of Daughtry's self-titled album was released on September 9, 2008. Along with the original CD, this expanded CD/DVD package features four bonus tracks, including acoustic versions of "What About Now," "It's Not Over", and "Home", plus a cover of Foreigner's "Feels Like the First Time". The DVD contains all five of Daughtry's music videos, two rarely seen live clips, and exclusive behind-the-scenes tour footage.
A shortened version of their massive hit single "Home" was used at the end of the English League Cup Final in February 2008 when the compilation of Tottenham Hotspur victory over Chelsea was shown at the end of the Sky coverage.

2009–2010: Leave This Town

The second album, Leave This Town×Leave This Town14 July 2009 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1You Don't Belong4:002No Surprise4:303Every Time You Turn Around3:394Life After You3:265What I Meant to Say3:106Open Up Your Eyes4:197September4:008Ghost of Me3:409Learn My Lesson3:5110Supernatural3:3911Tennessee Line4:3712Call Your Name4:03 was released on July 14, 2009, with fourteen songs making the cut from the nineteen recorded songs. Chris said that the record is a very big rock album. He has also stated that the band had written and recorded over thirty new songs. He worked with Chad Kroeger from Nickelback, Ryan Tedder from OneRepublic, Trevor McNevan from Thousand Foot Krutch, Jason Wade from Lifehouse, Richard Marx, Scott Stevens from The Exies, Adam Gontier, vocalist of Three Days Grace and Eric Dill, former vocalist for The Click Five.
The album's first single, "No Surprise×No Surprise5 May 2009 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1No Surprise4:102Back Again3:39", was released on May 5, 2009, through their website. It officially went for radio play on May 26. Daughtry appeared on American Idol on May 6, 2009 (which is the Result Show of season 8's 'Rock Week') performing "No Surprise". "Life After You×Life After You20 November 2009 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Life After You3:262Life After You (acoustic version)3:31" was the follow-up single to "No Surprise".
Leave This Town debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 selling 269,000 copies in its first week. The record was also number one on the Digital Albums Chart and the Rock Chart.
After Leave This Town was released, Daughtry became the first American Idol artist to have two consecutive number-one albums. Carrie Underwood later achieved this accolade when her albums Carnival Ride (2007) and Play On (2009) went number one.
Daughtry performed on-stage at the American Music Awards on November 22, 2009, and sang their hit single "Life After You".
On November 10, 2009, USA Today revealed that Daughtry band members Chris Daughtry and Brian Craddock co-wrote "Don't Wanna Be Wrong", an iTunes Deluxe bonus track on Allison Iraheta's debut album, Just Like You.
On March 15, 2010, the band released the extended play Leave This Town: The B-Sides with six songs that were not released with the first album. A seventh song, "Back Again," was only available on physical releases of the EP.
On April 16, 2010, drummer Joey Barnes and the band had parted ways. Robin Diaz was tapped to replace him for the band's ongoing tour.
"September×September1 June 2010 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1September4:002What Have We Become3:43" was the third single from Leave This Town and it peaked at number two on HAC radio charts, number eighteen on Pop radio charts and number 36 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

2011–2012: Break the Spell

The band's third album, Break the Spell×Break the Spell21 November 2011 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Renegade3:342Crawling Back to You3:453Outta My Head3:314Start of Something Good4:245Crazy3:246Break the Spell3:327We're Not Gonna Fall3:198Gone Too Soon3:369Losing My Mind3:4910Rescue Me3:2311Louder Than Ever3:3712Spaceship3:51 was released on November 21, 2011. They released the song "Drown in You" for the soundtrack to Batman: Arkham City.
Break the Spell debuted at number eight on the Billboard Top 200 on November 28, 2011, with 129,000 copies sold. As of January 2012 the album has sold 407,000 copies in the United States. On January 26, "Crawling Back to You×Crawling Back to You3 October 2011 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Crawling Back to You3:45" debuted at number twenty-four on the Japan Hot 100. "Renegade", "Crawling Back to You", and "Outta My Head×Outta My Head13 March 2012 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Outta My Head3:31" are the three singles released from the album. The fourth single "Start of Something Good×Start of Something Good4 September 2012 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Start of Something Good3:45" was released on September 4, 2012.
Daughtry commemorated Memorial Day with a performance of "Home" on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. at PBS' National Memorial Day Concert on May 27, 2012.
On May 29, Chris announced that the band was in the studio working on "really cool stuff". They were recording an acoustic version of "Rescue Me×Rescue Me11 July 2012 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Rescue Me (acoustic version)3:19" for DC Comics' "We Can Be Heroes" initiative in the Horn of Africa. The reimagined version of the song was released exclusively to iTunes on July 11, 2012.
On September 24, 2012, the band released a statement on its website that Josh Paul had decided to leave the band. Paul said, "The time has come for me to bow out and let the band continue on without me. This has been a very difficult decision, as these are not only my band mates, but my brothers."

