Mike Eli

Born in Tomball, Texas, on April 5, 1981, Mike Eli attended the University of North Texas, where he became roommates with James Young during their freshman year. They played guitar together before beginning to write and perform songs with each other. They formed an acoustic duo, going by the name Eli & Young before being joined by Chris Thompson and Jon Jones. The quartet would eventually take on the name Eli Young Band. The group released its self-titled debut album in 2002, with its follow-up, "Level" hitting store shelves in 2005. That year, Eli Young Band served as an opening act for Miranda Lambert on her tour. The band released a live album in late 2006 and took on a rigorous touring schedule the following year. "Jet Black & Jealous," the band's third studio album, came out in 2008 and its second single "Always the Love Songs" peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard charts. "Life at Best" was released on 2011, and the band won an Academy of Country Music Award for Song of the Year on April 1, 2012. Eli continued to release albums and tour with the band throughout the 2010s. He married Kacey Jann Herndon in 2010.