Musical Career
One of Kershaw's demonstration tapes made its way to Mercury Records, which released his debut album Don't Go Near the Water in 1991. This album was certified platinum by the RIAA, and it produced four hit singles. The lead-off, "Cadillac Style", went to No. 3 in late 1991-early 1992, followed by the No. 12 title track, "Yard Sale" at No. 17, and finally "Anywhere but Here" at No. 10. Kershaw was initially reluctant to release "Cadillac Style" because he felt that it was not suitable for his style; however, his co-producer, Buddy Cannon, convinced him to give the song a chance. Kershaw's often honky-tonk material and singing voice led to critical comparisons to George Jones, and one of Jones's early singles, "What Am I Worth", was covered on his debut as well.
Kershaw's second album, Haunted Heart, followed in 1993. Its lead-off single, "She Don't Know She's Beautiful", became his only Number One hit in April of that year. Following it were the title track, the Dennis Linde-penned "Queen of My Double-Wide Trailer", and "I Can't Reach Her Anymore", all of which hit the Top Ten as well. Although Kershaw had been told by others that radio audiences might not identify with the subject matter on "Queen of My Double-Wide Trailer", Kershaw had wanted to release the song because he had an experience similar to its story line. Like his debut, Haunted Heart was also a platinum album. In mid-1994, Kershaw also covered the Lynyrd Skynyrd song "I Know a Little" on the tribute album Skynyrd Frynds, which included country music covers of Lynyrd Skynyrd songs. Also in 1994, Kershaw contributed the song "Fire and Rain" to the AIDS benefit album Red Hot + Country produced by the Red Hot Organization.
Feelin' Good Train was the title of Kershaw's third album, released later in 1994. This album also produced four more hits, including two consecutive No. 2's in "National Working Woman's Holiday" and "Third Rate Romance" (the latter a cover of the Amazing Rhythm Aces hit from 1975), with the No. 27 "Southbound" and No. 18 "If You're Gonna Walk, I'm Gonna Crawl" following in 1995. The album also included a duet with George Jones on "Never Bit a Bullet Like This", which had previously been released from Jones's 1993 album High-Tech Redneck. Feelin' Good Train, which was certified gold, was followed by a Christmas album Christmas Time's A-Comin' and his first greatest-hits package, Greatest Hits, Volume 1, both in 1995. The latter produced a No. 47-peaking single in "Your Tattoo" (written by Kostas and Jack Tempchin), the first single of his career not to reach Top 40.
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