biography
Born and raised in Lexington, North Carolina, Ross Coppley has always dreamed of being a singer. Whether it was singing for family and friends or the local karaoke bars, Ross’s undeniable talent has always been noticed. With Garth Brooks as his idol, Ross has realized that his talent be best put to use singing his favorite genre, country music. Early on, country was not at the top of Ross’s list. While a student at Central Davidson High, Ross began to play the drums. He soon joined with a few friends to form a rock and roll band. Success was hard to come by however, and Ross felt his true potential was not being realized. Sitting behind the bulky drum set, he yearned for the microphone to be in his hands. It was not long after high school that Ross parted ways with his friends in the band and began to make his own way as a solo artist. A few months later, he was going from bar to bar with his cousin’s wedding party. On a dare, Ross took the microphone at one of the bar’s karaoke nights and sang one of his idol’s greatest songs. His rendition of Brooks’ “Callin’ Baton Rouge” was met with a standing ovation form the crowded bar of over 200 overwhelmed spectators. This was truly what Ross was looking for: the bright lights, the adoration of a crowd, and for his talent to be appreciated. Ross knew that anyone could get up and sing karaoke, but true musicians must pay their dues. He began singing for numerous weddings, parties, and even for his employer, the Bob Timberlake Gallery during open houses. Ross entered many different competitions including American Idol and Nashville Star. However, he knew that deep inside he was not mentally ready for the glaring lights of the entire nation and nervous anxiety cost him a spot on the show. Disappointed but not disenchanted, Ross would not give up. He would enter a contest called “Gimme The Mike” held by local TV stations in a format similar to “American Idol”. Out of over 700 contestants, Ross placed in the top 5 in the whole state. It was just the recognition he and his family knew he was capable of all along. Ross would get his big break in the fall of 2006. Richard Childress, renowned NASCAR team owner, held a competition called Childress Idol at his winery. Up for grabs was a spot to sing on the main stage at Lexington’s world-famous “Barbecue Festival”. Nationally-known recording artists like Travis Tritt and Joe Diffy have graced that stage in the past. Ross ran away with the competition and earned the coveted main stage appearance. He performed in front of a crowd of 150,000 and if the cheers were any indication, Ross was on his way. This exposure led to him recording an original Christmas song that got plenty of airplay from Lexington’s local radio station WLXN. The journey for Ross has really just begun, but he remains ever vigilant in improving his singing by constantly recording and performing. He plans to move to Nashville in the future and pay his dues the way so many artists have before him. However, remaining true to his roots and forever humble Ross knows that God and family will always be the first and true reason for any of his future successes.