Rory Feek

{{short description|American singer-songwriter}} {{Cleanup bare URLs|date=August 2022}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2020}} {{Infobox person | name = Rory Feek | image = Rory Feek (cropped).jpg | caption = Feek at the 45th Academy of Country Music Awards in 2010 | image_size = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1965|4|25}}<ref name="cyd">{{cite web |url=http://thislifeilive.com/hawaii-five-o/ |title=This Life I Live |access-date=February 4, 2016 }}</ref> | birth_place = Atchison, Kansas, U.S. | occupation = Singer-songwriter | years_active = 1996–present (songwriter) 2008–2016, 2020–present (singer) | website = | module = {{Infobox musical artist|embed=yes | background = solo_singer | instrument = Vocals | genre = Country | label = Sugar Hill/Vanguard (in Joey + Rory) | spouse = {{plainlist| * {{Marriage|Tamara Gilmer|1985|1992|end=divorced}} * {{Marriage|Joey Feek|2002|2016|end=died}} * {{Marriage|Rebecca|2024}} }}

| past_member_of = Joey + Rory }} }}

'''Rory Lee Feek''' (born April 25, 1965) is an American country music singer and songwriter. In his career, he has written singles for Clay Walker, Blake Shelton, Tracy Byrd and other artists. He and his wife, Joey Feek, formed the duo Joey + Rory and was placed third on the first season of the CMT talent show ''Can You Duet''. He also established Giantslayer Records for launching of new independent artists.

==Personal life== thumb|left|alt=Feek on stage with Gabe Mccauley and Joel Salatin at the Music Ranch Montana on July 10, 2021|Feek on stage with Gabe Mccauley and Joel Salatin at the Music Ranch Montana on July 10, 2021

Rory Lee Feek was born and raised in Atchison, Kansas. In his blog, ThisLifeILive.com,<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Blog|url=https://www.roryfeek.com/blog|access-date=2021-04-07|website=www.roryfeek.com|language=en}}</ref> he gives his birth year as 1965. Feek married Tamara Gilmer on August 3, 1985, and they divorced March 25, 1992. In 2002, he married Joey Feek, with whom he started the duo Joey + Rory. They have one daughter, Indiana Boone (born February 17, 2014), who was born with Down syndrome. Feek also has two older daughters, Heidi Feek (born 1986) and Hopie Feek (born 1988),<ref>http://www.thislifeilive.com/happymothersdaydad</ref> from his previous marriage. Joey died of metastatic cervical cancer on March 4, 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|last=songrory|date=2016-03-13|title=dust to dust|url=https://www.roryfeek.com/post/dust-to-dust|access-date=2021-04-07|website=www.roryfeek.com|language=en}}</ref>

Feek has a friendship<ref>{{Cite web|title=Joel Salatin's Blog|url=https://www.thelunaticfarmer.com/blog/6/18/2019/rory-feek|access-date=2021-07-20|website=wwww.thelunaticfarmer.com|date=June 18, 2019 |language=en}}</ref> and working relationship with Joel F. Salatin with whom he has collaborated in several performances promoting sustainable farming. Feek hosted a series of discussions on sustainable farming in 2020 <ref>{{Cite web|title=Rory's Squarespace Blog|url=https://roryfeek.squarespace.com/the-blog//a-frank-conversation|access-date=2021-07-20|website=roryfeek.squarespace.com|language=en}}</ref> and again in 2021 in an event billed as "Songs, Stories & Sustainability with Joel Salatin and Rory Feek" <ref>{{Cite web|title=Joel Salatin and Rory Feek "the GENTLE MAN & the FARMER"|url=https://bozemanmagazine.com/events/2021/07/10/92225-joel-salatin-and-rory-feek-the-gentle-man-the|access-date=2021-07-20|website=bozemanmagazine.com|language=en}}</ref> at the Music Ranch Montana. On Feek's property outside of Nashville, he has a farm, a concert hall and school house.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The School|url=https://www.roryfeek.com/school|access-date=2021-07-20|website=www.roryfeek.com|language=en}}</ref>

Eight years following the death of Joey, Feek married Rebecca on July 14, 2024 in Greycliff, Montana.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://people.com/country-singer-rory-feek-remarries-8-years-after-death-of-wife-joey-8680905|title=Country Singer Rory Feek Remarries 8 Years After Death of His Wife Joey: 'Blessed to Love Again'|author=Kimberlee Speakman|date=July 19, 2024|magazine=People|accessdate=July 19, 2024}}</ref>

