George Ryan Bingham (born March 31, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and actor 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 2009 acclaimed 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]
Willie Original is 30x40” / 25 30x40” Numbered Limited Editions / 24x36” Studio Editions