Gary Allan hit the honky tonk circuit in Southern California at the age of 12. Playing in and out of the smoky, sweaty bars with his dad’s band led Allan to follow in his father’s footsteps. When Allan returned to those same honky tonks with his own combo, the sound was true Bakersfield country. Allan spent most of his twenties honing his skills as a new traditionalist country singer. Finally, in 1996, he was picked up by the Decca label. Used Heart for Sale appeared that year and established Allan as a talented performer . Two years later, he returned with It Would Be You. In 1999, he released Smoke Rings in the Dark. With 2001’s Alright Guy, an accomplished mix of driving, dusty swagger and slow-burn croon, Allan proved that he was only getting better with age. Its single, “Man to Man,” became the singer’s first number one hit. See If I Care appeared in September 2003. It was another solid set of Bakersfield-derived country and poignant balladry. Tough All Over, a Top Ten hit, arrived in 2005. A greatest-hits collection was issued early in 2007, followed by a new studio project, Living Hard, later in the year. The album Get Off on the Pain dropped in early 2010 and Set You Free followed in 2013. Gary Allan expects to release another album in 2017. He continues to tour the country.