==Career== Inspired by Don Williams, Merle Haggard, and other artists, Feek began playing guitar at age 15. He later served two tours of duty in the United States Marine Corps after high school, before moving to Dallas, Texas, where he played in nightclubs. Feek moved to Nashville, Tennessee, in 1995 after being encouraged by Nashville entertainment attorney Rod Phelps, and signed to a publishing contract. One of his first single releases as a songwriter was Collin Raye's "Someone You Used to Know," a Top Five country hit in 1999. A year later, Clay Walker reached Top Five as well with "The Chain of Love," another song that Feek co-wrote.<ref name="blacktop">{{cite web |url=http://www.blacktopmusicgroup.com/rory_lee_feek.htm |title=Rory Lee Feek biography |access-date=February 4, 2009 |publisher=Blacktop Music Group}}</ref>

Feek continued to write for other artists in the 2000s, including album tracks for Mark Wills, Kenny Chesney, Terri Clark, Randy Travis, and Lorrie Morgan, as well as Tracy Byrd's 2003 single "The Truth About Men"<ref name="blacktop"/> In 2004, Feek achieved his first Number One as a songwriter when Blake Shelton topped the country charts with "Some Beach," which he co-wrote with Paul Overstreet.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1497408/paul-overstreet-rory-lee-feek-bask-on-some-beach.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090911043049/http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1497408/paul-overstreet-rory-lee-feek-bask-on-some-beach.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 11, 2009 |title=Paul Overstreet, Rory Lee Feek Bask on "Some Beach" |access-date=February 4, 2009 |last=Morris |first=Edward |date=February 23, 2005 |publisher=CMT}}</ref> Also in 2004, Feek founded the Giantslayer Records label, on which Blaine Larsen recorded two studio albums in association with BNA Records.

In 2008, Feek and his wife Joey founded a duo called Joey + Rory. They came in third place on the CMT talent show ''Can You Duet'', and later that year signed to a recording contract with Vanguard Records.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://americannoise.com/introducing-joey-rory-like-two-names-carved-in-an-oak-tree-an-interview/ |title=Introducing Joey + Rory: "Like Two Names Carved in an Oak Tree" |access-date=January 10, 2020 |last=Malec |first=Jim |date=October 28, 2012 |publisher=American Noise}}</ref> Joey + Rory released their debut single "Cheater, Cheater" that year, and peaked at No.&nbsp;30 on the country singles charts with it. That same year, Jimmy Wayne charted on the country charts with "I Will," another Feek co-write.

thumb|right|alt=Rory promoting his "Gentle Man" album at the Music Ranch Montana in July 2021|Rory at the Music Ranch Montana in July 2021 Rory’s first solo album "Gentle Man" was released on June 18, 2021.<ref name="americansongwriter.com">{{Cite web|date=2021-02-15|title=Rory Feek Readies Himself for Unchartered Territory on New Album 'Gentle Man'|url=https://americansongwriter.com/rory-feek-new-album-gentle-man-feature/|access-date=2021-04-07|website=American Songwriter|language=en-US}}</ref> It is the first album recorded since losing his wife and country music collaborator Joey to cancer in 2016. The album includes Feek and Jamie Teachenor's co-written single “Met Him in a Motel Room” with vocals by Trisha Yearwood.<ref>{{Cite web|date=April 2, 2021|first=Cillea|last=Houghton|title=Listen: Rory Feek and Trisha Yearwood Find Redemption in 'Met Him in a Motel Room'|url=https://tasteofcountry.com/rory-feek-trisha-yearwood-met-him-in-a-motel-room-song/|access-date=2021-04-07|website=Taste of Country|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Songfacts|title=Met Him in a Motel Room by Trisha Yearwood - Songfacts|url=https://www.songfacts.com/facts/trisha-yearwood/met-him-in-a-motel-room|access-date=2021-04-07|website=www.songfacts.com|language=en}}</ref> Yearwood previously recorded the song for her 2014 album, "PrizeFighter: Hit After Hit."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Watts|first=Cindy|title=Trisha Yearwood packs punch with 'PrizeFighter'|url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/2014/11/16/trisha-yearwood-garth-brooks-prizefighter/18997493/|access-date=2021-04-07|website=The Tennessean|language=en-US}}</ref> The album also includes a cover of Bob Dylan’s “The Times They Are A-Changin.’”<ref name="americansongwriter.com"/>

