<P> Frederick Dierks Bentley (born November 20, 1975) is an American singer and songwriter . In 2003, he signed to Capitol Nashville and released his eponymous debut album . Both it and its follow - up, 2005's Modern Day Drifter, are certified platinum in the United States . A third album, 2006's Long Trip Alone, is certified gold . It was followed in mid-2008 by a greatest hits package . His fourth album, Feel That Fire was released in February 2009 . A bluegrass studio album, Up on the Ridge, was released on June 8, 2010, and then a sixth album, Home, followed in February 2012, as did a seventh one, Riser, in 2014 . Bentley's eighth and latest album, entitled Black was released in May 2016 . </P> <P> Bentley's studio albums have accounted for 25 singles on the Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts, of which 15 have reached number one: his debut single "What Was I Thinkin"', "Come a Little Closer", "Settle for a Slowdown", "Every Mile a Memory", "Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go)", "Feel That Fire", "Sideways", "Am I the Only One", "Home", "5 - 1 - 5 - 0", "I Hold On", "Drunk on a Plane", "Say You Do", "Somewhere on a Beach" and "Different for Girls". Four more of his singles have reached the top 5 . </P> <P> Bentley was born on November 20, 1975 in Phoenix, Arizona as the son of Leon Fife Bentley (August 16, 1923--June 1, 2012), a bank vice-president, and Catherine Childs . His father was born in Glasgow, Missouri, to Richard Thomas and Mary Cecile Fife Bentley, and was a First Lieutenant in World War II . His middle name, Dierks (which he now uses as his first name publicly), is also his maternal great - grandmother's surname . He attended Culver Academies and graduated from The Lawrenceville School in 1993 . Afterward, he spent a year at the University of Vermont (UVM) before transferring to Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, where he graduated in 1997 . </P> <P> Bentley worked at The Nashville Network (now Spike TV), researching old footage of country performances . In 2003, Capitol Nashville released Bentley's self - titled debut album . The album's first single, "What Was I Thinkin'," reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts later that year . The next two singles from that album, "My Last Name" and "How Am I Doin'," reached No. 17 and No. 4, respectively. The album was certified Platinum by the RIAA . </P>

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