Ryan Bingham

Bingham was born in Hobbs, New Mexico. His family relocated to the Midland–Odessa area of West Texas, before eventually moving to Houston. He attended high school primarily in Houston at Westfield High School.

Bingham's mother purchased his first guitar when he was 16 years old. Although he was fascinated by music, he left his guitar dormant in his closet. Roughly a year later, Bingham hitchhiked back west to Laredo, Texas, in hopes of landing a job with his father, carrying the guitar with him on the trip. Bingham's father enjoyed having neighbors over on their porch to drink beer, and one of them taught him a classical Mariachi song called "La Malaguena" in segments. Though he loved playing the song, it was the only one he would learn during his time in Laredo.

He relocated to Stephenville, Texas. There, he began learning more music while also riding on the rodeo team at Tarleton State University. It was in Stephenville that he would write arguably his most well-known hit "Southside of Heaven" in a trailer house. He also began to play local gigs there, namely a local golf course and a few small bars.

While in Stephenville, Bingham had a friend who caught wind of a job in Paris, France, with the Wild West Show at the Disney Resort. He bought a one-way ticket with $100 in his pocket. Upon arrival, he was informed that the manager with whom he had a mutual friend was no longer with the company, and he found himself stranded with his guitar and old rigging bag from his rodeo days. Luckily, he found some friends-of-friends within the Disney programs and began playing music in local parks for tips.

Eventually, he saved enough money to get back to Texas and moved in with a rodeo buddy near Fort Worth. His friend had a brother (Matthew "Papa" Smith) who cut hair during the day and played drums as a hobby. After an introduction and impromptu gig at an empty bar in Fort Worth, he and Papa would go on to be the founding members of Ryan Bingham and the Dead Horses.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PLUyADYR_w|title=Ryan Bingham Interviewed by 3DotMag|date=June 2, 2013 |publisher=YouTube}} Marc Ford of the Black Crowes was one of the few people in the bar that night. He approached Bingham after the gig with an offer to record an album.{{Cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/ryan-bingham-conquers-fear-and-loathing-to-rock-the-american-dream-2495463954.html|title=Ryan Bingham Conquers Fear and Loathing to Rock the American Dream|date=December 2, 2015|website=PopMatters.com|language=en|access-date=February 23, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.stitcher.com/s?eid=58246765|title=#100 – The 100th Episode Celebration w/ Ryan F***ing Bingham! from wellRED podcast|website=Stitcher.com}}

After issuing self-released "Wishbone Saloon" and "Dead Horses", the latter distributed by Lone Star Music, Bingham was signed to Lost Highway Records, which issued his first major label debut with Mescalito on October 2, 2007, produced by former Black Crowes guitarist Marc Ford. Texas Music Magazine has opined that Bingham "talks and sings with a whiskey-and-cigarette throat that screams hard living. Hard in a way that can make a 29-year-old sound like a 50-year-old Tom Waits."{{cite web|url=http://www.binghammusic.com/ |title=Ryan Bingham's website, quoting the magazine article |website=Binghammusic.com |date=July 9, 2014 |access-date=July 27, 2014}} Bingham spent several years on the rodeo circuit. He began bull riding in his late teens.{{cite web|last=McCartney |first=Kelly |url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/news/article/58968/no-bull-ryan-bingham-trades-in-rodeos-for-nightclubs/ |title=Pop Matters website interview with Ryan Bingham |website=Popmatters.com |access-date=July 27, 2014}}{{cite web |url=http://www.gactv.com/gac/ar_artists_a-z/article/0,3028,GAC_26071_5781672_,00.html |title=Artists: Artists A to Z: Ryan Bingham Biography: Great American Country |website=Gactv.com |date=June 27, 2014 |access-date=July 27, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120211171659/http://www.gactv.com/gac/ar_artists_a-z/article/0,3028,GAC_26071_5781672_,00.html |archive-date=February 11, 2012 |url-status=dead }}

Bingham's former band, The Dead Horses, was composed of Matthew "Papa" Smith (drums), Corby Schaub (guitar and mandolin) and Marc Ford's son Elijah (bass). The bass player on Mescalito was Jeb Venable (a.k.a. Jeb Stuart), with Joe Allen credited as well, plus a contribution from John Bazz on upright bass. Bingham appeared with the Drive-by Truckers on Austin City Limits in October 2007. The first single from Mescalito, titled "Southside of Heaven", was released on November 30, 2007. The second single was entitled "Bread and Water".

On June 2, 2009, Ryan Bingham and The Dead Horses released their second studio album titled Roadhouse Sun via Lost Highway Records. It was once again produced by Marc Ford.

