Ryan Bingham

Ryan Bingham might exude the man-child innocence of an Abercrombie & Fitch model, but the modern-day cowboy spent his youth boot-deep in ranch work and rodeo competitions. Before signing with the prestigious Americana label Lost Highway in 2007, the Texan spent years wandering the American southwest: riding bulls by day, sleeping in his truck by night. When not at work he'd strum his guitar or soak up the country twang emanating from the jukebox at his uncle's saloon. Gradually shifting his focus to making music, Bingham began playing the bar circuit in central Texas. After self-releasing a pair of albums, Lost Bound Rails and Wishbone Saloon, he released his debut for Lost Highway: 2007's Mescalito. Produced by former Black Crowes guitarist Marc Ford, the record boasted a gravelly mix of Drive-By Truckers-influenced Southern rock and Lone Star-bred Americana. Bingham's sophomore release, Roadhouse Sun, found him expanding his sound to include touches of light psychedelia and Dylan-like folk-rock. In 2010, "The Weary Kind," the songwriter's theme song for the critically acclaimed movie Crazy Heart, won the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song.