WHERE PRE-HISTORY AND POP CULTURE MEET

     Tracy Byrd grew up surrounded by country and western swing music.  While attending Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, he began to play in local clubs. Eventually, Byrd dropped out of college to pursue music full-time. He formed a band called Rim Fire and started playing in southwest Louisiana and southeast Texas. In January of 1990, he walked into Cutter's in Beaumont which had recently produced another local country musician, Mark Chesnutt. Byrd landed the gig at Cutter's, and set a goal of making it to Nashville. He worked at the club with Chesnutt for about ten months and became their featured singer when Chesnutt left for Nashville. 

     Once he had enough music to showcase, Byrd headed for Music City and landed a recording contract with MCA Records. His debut album “Tracy Byrd” was released in 1993. Byrd's first single "Holdin' Heaven" went to #1 that same year. His second album, "No Ordinary Man", yielded three hits: "Lifestyles of the Not So Rich and Famous," "Watermelon Crawl" and "The First Step".  The fourth single, "The Keeper of the Stars," became Byrd's second #1 and was a Top 5 nominee for CMA's Single of the Year, was named "Song of the Year" at the ACM Awards, and helped push "No Ordinary Man" to two million sales. 

     Since breaking onto the country music scene, Byrd has produced at least one album nearly every year. In 1998, he released a greatest hits recording titled “Keepers”. In addition to music, Byrd has a passion for the outdoors and philanthropic endeavors. He gives back to his community with the annual Tracy Byrd Homecoming Weekend held in March. This event includes a fishing tournament, concert, and golf tournament which raise money for the Children's Miracle Network.