JAKE OWEN

Jake Owen is one of those few celebrities who began with another path of career and then changed lane when meeting a dead end. Jake was an aspiring sportsman, excelling in golf and winning his first tournament at the age of 15. But his professional career was stopped mid-track when a wakeboarding accident required him to have a reconstructive surgery. Owen, who was born August 28, 1981 in Vero Beach, Florida, picked up a guitar borrowed from his neighbor while recovering from his injuries. He taught himself how to play it. One night, he heard somebody in a campus bar playing songs on stage, so he asked the bar's owner if he could play a gig there. Owen eventually earned $75 a night at the bar and began writing his own materials. With only a few hours to complete, he left his study at Florida State University in favor of Nashville. He continued writing songs in his apartment and luck began at a bank. While opening a savings account, Owen told the bank teller that he was a singer and songwriter. The teller then asked a copy of his recordings and gave the CD to Warner/Chappell Music publishing company.