Matt Stell is a country music singer, guitarist, and songwriter born in Center Ridge, Arkansas. He played basketball during high school in the Amateur Athletic Union summer league, and went on to play college basketball for Drury University for four years on an athletic scholarship (he's 6 feet 7 inches tall). While in college he taught himself to play the guitar, began writing music, formed a band, and began playing local gigs, at first under a pseudonym (Paul Wayne Walker) so his coach wouldn't find out.
After college he worked farming and construction jobs while studying for a master's degree in communications at the University of Arkansas. A medical missions trip to Haiti inspired him to apply to Harvard University's Extension School pre-med program, and he was accepted. But in 2014, shortly before the program would have begun, he had the opportunity to sign a publishing deal with Wide Open Music, and he chose music over medical school.
In the early 2010s he released three albums independently: The Sound and the Story, Vestibule Blues, and in March 2013, A River Through It. He continued playing gigs, and opened for major artists including Luke Bryan and Eric Church.
Matt made his Grand Ole Opry debut on 27 April 2019. He makes a return appearance at the Grand Ole Opry on 12 June 2019 with Old Crow Medicine Show and the Del McCoury Band. In May, Taste of Country named him an Artist to Watch. His major label debut EP, the seven-song Everywhere But On, released 24 May 2019 on RECORDS/Arista Nashville, a week after the debut of the music video for the title track. The EP includes a collaboration with Jimmie Allen.
-Wikipedia
Birth name:
Matt Stell
From:
Center Ridge, Arkansas
Genres:
Country
Instruments:
Vocals, Guitar
Years active:
2010-present
Associated acts:
Allison Veltz, Casey Donahew, John D. Hale Band, Ash Bowers, Jimmie Allen
Tour Dates: