Gary Allan

December 5, 2024

Fast Facts
Background
Career Timeline
Why We Love
Surprising Facts
FAQs

Gary Allan Herzberg was born on December 5, 1967. He is an American country musician known for his soulful tracks that speak to the soul of listeners. He has 10 studio albums, of which 26 tracks have made it to the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts. Interestingly, Allan had already learned how to win hearts as a teen even before topping the Billboard charts. Maybe that was why he got his first recording deal at 15. How is that for a superstar?

Fast Facts

Full Name:

Gary Allan Herzberg

Birth date:

December 5, 1967

Age:

Zodiac Sign:

Sagittarius

Height:

5' 11"

Relationship Status:

Engaged

Net Worth:

$10 million

Background

Gary Allan Herzberg, also known as Gary Allan, was born on December 5, 1967, in La Mirada, California. He was raised by his parents, Mary and Harley Herzberg. At a young age, he played guitar alongside his father for a couple of years before A&M Records offered him a recording deal to pursue a career in music. However, due to his studies, his father was forced to reject the offer. After completing high school, he continued to play in bars until 1995, when he signed to the British record label, Decca Records after recording four songs at Javelina Studios.

With Decca Records, he released his debut studio album titled “Used Heart for Sale” in 1996, which contained singles like the groundbreaking ‘Her Man.’ He returned to the studio in 1998 for his second album, “It Would Be You.” He left Decca to join M.C.A. Nashville the following year. At M.C.A., he recorded and released his 1999 album, “Smoke Rings in the Dark,” which became his first album to be certified platinum. At the beginning of the 21st century, he released a streak of four platinum and gold-certified albums in six years. His 2010 album, “Get Off on the Pain,” made it to the second position on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, while the 2013 album, “Set You Free,” topped the same chart.

Before Allan’s engagement to Molly Martin in 2021, he had married and divorced two wives between 1987 and 1999, and lost another, Angela, in 2004, whom he had married in 2001.

Career timeline

1996

He Releases His Debut Studio Album

His first studio album, "Used Heart For Sale," is certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.

1998

His Second Studio Album

"It Would Be You" is released and becomes one of the Top 10 albums on the U.S Country charts.

2003

He Tops the Billboard

His single, ‘Man to Man,’ becomes his first number-one hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

2007

He Releases a Sensational Album

The album "Greatest Hits," which contains some of his greatest tracks, is released and sells approximately 70,000 copies in its first week.

2013

Allan Debuts Atop the Billboard Chart

His ninth studio album, “Set You Free,” secures number one on the Billboard 200 chart for the first time, selling 106,000 copies in the first week.

2021

His 10th Studio Album

He releases "Ruthless," his latest album.

Why We Love Gary Allan

He is receptive and versatile
Allan takes ample time to explore and assimilate ideas from other areas aside from his music career. He has tried acting as well as airing his view on California politics.
He is persistent
Since the release of his third studio album, Allan has maintained a steady pace of releasing hit songs. It has been over a quarter century into his career, and he remains a contending force in country music with the recent release of his 10th album.
He is a child sensation
Due to his family's focus on music, Allan started his musical career early. He was so talented that he was even offered a record deal as a teenager.

5 Surprising Facts

His mother was displeased with his tattoo
His mother cried after seeing him with a tattoo that made him “look like a criminal.”
He received independent funding
A couple signed him a $12,000 check to fund his career after listening to a demo tape he left in the glove box of their truck.
Angela died from suicide
His third wife, Angela, shot herself dead after suffering from depression and migraines.
He had vocal surgery
He underwent extensive vocal surgery to remove a polyp from his vocal cord.
He was into acting
He played the lead role of Eddie Cochran in the T.V. mini-series "Shake, Rattle & Roll."

Gary Allan FAQs

Did Gary Allan remarry?

After divorcing his first wife, Tracy Taylor, Allan married the model Danette Day. After they separated, he married his third wife, Angela. She died from suicide in 2004. Allan is currently engaged to his Molly Martin after he proposed in 2021.