We got word this week that country newcomer Matt Gary will be the opener for Frankie Ballard during the Taste of Country Christmas Tour November 14 at Shooters.

Raised in Lenexa, Kansas he spent his summers at the Lake of the Ozarks where he developed a passion for the water and boats. Learning how to drive a boat at the age 11 was very exciting until his mother made him wear a bike helmet. Soccer and his love of music pretty much ruled his youth growing up. Gary was the captain of his high school soccer team and he won two state championships.

But Gary still had a burning desire to follow his dream into the country music industry. Eventually, he landed on a list of CMA's "Who to Watch" and received the "Discovery Award" from country's leading critic Robert K. Oermann.

Gary is a graduate of the University of Tampa, where he received a B.S. in Computer Information Systems and a B.A. in Digital Art and Computer Animation.

Gary, loves spending time on the water once took a group of college friends on a boat adventure in Florida. Not an expert at ocean tides, he walked out of a darn good beach party to find his board boat beached in 4 feet of water.

Gary comes from a very athletic family his mom is a marathon runner, having completed 13 marathons, while his brother has completed three Ironman triathlons. The best Gary could do is yell go faster all while drinking a beer.

Many folks including his brother have said Gary is a laid back, easy going kind of guy who lives by the truth. "He sometimes lacks a filter" says, his brother.

Musical influences include Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney and fellow Midwest guy David Nail.

Check out this lyric video of "It's On You."

Get your tickets now to the 2015 Taste of Country Christmas Tour for only $15. Ticket prices will be going up soon, so get them now! Enter here for your chance to win two tickets.

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