Today we’d like to introduce you to J. Marc Bailey
Hi J. Marc, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I think the easiest way to do this is for me to share a bio written by and an author and friend 🙂
“J. Marc Bailey first got the attention of the Country music world back in 2005 with the release of his album “Just to Hang Around.” The success of the album’s Country/Rock title track breaking into radio led to high profile gigs with some of the great names in Country and Rock music including: Chris LeDoux, Blake Shelton, Toby Keith, Miranda Lambert, Joe Diffie, Gary Allan, Restless Heart, 38 Special, Diamond Rio, Sawyer Brown, Asleep At The Wheel, and many more.
After riding that high, J. Marc decided to step back from the limelight for a while to devote some time to other pursuits and spend time with his family. However, he stayed active in the Country music world. He has been involved in producing, arranging, writing, engineering, promoting and even booking other acts. But his heart eventually drew him back to his guitar, and to the fans.
J. Marc launched his comeback in 2019 with the release of the single “Midnight Here In Carolina.” Since then he has produced a steady stream of work. 2021 was a particularly productive year in which the singer released a dozen new tracks, including the breakout single “Once a Cowboy”, written by Jeffrey Steele and Recorded at Hilltop Recording Studios in Nashville, Tennessee, the song has seen heavy rotation across the real and virtual worlds.
His next single, “I Can’t Stop You” was released to Radio toward the end of 2021 and moved quickly up the terrestrial radio charts. It broke top 10 on the New Music Weekly charts just before the end of the year and followed that momentum and success by breaking into the top 100 on the Music Row Charts jumping over 140 spots in the first 9 weeks. It saw close to 300k streams across all the major digital channels in the first 2 months after it’s release.
J. was quoted as saying, “nothing can compare to the feeling of performing live and connecting with friends who feel the way you do about things. One of the biggest thrills I have ever experienced was the first time I looked down and saw a grinning face singing along with every word of a song that I had written and was performing, I lost my place and totally forgot my lyrics – WHAT A RUSH!”
2022 saw J. Marc releasing two full length studio albums, “Hang On A Little Longer” and “I Can’t Stop You”. Both albums were produced by Buddy Hyatt with some of Nashville’s elite including Brent Mason on guitars , Austin Crum (Currently with Josh Turner) on electric guitar, Lonnie Wilson on drums (currently with George Strait), Dan Tyminski (Alison Krauss as well as the “O’ Brother Where Art Thou” soundtrack) on acoustic and mandolin, Duncan Mullins on bass and Scottie Hinson on pedal steele just to name a few. Both albums saw some of the tunes released to radio, satellite and the major streaming channels with huge response from fans.
March 2023, Almost 20 years after the first attempt at the song, “Unbroken” J. Marc released a full length album with this title. Unbroken is huge part of J. Marc’s story so we will give a few more details, more than his other projects. In his own words:
“…choices, life is full of them. We are faced everyday with challenges and the choices that come along with them and so many times we forget that making the right choice opens us up to continue making further choices and having freedom. Making the wrong choices severely limits our ability to be free and continue doing what we love. Unbroken for me represents a lot of looking back over choices, ones that I made and some that others made that affected me.
I have made more than my fair share of bad decisions which have led to many regrets, I own these wholeheartedly. My poor life choices had a huge impact on my happiness and my ability to pursue the things that I love with music being close to the top of the list for me. One thing I have learned through this is that it’s important not to let those choices define who we are. How we work through things and deal with the hard times will be what defines us.
The song “Unbroken” took me a very long time to work through and feel alright with releasing. Over a year and a half ago when I first put out the single, I was on the phone with a close friend who helped with the first acoustic cut and he was telling me I was crazy to even second guess putting it out and, “I need to get my ass out of my own way”. I was very unsure about how I finally felt letting it go because I don’t think I ever believed it would see the light of day. I think the early versions were more for my own therapy. It was originally part of an unreleased project that I recorded immediately after the “Just To Hang Around” album in 2005.
