Ryan Bingham

This article is about the singer. For the fictional character, see Up in the Air (2009 film).
"The Dead Horses" redirects here. For other uses, see Dead Horse (disambiguation).

Ryan Bingham
Bingham performing in 2010
Born
George Ryan Bingham

(1981-03-31) March 31, 1981 (age 43)
Hobbs, New Mexico, U.S.
EducationWestfield High School
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • musician
Years active2007–present
Spouse
Anna Axster
​
​
(m. 2009; div. 2021)​
​
(m. 2023)​
Children3
AwardsFull list
Musical career
OriginAustin, Texas, U.S.
Genres
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • harmonica
  • keyboard
Labels
Websiteryanbingham.com

George Ryan Bingham (born March 31, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist whose music spans multiple genres.[3][4] He is currently based in Los Angeles.[5] As of 2019, Bingham has released six studio albums and one live album, the last four of which were released under his own label, Axster Bingham Records.[6][7][8][9]

Originally from Hobbs, New Mexico, Bingham grew up across the Southwestern United States. He joined the rodeo circuit as a bull rider in his teens.[10] Bingham learned music on a guitar gifted to him by his mother at age 16, initially playing after rodeos for his friends.[11] Eventually, he began playing in small bars and honky tonks across the West, landing him in Los Angeles. Bingham signed his first record deal with Lost Highway Records (UMG) in 2007.[12]

After receiving critical acclaim for his first two studio releases on Lost Highway Records, 2007's Mescalito and 2009's Roadhouse Sun, Bingham went on to collaborate with Grammy-winning producer T Bone Burnett on the soundtrack for the acclaimed 2009 film Crazy Heart, including notably cowriting and performing the film's award-winning theme song, "The Weary Kind". The title track earned Bingham an Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, and Critics' Choice Award for "Best Song" in 2010,[13] as well as a Grammy Award for "Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media" in 2011.[14] The Americana Music Association also honored Bingham with the organization's top award in 2010 as "Artist of the Year".[15]

Bingham's most recent album, American Love Song, was released on February 15, 2019. A ballad from that album, "Wolves", was inspired in part by the March For Our Lives students who were dealing with grown men and women questioning their integrity on social media.[16] The song was also featured on the TV series Yellowstone.[17] Bingham sang "Wolves" as the series' character, Walker, whom he plays on the show.[18]

In April 2019, Bingham partnered with Live Nation to launch his own music festival, The Western. The inaugural event took place over two days in Luckenbach, Texas.[19]

  1. ^ "iTunes album review". iTunes. September 18, 2012.
  2. ^ Greg M. Schwartz (October 23, 2012). "PopMatters.com review".
  3. ^ Gold, Scott (March 30, 2008). "Raw and Genuine". LA Times. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  4. ^ Hajek, Daniel. "From Rodeo To Radio: Ryan Bingham's Wild Ride". NPR.org. NPR. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  5. ^ LanHam, Tom (March 2019). "Ryan Bingham is happier out of Hollywood spotlight". SFExaminer. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  6. ^ Isaac, Nico (September 17, 2012). "Ryan Bingham: Tomorrowland". Paste Magazine. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  7. ^ Horowitz, Hal (January 20, 2015). "Ryan Bingham: Fear and Saturday Night". American Songwriter. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  8. ^ Skinner, Jared (November 28, 2016). "Ryan Bingham: Ryan Bingham Live". PopMatters.com. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  9. ^ Beaugez, Jim (February 12, 2019). "How Ryan Bingham's Album 'American Love Song' Addresses Border Politics". RollingStone Magazine. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  10. ^ Schlanger, Talia (June 3, 2019). "Ryan Bingham's Rugged And Raw 'American Love Song'". NPR.org. NPR. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  11. ^ Essmaker, Tina (January 15, 2013). "Ryan Bingham MUSICIAN SONGWRITER". The Great Discontent. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  12. ^ Deusner, Stephen (June 4, 2009). "Ryan Bingham & the Dead Horses: Roadhouse Sun". Paste Magazine. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  13. ^ 2010 ACL Festival: Ryan Bingham Official Bio Archived April 23, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ Kennedy, Gerrick (February 13, 2011). "Grammy Awards: Ryan Bingham nabs a trophy, still puts on pants 'one leg at a time'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 5, 2011.
  15. ^ Talbott, Chris (September 9, 2010). "Ryan Bingham Wins Big at Americana Awards". USA Today. Retrieved July 5, 2011.[dead link]
  16. ^ Newman, Melinda (November 29, 2018). "Ryan Bingham on His Haunting New Song 'Wolves' and Launching His Own Music Festival: Exclusive". Billboard. Billboard Magazine. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  17. ^ "Yellowstone – S1E7 Soundtrack A Monster Is Among Us". What-Song. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  18. ^ Cite error: The named reference Yellowstone was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  19. ^ Rascoe, Rachel (April 19, 2019). "Faster Than Sound: Ryan Bingham Warms Up His Western Festival". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved June 28, 2019.