Troy Olsen

Growing up in rural Arizona, Troy Olsen had to make a concerted effort to hear music. At his grandparents' house, where he and his cousins worked the farm, there was a portable radio that played country standards of the '60s and '70s. When he got older, he'd take the family truck up to the top of a plateau and plug the portable television into the cigarette lighter to watch country music videos. After seeing the likes of Dwight Yoakam, Steve Earle and Foster & Lloyd, he knew he had to get a guitar and start writing songs. Bands in high school led to bands in college, although there was probably more playing than studying back in those days. At night, Olsen would perform in cover bands and record his own songs in between classes. He left Arizona in 2002 to try his hand at Nashville. One song, "I'll Just Hold On," was recorded by Blake Shelton and became a chart hit. Shortly after, Tim McGraw chose "Ghost Town Train" to record for his album, Southern Voice. In 2009, Olsen signed with EMI. His debut single, "Summer Thing," was released in May 2010, followed by "Good Hands."