Back then I was so angry at so many things. I was going through a lot and the overall feeling was basically let hell rage and everything and everyone pile on… with a big middle finger, “I WILL STAND UNBROKEN!” (even got the tattoo to prove my point lol)
Man how time has tempered and tamed that feeling and helped put things in a better, more clear perspective. For me the final version of the song has become more about how we all stray from the correct path, but recognizing that in the end it’s about redemption and fighting our way back, loving without limits, trying hard to do what’s right, asking for forgiveness and offering it without hesitation, standing strong and coming out the other side… “UNBROKEN”.
My hope with this album is that it represents the best of what I have to offer musically from all I’ve done throughout the years. The songs on here range from polished to raw, early stuff to the most recent recordings. Each one on here has had some significant meaning or impact for me somewhere along the journey 🙂
I love music, I love writing, covering, producing and recording it but there really is nothing like playing it live with family and friends. “… I won’t say it’s been easy, but I wouldn’t change a thing.”
This brings us to 2024! This year J. has seen the new radio mix of “Hang On a Little Longer” be released and it’s being followed by his most recent song, “But I Do” coming at the end of this month.
J. is also currently working as the COO of the Gone Country Hat Co. sporting a hot growing line of cowboy hats with over 300 retail stores carrying the brand.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Definitely not a smooth road. I’ve experienced the highs and lows of success and failure… one day your the Joker and one day you get to be the King. The maddening fight to keep a music career on the path headed forward and not lose yourself and your values and stay true to the type of music you like to write and play. The financial struggle to support the habit until it can support itself and eventually support a basic version of day to day life. I’ve experience bankruptcy, divorce, miles separating family that I love and all the good stuff that goes along with these things. The fun experience of people, even close friends, telling you you aren’t good enough and you should give it up. Been there done it all and bought the TShirt.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Gone Country Hat Co.?
I’m currently the COO of the Gone Country Hat Co. This company has been in business for over 22 years, started as a mom and pop style company we have grown it to something well beyond that but have worked hard to maintain the mom and pop feeling and the one on one relationship with our customers.
We have a 40,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Mexico where our hats are produced and our corporate office and warehouse for fulfillment are in Orlando, FL. Our sales office and operations are located here in Nashville.
Brand Statement: Authentic. Quality. Affordable. True to Your Roots. Our brand, Gone Country Hat Co., understands the deep appreciation for heritage and values that come with country living. We exist to provide authentic, high-quality cowboy hats that the average individual can afford. They not only protect from the elements but also serve as a powerful expression of personal style for individuals.
At Gone Country Hat Co., we prioritize authenticity, durability, and comfort. We offer a curated selection of cowboy hats that not only meet the demands of our customers’ work
but also reflect their individuality and values. Our hats are more than just a fashion accessory; they are a mark of identity and respect in the country community.
We know our customers seek and appreciate the ‘story’ behind the products they purchase. That’s why each cowboy hat from Gone Country Hat Co. has a heritage they can be proud of. Our customers can trust that our hats are made with meticulous craftsmanship and designed to withstand daily work rigors while still looking good.
By wearing a cowboy hat from Gone Country Hat Co., our customers connect to their roots, express their personality, and fit seamlessly into their daily lives.
We are honored to be a part of their tradition and lifestyle, and we strive to be the brand that assists them in upholding their traditions and maintaining their sense of identity.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I’m not sure if you call it luck or hard work, grace and blessings. I think that luck, most times, is a result of a lot of hard work and then some grace from above.
As far as bad luck goes, I think that sometimes we like to say we have bad luck when really it’s nothing more than us making wrong choices when we know better and not wanting to call it what it is… self inflicted hardship 🙂
Overall, I think most of my “luck” has been good and I’ve been blessed with some great experiences and successes. The hardships I’ve faced have been mainly the results of my own decisions and choices.
Pricing:
- Basic Straw Hats start at $89
- Basic Wool Cashmere Blended Hats start at $149
- Basic Palm Hats start at $79
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.JMarcBailey.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jmarcbailey/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jmarcbailey/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/jmarcbailey
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JMarcBailey
- Other: https://www.GoneCountryHats.com