File:Ryan Bingham - Roadhouse Sun Image.jpg

Bingham performed two songs for the soundtrack of the movie Crazy Heart, including "I Don't Know" and the theme song, "The Weary Kind". The song was co-written by Bingham and producer, T Bone Burnett. Bingham also played a small role in the film. On January 17, 2010, Bingham was awarded the Golden Globe for Best Original Song for "The Weary Kind". The song also won the 2010 Academy Award for Best Original Song,{{cite magazine |url=http://oscar-watch.ew.com/2010/02/02/oscar-nominations-announced/ |title=Oscar nominations announced |year=2010 |magazine=ew.com |access-date=February 2, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100205043942/http://oscar-watch.ew.com/2010/02/02/oscar-nominations-announced/ |archive-date=February 5, 2010 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1633370/jeff-bridges-ryan-bingham-t-bone-burnett-win-oscars-for-crazy-heart.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100311182223/http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1633370/jeff-bridges-ryan-bingham-t-bone-burnett-win-oscars-for-crazy-heart.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 11, 2010|title=Jeff Bridges, Ryan Bingham, T Bone Burnett Win Oscars for Crazy Heart|date=March 8, 2010|work=CMT|access-date=March 8, 2010}} the 2010 Grammy award for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media,{{cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/ryan-bingham|title=Ryan Bingham|date=May 22, 2018|website=Grammy.com}} as well as Song of the Year at the 9th Annual Americana Music Association awards.{{cite web|url=http://www.sesac.com/News/News_Details.aspx?id=1362|title=ARTISTRY WINS DURING 9th ANNUAL AMERICANA MUSIC ASSOCIATION HONORS & AWARDS, Ryan also played at the ACL festival in 2011|date=September 10, 2010|website=Sesac.com|access-date=September 13, 2010}}

Bingham rejoined with his band the Dead Horses to release their third studio album, Junky Star, on August 31, 2010. The album debuted in the Top 20 on the Billboard 200 Chart{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/#/album/ryan-bingham-the-dead-horses/junky-star/1386221|title=Billboard – Music Charts, News, Photos & Video|website=Billboard.com}} & in the Top 10 on the Billboard Rock Album Chart,{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/#/charts/rock-albums?chartDate=2010-09-19|title=Billboard – Music Charts, News, Photos & Video|website=Billboard.com}} making Junky Star Bingham's highest charting and most successful release to date.

In 2012, Bingham parted ways with the Dead Horses and record label Lost Highway Records to release his fourth studio album, Tomorrowland, on his own Axster Bingham Records label.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2012/09/ryan-bingham-tomorrowland.html|title=Ryan Bingham: Tomorrowland|date=September 17, 2012|website=Pastemagazine.com}} Bingham co-produced the album with musician/producer Justin Stanley. The first single released from Tomorrowland was "Heart of Rhythm". Both the single and the official lyric video debuted on Americansongwriter.com on July 30, 2012.{{Cite web|url=https://americansongwriter.com/premiere-ryan-bingham-heart-of-rhythm-lyric-video/evan-schlansky/|title=Premiere: Ryan Bingham, "Heart of Rhythm" (Lyric Video) |website=Americansongwriter.com|date=July 30, 2012}} Bingham's second Tomorrowland single "Guess Who's Knockin" debuted on rollingstone.com on September 6, 2012.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/song-premiere-ryan-bingham-guess-whos-knocking-237864/|title=Song Premiere: Ryan Bingham, 'Guess Who's Knocking'|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=September 6, 2012}} The official music video for "Guess Who's Knocking" premiered on pastmagazine.com October 4, 2012.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/av/2012/10/video-premiere-ryan-bingham.html|title=Video Premiere: Ryan Bingham – "Guess Who's Knocking"|date=October 4, 2012|website=Pastemagazine.com}}

In 2013, Bingham's song "For Anyone's Sake" appeared in the closing credits of the feature film Joe, starring Nicolas Cage. Bingham wrote the song for the film, and it was released as part of the film's original soundtrack in April 2014.{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/joe-original-motion-picture-soundtrack/847533862|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206140220/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/joe-original-motion-picture-soundtrack/847533862|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 6, 2017|title=Joe (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) by Jeff McIlwain & David Wingo|date=April 8, 2014|website=iTunes}}{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J7MEKD0/ref=dm_ws_sp_ps_dp|title=Joe|website=Amazon.com}} In the same year, Bingham also wrote and recorded "Until I'm One With You", the theme song for FX TV drama series The Bridge. The song is Bingham's first screen track since his Academy Award win for best theme song in 2010. "Until I'm One with You" was released as a digital single on Bingham's own Axster Bingham Records label on June 25, 2013.Phil Gallo, [http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1568109/ryan-bingham-pens-theme-for-fxs-bridge-first-screen-track-since-oscar-win "Ryan Bingham Pens Theme For FX's 'Bridge'; First Screen Track Since Oscar Win"], Billboard.com, 06/25/13

