ARTIST BIO:
Country singer, songwriter and performer Mike Short Jr., 22, was raised in the small town of Ottsville, Pennsylvania.
He will be the first to tell you that his most influential and memorable experiences are grounded in the quaint town on Hoopers Island, Maryland, where he truly began to value the importance of family, heritage, and pride.
“Growing up, I chose to spend most of my time with family. I was different than most of my peers, and I felt it at a young age. I never needed to prove who I was or pretend to be who I wasn’t.”
Mike began his music career at age 11, where he sang in karaoke clubs throughout Pennsylvania and Maryland. Growing up, his music influences were Tim McGraw, Johnny Cash and Gary Allan, among others.
As a sophomore at Pennridge High School in Perkasie, Pennsylvania, Mike was an underdog at the school’s singing competition. He blew everyone away with his twang and soulful renditions of Tim McGraw’s hit songs “She’s My Kind of Rain” and “Real Good Man” to claim first prize. It was at that moment Mike realized his life’s dream to sing and perform on stage.
Upon graduating high school, Mike moved to Nashville to pursue his music dream and an education. He enrolled at Middle Tennessee State University to study Agriculture and Music, and formed his four-member band called StateWide.
Since moving to Nashville, Mike has recorded his debut CD entitled “Blame It On Me”, toured 18-cities throughout the mid-Atlantic region, and was a southern bachelor contestant on season one of CMT’s hit reality show “Sweet Home Alabama“.
His most recent CD, “Stirrin’ Things Up”, has the edgy alternative country rock sound that is popular among big-named artists, sound such Aldean and Gilbert. In summer 2012, Mike and StateWide completed a 25-city tour to promote his latest CD and music videos, “Drive Bye” and “Stirrin’ Things Up”.
Last year, Mike Short Jr. was named “Country Boy of the Year” by voting customers of Country Girl/Country Boy apparel and a finalist in the American Country Star singing challenge. This year, Short took home “Video-of-the-Year” honors for his “Drive Bye” music video at the first-annual Nashville Universe singer competition held in Nashville. He was also a finalist in three other categories including “Male Artist of the Year”, “Entertainer of the Year”, and “Song of the Year” for “Stirrin’ Things Up”.
Mike Short Jr. doesn’t know what his future has in store. But the avid outdoorsman, hunter, black belt expert, soccer player and lover of family has chosen a path to follow.
“My dreams are to continue writing songs that not only make you want to sing along, but that connect to a crowd emotionally, leaving a lasting impact. I hope to perform on even bigger stages in front of larger audiences. My goal is to succeed in what I love to do, not forgetting where I came from, but using it as the foundation that has made me the musician I am today.”
For the latest Mike Short Jr. and Statewide tour schedule, bookings, merchandise and other information, visit www.mikeshortjr.com. Fans can also follow Mike Short Jr. on Twitter @mikeshortjr or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/#!/mikeshortjrandstatewide.