As a filmmaker and storyteller, Feek wrote, shot much of, and edited his docu-series, This Life I Live,<ref>{{Cite web|title=This Life I Live|url=https://www.rfdtv.com/story/41828056/this-life-i-live|access-date=2021-04-07|website=www.rfdtv.com|language=en}}</ref> which premiered on RFD-TV in March 2020. Feek created the singer-songwriter show "Muletown In the Round,"<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-02-28|title=Rory Feek's 'Muletown in the Round' Brings Nashville-Style Hit Makers' In-the-Round Music and Storytelling|url=https://countrymusictattletale.com/2020/02/28/rory-feeks-muletown-in-the-round-brings-nashville-style-hit-makers-in-the-round-music-and-storytelling/|access-date=2021-04-07|website=Country Music Tattle Tale - Your country music news source|language=en-US}}</ref> the educational series, "The One Room Schoolhouse,"<ref>{{Cite web|last=Powell|first=Jay|title=One Room Schoolhouse series takes students to the farm|url=https://www.columbiadailyherald.com/story/lifestyle/2020/09/19/rory-feek-launches-schoolhouse-web-series/5790063002/|access-date=2021-04-07|website=Columbia Daily Herald|language=en-US}}</ref> and others with Red King Productions.<ref>{{Cite web|title=shows|url=https://www.redking.red/shows|access-date=2021-04-07|website=redking|language=en}}</ref> He also made the feature-length film Finding Josephine (2019),<ref>{{Cite web|last=Perkins|first=Joel|title=Rory Feek To Release "Finding Josephine" Film|url=https://countryfancast.com/rory-feek-to-release-finding-josephine/|access-date=2021-04-07|website=countryfancast.com|date=January 28, 2019 |language=en}}</ref> the full-length documentary To Joey, With Love (2016),<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bonaguro|date=2016-09-21|first=Alison|title=To Joey, With Love Chronicles Joey + Rory's Journey|url=http://www.cmt.com/news/1771148/to-joey-with-love-chronicles-joey-rorys-journey/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160922135214/http://www.cmt.com/news/1771148/to-joey-with-love-chronicles-joey-rorys-journey/|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 22, 2016|access-date=2021-04-07|website=CMT News}}</ref> music videos for the album "Gentle Man," and dozens of music videos over his career as a musician and songwriter.<ref>{{Citation|title=The Times They Are A-Changin' - rory feek| date=January 24, 2021 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2thobAZTU-4&list=PLSDO6ho2wHXILDZbrlNlUAi1B_tRSUA-9 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/2thobAZTU-4 |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=2021-04-07}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

As an author, Feek has written two memoirs and several children's books. His 2017 memoir, "This Life I Live: One Man's Extraordinary, Ordinary Life and the Woman Who Changed It Forever" (HarperCollins) hit top book lists including the Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly, the New York Times, the Washington Post, and USA Today.<ref>{{Cite web|date=March 7, 2017|first1=Angela|last1=Stefano|title='This Life I Live' Earns Spots on Multiple Bestsellers Lists|url=https://theboot.com/rory-feek-this-life-i-live-book-bestsellers-lists/|access-date=2021-04-07|website=The Boot|language=en}}</ref> Additional books include "Once Upon a Farm" (HarperCollins),<ref>{{Cite web|last=Feek|first=Rory|date=2018-06-14|title=Rory Feek Opens Up About How He's Grown Since His Wife Joey's Death|url=https://www.countryliving.com/life/inspirational-stories/a21291298/rory-feek-joey-garden/|access-date=2021-04-07|website=Country Living|language=en-US}}</ref> "The Cow Said Neigh!" (HarperCollins),<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-10-03|title=Heartbreak, Single Fatherhood and a Ring He'll Never Take Off: Life for Rory Feek After Losing His Forever Duet Partner|url=https://www.eonline.com/news/973341/heartbreak-single-fatherhood-and-a-ring-he-ll-never-take-off-life-for-rory-feek-after-losing-his-forever-duet-partner|access-date=2021-04-07|website=E! Online}}</ref> "The Day God Made You" (HarperCollins),<ref>{{Cite web|title=Indiana, 6, Adorably Reads Proud 'Papa' Rory Feek's New Children's Book Celebrating Inclusivity|url=https://people.com/parents/rory-feek-daughter-indiana-new-childrens-book-day-god-made-you/|access-date=2021-04-07|website=PEOPLE.com|language=en}}</ref> and "The Little Rooster" (Milk Barn Kids).<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Little Rooster by Rory Feek {{!}} Milkbarn Kids® {{!}} Children's Books & Gifts|url=https://milkbarnkids.com/product/the-little-rooster-by-rory-feek/|access-date=2021-04-07|website=Milkbarn Kids® {{!}} Organic Baby Clothes & Accessories|language=en-US}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{Joey + Rory}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Feek, Rory Lee}} Category:American country singer-songwriters Category:Living people Category:People from Atchison, Kansas Category:Country musicians from Kansas Category:Grammy Award winners Category:Singer-songwriters from Kansas Category:1965 births