2013–2016: Baptized and It's Not Over...The Hits So Far

During Daughtry's two days of writing for the album, they worked with Matt Thiessen, wrote with Blair Daly, and Espionage.
On March 27, 2013, Daughtry tweeted that they had been working with Martin Johnson of Boys Like Girls and Rock Mafia. Over the course of several days in May, he revealed other artists with whom he was collaborating, including Scott Stevens, Ali Tamposi, The Monsters and the Strangerz, Martin Johnson, and Sam Hollander. Daughtry tweeted that he was cutting vocals for the album on May 15. A few days later, Chris Daughtry tweeted that Josh Paul had rejoined the band. On May 22, 2013, Chris Daughtry played a new song, "Broken Arrows", that he wrote for the new album. Chris said that they hope to have the first single out by the end of the year and the entire record out by February 2014.
On August 23, Chris said that he had the album title and that the fans will hear the single very soon. Throughout early September, Daughtry teased the single's cover and snippets of its lyrics. There was a contest to reveal their new single; unfortunately, on September 12, it was leaked by someone from RCA Records, revealing the single's name of "Waiting for Superman×Waiting for Superman17 September 2013 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Waiting for Superman4:27", which was released on September 17. Their fourth album was named Baptized×Baptized15 November 2013 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Baptized3:122Waiting for Superman4:273Battleships3:524I'll Fight3:015Wild Heart3:516Long Live Rock & Roll3:367The World We Knew3:368High Above the Ground3:119Broken Arrows4:0910Witness4:1111Traitor3:041218 Years4:5113Undefeated3:4014Cinderella3:1315Battleships (acoustic)3:4216Long Live Rock & Roll (acoustic)3:37 and released November 19, 2013.
The band performed on the 2013 Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest.
On May 21, 2014, Daughtry and Robin Diaz parted ways due to scheduling conflicts.
A greatest hits album, It's Not Over×It's Not Over1 November 2006 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1It's Not Over (radio edit)3:282It's Not Over (Callout Hook)0:14...The Hits So Far, was released on February 12, 2016, with singles from their studio albums and two new songs. On January 29, 2016, "Torches×Torches28 January 2016 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Torches3:32" was released as the lead single.

2016–2018: Cage to Rattle

On April 20, 2016, Chris Daughtry posted a video on Instagram of him tracking guitar. Chris has also posted pictures of him in the studio recording vocals. He said that the album will be more rock focused saying that "It's not such a dramatic departure from what we did on the first three albums, as opposed to the last record, where it was very pop-driven production." On May 21, 2016, while performing at the O2 Academy in Birmingham, Chris said: "I regret to inform you that other than the two songs that's on the greatest hits we don't have anything new to play yet. However I do promise you this, we are working on the fifth album and there are guitars on it. Take that how you want, but it is a rock record so ..." As of May 31, the band was in the tracking process of their next album at Blackbird Studios in Nashville, Tennessee, according to Chris' Instagram. On June 25, they performed the song, "Backbone×Backbone30 March 2018 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Backbone3:03", during the Feed the Machine tour with Nickelback at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids Charter Township, Michigan.
On March 30, 2018, "Backbone" was released as the lead single from their upcoming fifth studio album, Cage to Rattle×Cage to Rattle27 July 2018 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Just Found Heaven4:142Backbone3:013Deep End3:514As You Are3:415Death of Me3:316Bad Habits3:317Back in Time4:108Gravity3:419Stuff of Legends3:5110White Flag4:54. The first official single from Cage to Rattle was "Deep End×Deep End6 June 2018 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Deep End3:51," and the album was released on July 27, 2018.

