Arts & Entertainment

Monroe's Tyler Hubbard Cruising to Success with Florida Georgia Line

Since signing a record deal with Republic Nashville last month, "Cruise," the signature song of the Florida Georgia Line, has been getting a lot of play time on country radio stations.

When country Rock duo Florida Georgia Line signed a record deal with Republic Nashville last month, they hoped it would help them take their single, "Cruise,"  up the Country Music Charts. It looks like that is what is happening.

On Aug. 16, it was listed second in the big change movers on the U.S. Country Music Charts when it moved from #43 to #37. The single has been getting a lot of play time around the country and the music video of "Cruise" was released on Sunday. It is the signature tune on their first EP, "It'z Just What We Do."

Florida Georgia Line is an country duo made up of Tyler Hubbard from Monroe Ga. and Brian Kelley from Florida. The two musicians have been paying their dues in Nashville for the last couple of years and feel their efforts have finally paid off. According to the website, they have worked opening slots for artists like Blake Shelton, Jake Owen, Brantley Gilbert and Colt Ford as well as joined up with the 2012 Country Throwdown Tour.

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"Cruise" has been reviewed by several Country Music publications. Taste of Country described Hubbard's voice as a "unique voice that stands out immediately." 

Hubbard doesn’t sound like anyone else on country radio. His grainy southern drawl layers over banjo and electric guitars like gravy on grits. The song begins with the hook — always an effective way to get radio play — before telling a story of summer love.

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On Aug. 28, Great American Country noted that "Cruise" was in the Top 40 in the Charts "and climbing." 

The music of Florida-Georgia Line is self-described as "combined electrifying, hard-driving rock with honest, expressive lyrics into one of the most exciting sounds in all of country music." They claim to have come a long way "since their days as students at Nashville’s Belmont University, where they played local clubs and wrote songs between classes."

Hubbard grew up in Walton County and attended . His mother and brother still live in the county and the family attended the and in Loganville. Hubbard's father, Roy Hubbard, was a well-known and much respected Loganville businessman. He was killed in a helicopter crash while taking off and landing on his property in Bold Springs. It was a while after the death of his father that Hubbard made his way to Nashville to begin a career in music.

Florida Georgia Line is now making waves across the country. The Facebook Page more than 21,600 likes and the EP "It'z Just What We Do," is available for download on iTunes. Information about tour dates and locations can be found on the official website.


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