In 2014, Bingham starred opposite Imogen Poots in the independent film A Country Called Home, directed and co-written by his wife, Anna Axster. Bingham also wrote and recorded the film's title track "A Country Called Home". The song was released digitally through Bingham's own label, Axster Bingham Records, on May 6, 2016.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/a-country-called-home-single/1104417328|title=A Country Called Home – Single by Ryan Bingham|date=May 6, 2016|website=iTunes}}

Bingham's fifth studio album Fear and Saturday Night was recorded mostly live at Plyrz Studio outside of Los Angeles, California.{{cite web |url=http://nodepression.com/album-review/ryan-bingham-returns-fear-and-saturday-night |title=Ryan Bingham Returns with 'Fear and Saturday Night' | No Depression |website=nodepression.com |access-date=January 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150318220543/http://nodepression.com/album-review/ryan-bingham-returns-fear-and-saturday-night |archive-date=March 18, 2015 |url-status=dead}} The album was co-produced by Jim Scott and released through Axster Bingham Records on January 20, 2015. The album's first single "Radio" was released on December 9, 2014. In a 2016 interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Bingham shared, "'Radio' is a song I wrote about the thoughts, memories, and emotions that roll through my mind. The radio that's constantly playing in your head, night and day."{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/watch-ryan-binghams-intense-live-radio-video-112878/|title=Watch Ryan Bingham's Intense Live 'Radio' Video|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=September 30, 2016}}

On August 6, 2016, Bingham recorded his first live album, Ryan Bingham Live, at Whitewater Amphitheater in New Braunfels, Texas. The album was released on October 21, 2016. The entire Whitewater Amphitheater show was also filmed and streamed live by Amazon Music.{{Cite web|url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/10/song-premiere-ryan-bingham-crowd-favorite-sunrise-off-new-live-album|title=Song Premiere: Ryan Bingham crowd favorite 'Sunrise' off new live album|website=Ftw.usatoday.com|date=October 18, 2016}}

Bingham released a song titled "Back By the River" on The Musical Mojo of Dr. John: A Celebration of Mac and his Music, in 2016.{{cite web|title=Press Play: New Music|url=http://www.tulsaworld.com/weekend/pressplay/press-play-new-music/article_2197869b-6827-5d5e-8a0b-45232cf5bc84.html|website=Tulsaworld.com|date=September 14, 2016 |access-date=September 14, 2016}}

Starting in 2018, Bingham had a recurring guest role in the contemporary Western television show, Yellowstone, as Walker, an itinerant ranch hand.{{cite web |title=Yellowstone – Season 1 – TV Series {{!}} Paramount Network |url=https://www.paramountnetwork.com/shows/yellowstone/iutiiw/season-1 |access-date=June 22, 2019}}{{cite web |title=Yellowstone – Season 2 – TV Series {{!}} Paramount Network |url=https://www.paramountnetwork.com/shows/yellowstone/e7flgl/season-2 |access-date=June 22, 2019}}{{cite web |title=Yellowstone – Season 3 – TV Series {{!}} Paramount Network |url=https://www.paramountnetwork.com/shows/yellowstone/g4h152/season-3 |access-date=September 20, 2020}}

In December 2018, Bingham announced that he would be releasing his sixth studio album American Love Song in February 2019.

In March 2020, Bingham began posting various covers and released songs on his Youtube channel in a series known as the Cantina Sessions throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic, he continued such until the end of 2020.

Bingham has appeared as a guest on Bob Harris's Country Show on the BBC's Radio 2. Daryl Easlea, writing for the BBC's folk and country review, said: "Bingham will be one of the names to drop in 2008, with an album that sounds as if it's been unearthed from 1972."{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/jg54/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120723012944/http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/jg54|url-status=dead|title=BBC – Music – Review of Ryan Bingham – Mescalito|first=Daryl|last=Easlea|website=Bbc.co.uk|archive-date=July 23, 2012|access-date=February 17, 2020}}

File:Ryan Bingham Ron Baker 3.jpg

Rolling Stone magazine gave Mescalito three out of five stars and wrote that Bingham "earns his sepia-toned album cover with a dusty wood-and-steel sound, and despite being twenty-five, sings like Steve Earle's dad."{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/16496481/review/18057124/mescalito?rating=11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090114090514/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/16496481/review/18057124/mescalito?rating=11 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 14, 2009 |title=Mescalito : Ryan Bingham : Review |publisher=Rolling Stone|access-date=July 27, 2014}}

