10 Questions with ... William Michael Morgan

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/WilliamMichaelMorgan
Twitter: www.Twitter.com/WMMorgan

William Michael Morgan is a 23-year-old Country traditionalist who wears a cowboy hat and boots and cites influences that include Keith Whitley. Morgan was signed to Warner Music Nashville at the tender age of 19 and released his debut album, "Vinyl," in March of 2016. His debut single, the Sam Hunt-penned "I Met A Girl," hit the top of the charts last year, and his second single, "Missing," is at Country radio now. On the heels of a stellar 2016 year, Morgan was named to the CRS New Faces 2017 roster. To celebrate all that has happened since we last spoke with him in early 2016, William Michael Morgan sat down to chat with us about his career year, plans for 2017, where he was when he found out he had been named to the CRS New Faces of 2017, and what he enjoys listening to on the bus.

1. Thank you so much for taking time to speak with All Access. You've been voted in to the "New Faces" showcase for CRS 2017, and while you've played to most of this cast of characters before during your radio tour, this setting will be a bit different. Can you tell us what it means to you to be chosen to play this show?

When I found out - especially because it's chosen by all of the industry - I just flipped out! I'm still kind of in shock about it! Of all the so very many artists who came out in 2016, and even 2015 - there were so many great artists, and great people, in general - that to be a part of that five with Drake White, Maren Morris, Granger Smith, and Jon Pardi...wow. Those are all some great acts! I'm just blessed and happy to be penciled in right next to them!

2. How will you prepare for this performance? Do you plan to do something similar to your regular stage show, or will there be differences in the set based on the all-industry crowd?

Well, this tour with Justin Moore and Lee Brice, the "American Made Tour," that I'm out on with them, we've been practicing a lot and rehearsing a lot. We've got our boys, and we just hired a new guy, so that has given us a lot of rehearsal time to prepare a show for the tour. And the New Faces is about the same time - minus maybe a couple of songs - as what we're doing out on the road. So, it will be perfect. We've had all that time to practice and get even tighter than we are, so I'm looking forward to playing some music alongside these folks!

3. Where were you when you found out that you had been selected as to perform at CRS 2017 New Faces, and how did you react?

My managers told me, actually - Mike Taliafero and Joe Carter. We found out, and I said, "Whoa, wait a minute! Let's ask the label and ask everybody before we just start jumping up and down here!" Because, that's big news, you know? That's really a big honor! We did some snooping around and found out it was true. So right away, of course, I had to call mom and dad to tell them.

4. Last year was your first CRS, correct? What were the biggest takeaways for you from your CRS experience, and what advice would you give to new artists heading in to their first CRS?

Last year was my first CRS, yes, and I did the National Anthem! Then up in the Warner suite, me and Michael Ray did a little thing - and we just hear about that all the time! Every time we're together, me and Michael make a joke about this, but we blow our voices out three or four hours before the show just singing any time we're together! We'll just sit there and pick all night long on those old Merle Haggard and Waylon Jennings songs. You know, he grew up on a lot of the stuff I did, so when he starts up a song, I can just fall right in to it, and vice versa. We grew up on a lot of the same stuff! As far as a takeaway, I mean, it's crazy! Hopefully these new artists have been out on radio tour and did all that, because that will teach them a lot. We learned a whole lot! I was so green before radio tour - and I'm still green, but maybe I'm a lighter shade, like a lime green or something. Haha! I would just tell everyone to be yourself and don't let anybody or anything intimidate you. You know, there's a lot of people who are going to be there, between artists and radio and everyone in the industry. But be yourself, and be happy.

5. There are a lot of Pop, Rock, R&B, and other influences melding together to make today's Country sound different than it did twenty years ago, but you tend to steer down the Traditional lane of Country. What did you listen to growing up, and who would you cite as your biggest musical influences?

I think everybody grows up listening to different stuff, and I think that's what influences them as an artist. I think our paths crisscrossed somewhere in the 90s, or maybe in the early 2000s. But I grew up listening to George Jones and Merle Haggard. And Keith Whitley and Mark Chesnutt. I grew up listening to that kind of stuff, mainly, and that's what influences me - that's what I wanted to incorporate in to my music, and my album, "Vinyl." I think Jon [Pardi] and everybody kind of grew up on that stuff, as well, but I think some may have grown up with more of this or that, or one thing or another, and that's what influences them. That's what's so great about Country music.

6. You had a huge 2016 - debut single went #1, debut album dropped, and more. What do you think you'll remember most about the year 2016?

I'll tell you, 2016 was actually a blessing. There was the birth of my daughter, Presley - she was born on March 23rd. And the single ["I Met A Girl'] going #1, that was unreal! And the album dropped, and getting on with this tour! And we had to tie the year off right with an engagement!

