Granger Smith celebrated his first number one song at radio, single “Backroad Song,” today at the BMI offices in Nashville. The song is the first to top the charts for Smith and the 39th for co-writer and producer Frank Rogers. “If there are any singer songwriters looking this way,” Smith shared with attendees, “here I am. It’s attainable.”
“We had a very interesting indie run for several years,” Smith said before the event. Though “Backroad Song” is Smith’s first to top radio charts, he – and alter ego Earl Dibbles Jr. – have had substantial success building a devoted live following in YeeYee Nation. “That being said,” he continued, “there is no doubt now that a number one song broke through a glass ceiling that we just couldn’t have done in the indie world.”
Smith’s team praised his work ethic in building success independently and constantly striving to think forward and improve. “I learned a lot from those shows when I was playing for just a bartender,” Smith shared. Smith grew up in Texas playing football, and the team mentality – and the inclination to review show tape, which Smith does every night – stuck. “It’s all about the team, there are no individuals,” Smith said.
Smith repeatedly emphasized the importance of both his fans and the team during the event, individually addressing and thanking each member of his Wheelhouse Records crew, an imprint of Broken Bow Records, as well as his brother and manager, Tyler Smith; and Rogers. “This is our number one,” he said. “It says my name on it, but this is ours.”