PopMatters review of Tomorrowland awarded the album with 8 out of 10 stars. Greg M. Scwartz, writing for PopMatters wrote, that "The one-time pro rodeo rider turned Texas troubadour has blues, country, and Americana influences that are certainly still there. But at his core, Bingham has always been a rock 'n' roller and Tomorrowland features him rocking at his best."{{cite web |url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/164086-ryan-bingham-tomorrowland/ |title=Ryan Bingham: Tomorrowland < PopMatters |website=www.popmatters.com |access-date=January 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025002058/http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/164086-ryan-bingham-tomorrowland/ |archive-date=October 25, 2012 |url-status=dead}}

Tomorrowland was also reviewed by Nico Isaac from Paste (magazine). Isaac wrote: "Tomorrowland is like a good, ol' fashioned rock anthem of kiss-my-asschaps autonomy... One thing's for sure Tomorrowland- the album and the red-blooded, rattlesnake-eating rebellious attitude—is no place for the weary kind."

{{Clear}}

Ryan's mother died due to alcohol related causes and his father died by suicide. Bingham's "Never Far Behind" from his Tomorrowland album is about his parents.{{cite web|title=Ryan Bingham Interviewed by 3DotMag|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PLUyADYR_w|website=Youtube.com| date=June 2, 2013 |access-date=September 14, 2016}}{{cite magazine|last1=Newman|first1=Melinda|title='Fear and Saturday Night': How Ryan Bingham Defeated Darkness on Surprising New LP|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/fear-and-saturday-night-how-ryan-bingham-defeated-darkness-on-surprising-new-lp-20150120|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=September 14, 2016|date=January 20, 2015}}

He announced at his performance in Austin, Texas, on March 5, 2015, that he and his wife were expecting their first child in the summer of 2015. Bingham's song "Broken Heart Tattoo" from Fear and Saturday Night is a reflection about what he would like to say to his unborn child.from an interview on Americana Music Show, No. 238, published March 24, 2015

On June 29, 2021, Bingham filed for divorce from his wife, Anna Axster, after 12 years of marriage. In September 2021, it was revealed that the couple's former Topanga Canyon home was sold for $2.45 million. The home was originally purchased by the couple in 2013 for $1.36 million. Bingham and Axster have three children together.{{Cite news|last1=Gold|first1=Scott|title=Raw and Genuine|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-mar-30-ca-bingham30-story.html|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=November 17, 2016|date=March 30, 2008}}{{cite web|last=Smyers |first=Darryl |url=http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/dc9/2010/10/qa_ryan_bingham_talks_growing.php |title=Q&A: Ryan Bingham Talks Growing Up in Texas, Sharing His Name with George Clooney and Coming to Grips With Winning an Oscar | Dallas Observer |website=Blogs.dallasobserver.com |date=October 7, 2010 |access-date=July 27, 2014}}

Since April 2023, Bingham and his female fellow Yellowstone co-star Hassie Harrison have been in a relationship. They were married on October 7, 2023 at her family estate in Dallas, Texas.{{cite news |last1=Macon |first1=Alexandra |title=Inside Yellowstone’s Ryan Bingham and Hassie Harrison’s Elegant Western Wedding at the Bride’s Family Home in Texas |url=https://www.vogue.com/slideshow/ryan-bingham-and-hassie-harrison-wedding |newspaper=Vogue.com |publisher=Vogue |date=May 29, 2024 |access-date=March 23, 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2023-04-13/yellowstone-hassie-harrison-ryan-bingham-dating-laramie-walker|title='Yellowstone' couple confirms there is 'more than a spark' between them in real life|last=Carras|first=Christi|work=Los Angeles Times|date=April 13, 2023|language=en}}

For film roles, he is credited as Ryan Bingham unless otherwise noted.

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category}}

• [http://www.binghammusic.com/ Bingham's official website]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20091006081133/http://countrymusicpride.com/2009/09/ryan-bingham-the-dead-horses-%E2%80%9Croadhouse-sun%E2%80%9D-lost-highway/ Review of Roadhouse Sun] from CountryMusicPride.com
• [http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/music/la-ca-bingham30mar30,1,7043683.story Los Angeles Times article on Bingham]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080704112515/http://www.lonestarmusic.com/ryan_bingham_07.asp Interview with LoneStarMusic.com]
• {{IMDb name|1123709}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20101206080126/http://theeuropean-magazine.com/110-bingham-ryan/112-crazy-heart-soundtrack Ryan Bingham | "Crazy Heart" Soundtrack – A Guitar Felt A Lot Better In My Hands Than A Shovel | The European Magazine]

{{Ryan Bingham}}

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