7. You will hit the road with Justin Moore and Lee Brice this week for the "American Made Tour," and you're currently promoting your second single, "Missing." What other plans do you have in store for 2017, and how do you plan to top 2016?

Well, 2016 - so far - was my most memorable year. But we're always going to strive to beat it. I want to always strive to be better, of course, but 2016 is definitely always going to hold a place in my heart. We're taking it day by day, for sure, but we've got a very promising summer, as far as shows go. We've got festivals and things on the schedule, and we're not going to stop. I'm getting ready to bring some more writers out on the road with me and write a little more. I'm just ready to get back out there! We had our first show after the holidays in Columbus, Ohio, and that geared us up a little bit and got us back in the swing of things. We're ready to kick some butt out there!

8. We love hearing about the first time you heard your single on the radio. Where were you the first time you heard "I Met A Girl" on air, and can you share with us the story about how you felt and what you thought at that moment?

I do remember right where I was, because I was actually in my apartment. I was listening to the radio, and they had told us about within the hour what time it would come on - they didn't give a specific time, but told us within this certain hour - and so I was listening the whole time. And it was just me, by myself. I just remember it finally coming on, and I was going, "Oh my gosh!" And I got so overwhelmed with excitement! About half way through the first verse, I suppose, my mom called. I really wish she could have been there, because I'm so close to my parents, but she called. I answered, and we just had that moment together where she cried, and I cried. We were just a bunch of little babies. And it would have been better if we could have actually been there together, but it was just not possible. But I'm so glad I got to share that moment with her over the phone.

9. As you continue to build relationships with radio, and continue to see success with your radio singles, how often do you find yourself looking at the charts, sales figures, and similar statistics to judge your performance?

No, goodness. I don't want to watch any of that. I don't like watching any of that stuff, cause that could just drive a man crazy! One week you're up, and one week you're down. So, I try to just focus on what's happening in the day. I try to keep my head up and write songs and get in the studio and get out there and play a kick-ass show. That's what I focus on! And the team is for the rest of it - and I have one of the best teams!

10. As a "New Face," you have bright future ahead of you in the industry. If you were to look in to a crystal ball, where would you hope to be - both personally and professionally - by CRS 2020? What about 2025?

Well, I mean, I just want to make the music that I make. Hopefully it'll keep being accepted by a couple of people. That's a hard question! But I definitely want to better myself as a human being, for sure. I want to get closer to God - I strive for that every day, personally. But, yeah, I just want to be able to make the music that I love. And if I'm given that opportunity, I'll die one happy man.

1. You've been "the young one" on several tours now. Looking at other "New Faces" in the industry, who are the guys and gals that are up-and-coming who impress you? If you were to go out on a headlining tour this year with support acts, what "New Faces" would you like to bring with you on the road and why?

Well, I love Granger and Drake and all those, but maybe outside of the five of us who are not on this New Faces show, there's been a lot of people I've run across. I love Tucker Beathard, for one. I met him over CMA, and I've never played a show with him, but I got the chance to meet him and hang out with him at little bit. He is such a sweetheart of a guy! We had a couple drinks over at a William Morris party, and it was a late night! Oh, and I better say Runaway June, or I'd get in trouble! Naomi, Hannah, and Jennifer are all three just so great together, so great separately, and they're just great people. I love all three of the girls. And, of course, I love Jennifer - I may be a little biased. Ha!

2. Your label has renamed their promotion staff responsibilities lately to focus on the fact that streaming is now very much a part of the daily conversation in the music business. You're a young guy, but you seem to have somewhat of an older soul. So, can you tell us how you prefer to listen to music? Do you stream? Are you a radio guy? Do you buy digital downloads, CDs, cassettes, or vinyl?

Oh, I listen to CDs, baby! In my car! Or sometimes I listen to YouTube on the bus and plug it in through Wi-Fi to jam out on the bus. Sometimes, you just want to look up a little Barry White or Snoop Dogg or something - you never know what you'll want to listen to on the bus, and we listen to it all! I listen to CDs a bunch, because I drive a bunch, and it's usually not just around the corner. So, whether I'm driving, or even on the bus, we aren't listening to just one radio station. You'll scramble through every thirty minutes or so trying to find the next Country station in the range, but with a CD, you just take it out and put another one on in. And that's what I wanted to incorporate in to my music, as well, because that's what I did growing up - I'd just cruise in the car listening to my music and to the radio or CDs. And that's the feel I wanted to accomplish with my music. And I just got a new record player, too, and we released "Vinyl" on vinyl! That crackle can add so much to it.

3. After countless radio visits and radio shows, is there anything that radio does NOT know about you that you can - or would like to - share here?

I usually try to let it all out, and I don't hide much. There's not a lot to hide, really! But I'm a goofball, and I'm a nerd. I'm just a good ol' boy, and if there's something you don't know about me, all you've got to do is ask. And, I do listen to everything from Snoop Dogg to Frank Sinatra!