Jeff Bates

Infobox musical artist

|
Name = Jeff Bates
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name =
Born = birth date and age|1963|9|19
Origin = Bunker Hill, Mississippi, USA
Instrument = Vocals, Electric Guitar,Acoustic Guitar
Genre = Country
Occupation = Singer-songwriter
Years_active = 2003–present
Label = RCA Nashville, Black River
URL = [http://www.jeffbates.net/ Official website]

Jeff Bates (born September 19, 1963 in Bunker Hill, Mississippi) is an American country music artist. Signed to RCA Records in 2003, Bates made his debut on the American country music scene with his single "The Love Song", which peaked at #8 on the "Billboard" Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts. The single was followed by the release of his debut album "Rainbow Man". A second album, "Leave the Light On", produced the Top 20 "Long, Slow Kisses", before Bates was dropped from RCA. In 2008, a self-titled album was released on the Black River label.

Biography

When Bates was three months old, he was given up by his biological mother and adopted by a sharecropping family. In the early 2000s, he spent time in jail for grand larceny. He had started stealing from friends to pay for an 18-month addiction to methamphetamine. He went through withdrawal in a jail cell and credits prayer and a 12-step program for staying clean. He has co-written a number of songs with Kenny Beard. While in jail, Bates called Beard to let him know where he had pawned Beard's favorite guitar for drug money.Fact|date=April 2008

In August 2006, a $3,500 guitar that was a gift to Bates from the Takamine guitar company and used in his video "One Second Chance" was stolen from Bates' garage. When Bates called the Nashville police, Det. Rick Mavity was sent to investigate. Mavity was the same officer involved in Bates' arrest. Mavity located the stolen guitar in a pawn shop and returned it to Bates.

Bates has been active in his works of compassion, collecting for organizations such as Toys for Tots and others. In 2005, a concert in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, raised $25,000 for Hurricane Katrina relief in his home area.

In May 2007, Bates married his wife, Kelly, in an outdoor ceremony. A year later, he signed to Black River records and released his self-titled third album.

Discography

Albums

ingles

*^A "Long, Slow Kisses" was originally included on "Rainbow Man". The song's radio edit is only available on "Leave the Light On".
*^B Failed to chart.
*^C Current single.

External links

* [http://www.jeffbates.net/ Official Jeff Bates website]
* [http://www.ocolproject.com Operation Circle Of Love]