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William Joel "Bucky" Covington III (born November 8, 1977) is an American country music singer. He originally came to fame when he arrived at 8th place on the 5th season of the Fox Networks talent competition series American Idol.
In December 2006, he signed a recording contract with Lyric Street Records, and released the single, "A Different World", on January 16, 2007. Covington's self-titled debut album, produced by Mark Miller of the country music band Sawyer Brown, was released on April 17, 2007. The album debuted at #1 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart, and "A Different World" reached #6 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
Bucky Covington: Biography
Bucky Covington - Early years
Bucky Covington was born in Rockingham, North Carolina, to Gene Covington and Deborah Gates on November 8, 1977 - along with his identical twin brother, Robert David "Rocky" Covington. He worked at Covington's Body Shop in Rockingham, North Carolina.
Bucky is the nickname derived from his grandfather "Buck". He graduated in the class of 1996 from Richmond Senior High School in Rockingham, NC. Bucky and Rocky are musicians; the latter being the former lead singer of the North Carolina band Swamp Cat. In 1998 when the Covington twins were 20 years old, they were in a minor automobile mishap. Bucky allegedly assumed to be Rocky. They were processed for deceiving the authorities. The plaintiff failed to verify the right person since the twins were identical.
At the age of 18, Covington taught himself how to play the guitar and began performing at clubs. He is also a guitarist, bassist, drummer and songwriter. Over the years, Covington has expanded his talents, both country and rock. After some time, he elected to perform both original and cover material in a cross-genre vein.
On February 13, 2007, his wife Crystal parted ways after more than seven years of marriage. After Idol, Bucky wrote in USA Today that he bought a house in Franklin, Tennessee near Nashville. Rocky and his wife Terra also moved into the same house in January. Rocky also joined as the drummer in Bucky's band.
Bucky Covington - American Idol
In the 2005-06 season, the Covington twins auditioned for American Idol in Greensboro, NC individually. Of the two, Bucky advanced to the final twelve. On March 22, Bucky remained in the bottom three, along with Lisa Tucker and Kevin Covais. On April 12 when Covington was in the bottom three with Ace Young and Elliott Yamin, the votes went to the latter two.
In the Top 8 results show of Season six of American Idol, he appeared in one of the front rows. Since being on Idol he has had his teeth capped.
Bucky Covington - Debut album: Bucky Covington
In November and December of 2006, Bucky Covington performed on the GAC Country Music Christmas tour, making him the first Idol from the 5th season to be part of a major non-American Idol concert tour.
Covington negotiated with Buena Vista Music Group's country label, Lyric Street Records. His debut single, "A Different World," was released to country radio on January 16, 2007, coinciding with the premiere of American Idol (Season 6). Its initial debut on radio was on Sirius Satellite Radio's New Country channel in late December 2006.
His debut album, Bucky Covington, was released on April 17, 2007, to positive reviews. It debuted on the Billboard 200 at #4 selling 61,000 copies. It also debuted at #1 on the Top Country Albums chart, making the album the best opening week for a debut album by a male on the chart since Billy Ray Cyrus' 1992 debut with Some Gave All. Covington's debut surpassed the previous record held by Jason Michael Carroll's Waitin' in the Country. He performed selections from his album during a nationwide tour in 2007, and the single "Empty Handed" will appear in NASCAR 08 as part of the in-game soundtrack. |
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