2019–2023: The Masked Singer, departure from RCA, and Dearly Beloved

In September 2019, Daughtry and RCA, their record label since 2006, decided to split ways. The split was due to contract fulfillment, wanting to part ways. On the spilt Daughtry said, "We've always been a rock band. And when you're dealing with a major label, there's always that pressure of needing to turn in hits and needing to cater to a certain format, and I didn't want to do that anymore."
On November 20, 2019, Chris Daughtry revealed via his Instagram that Daughtry had started to record their sixth studio album and had teamed up with producer Scott Stevens.
On December 18, 2019, Chris Daughtry was revealed to be the "Rottweiler" in the second season of The Masked Singer. He performed "Alive×Alive18 December 2019 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Alive4:23" by Sia on the finale, and it was released as a single by the band.
On August 10, 2020, Daughtry announced that while they are working on a new album, the COVID-19 pandemic halted the band's recording process. It was also rumored Daughtry has signed with Warner Music Group. It was later revealed that while Daughtry is now independent, their distribution falls under Warner Music.
On August 13, 2020, Daughtry released their single "World on Fire×World on Fire13 August 2020 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1World on Fire3:38." On March 18, 2021, they released the single "Heavy Is the Crown×Heavy Is the Crown18 March 2021 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Heavy Is the Crown3:552World on Fire3:38." On May 28, the band released a cover version of the band Temple of the Dog's song "Hunger Strike×Hunger Strike28 May 2021 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Hunger Strike4:03" featuring Lajon Witherspoon.
The band's sixth studio album, Dearly Beloved×Dearly Beloved17 September 2021 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Desperation4:482World on Fire3:353Heavy Is the Crown3:544Changes Are Coming3:415Dearly Beloved3:426Cry for Help3:537Asylum3:558Evil3:319The Victim3:4110Somebody3:4011Call You Mine4:1512Lioness3:3513Break Into My Heart3:4914Hunger Strike4:04, was released on September×September1 June 2010 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1September4:002What Have We Become3:43 17, 2021. Along with the announcement of the album, the band released the single "Lioness×Lioness16 July 2021 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Lioness3:35".
On January 16, 2022, Josh Paul announced in an Instagram post that he was leaving the band once again.
On January 5, 2023, the band released a cover of Journey's 1983 hit "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)×Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)5 January 2023 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) (Stripped Down)4:232Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)5:16", featuring guest vocals from Halestorm frontwoman Lzzy Hale.
On June 10, 2023, Brandon Maclin announced via Instagram that he was leaving the band. Jeremy Schaffer was confirmed as the band's new drummer on June 22.

2023–present: Label change and Shock to the System

In August 2023, Big Machine Records announced that they had signed the band. They released the single, "Artificial×ARTIFICIAL11 August 2023 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1ARTIFICIAL3:39", on August 11. On February 9, 2024, "Artificial" reached number one on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Airplay chart. The band released the single, "Pieces×PIECES22 March 2024 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1PIECES4:042ARTIFICIAL3:39", on March 22, 2024. Daughtry announced in June that their next album would be released in two parts, with the first part being released in September. The single, "Nervous×NERVOUS28 June 2024 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1NERVOUS3:252PIECES4:043ARTIFICIAL3:39", was released on June 28. On August 9, 2024, the band released the single, "The Reckoning×THE RECKONING9 August 2024 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1THE RECKONING3:002ARTIFICIAL3:393PIECES4:044NERVOUS3:26". They also announced that their EP, Shock to the System (Part One)×SHOCK TO THE SYSTEM (PART ONE)27 September 2024 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1THE RECKONING3:002ARTIFICIAL3:393PIECES4:044SHOCK TO THE SYSTEM3:175NERVOUS3:266THE DAM4:01, would be released on September×September1 June 2010 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1September4:002What Have We Become3:43 27, 2024. Shock to the System (Part Two) was released on September 12, 2025.
On July 14, 2026, the band released a compilation of eleven re-recorded songs from their catalog entitled There And Back Again×There and Back Again14 July 2026 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1It's Not Over3:352Over You3:253Home4:164What About Now4:115What I Want2:496There and Back Again3:177Crashed3:318No Surprise4:319Life After You3:2710September4:0011Crawling Back to You3:46. According to Chris Daughtry, the new recordings deliberately mirror their original counterparts "note for note."

Artistry

Daughtry's music is primarily defined by pop rock, hard rock and post-grunge influences. AllMusic describes the sound as "muscular hard rock with heart."
In a January 2024 interview with Tommy Behnke of The Daily Herald, Chris Daughtry said that he grew tired of producing softer-sounding music at the recommendation of RCA Records that he did not always feel passionate about making.