Phil Vassar photo by Wes Aldridge.

Over the course of the past decade, Phil Vassar’s unbounded energy and limitless talent have proven him, again and again, as one of Nashville’s most prolific and versatile stars. "You have to wear many hats," Phil says, "when you’re writing songs, playing, singing, producing. But I love being involved in all facets of music." It is this hands-on approach that’s made Phil a hands-down success as a songwriter, singer, musician, performer, and producer.

His resume boasts six No. 1 hits for country artists including Alan Jackson, Tim McGraw, Jo Dee Messina, and Collin Raye, and three more as an artist in his own right. He’s been named the ASCAP Songwriter of the Year twice and has taken top honors from the Academy of Country Music, Billboard and MusicRow. Now releasing his sixth album, Traveling Circus, Phil approaches his uniquely piano-based, rhythm and blues-infused, infectiously buoyant brand of country music from the back-to-basics school of thought.

After co-producing his breakout debut album, Phil Vassar, which was RIAA certified gold and gave rise to his first No. 1 hit "Just Another Day In Paradise" in 2000, Phil continued to work with such heavyweight producers as Byron Gallimore, Frank Rogers, Dan Huff and Mark Wright for his next three studio albums. But when it came time to begin cutting songs for the upcoming album, Phil felt that the time was right to fly solo for the first time. "This is my album," he states. "This time around, it’s just me. Writing, mixing, mastering, playing—I was there for every second. It feels much more a part of me."

Throwing convention to the wind and staying true to his own taste, Phil bypassed traditional Music City session players and hired his road band to play on Traveling Circus. While the band had played on some of Phil’s Greatest Hits: Vol. 1 album, and had become his go-to guys for demo work, never before had Phil used them for a full album of original material.

"I just always loved the way my demos sounded, and I love my guys. They’re the best," Phil explains. "Plus, there’s something I always liked about Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, the Elton John Band, these guys who really stuck together and were loyal to their band in and out of the studio. I respect that." What’s more, Phil found that his road band, who contribute so much to the frenetic creative energy of his legendary live shows, were much better equipped to capture his concert sound than hired session musicians would be.