Born in New Zealand, Keith Urban learned to play guitar as a six-year-old in Australia, after a young woman asked to place an ad in his dad's shop window offering guitar lessons. His parents made a deal with her that they would advertise in return for lessons for their young son.

By the time he was eight, Urban was winning talent shows. He also was involved in a youth acting company which required him to sing, dance.

With a father who was deeply interested in American culture and country music, it was natural that Keith would gravitate towards country music early on, when he was influenced by the singing of Glen Campbell, Dolly Parton and Don Williams.

His first album saw him win several major awards. Throughout his rise Urban always had his eye on Nashville in the USA. He realized quickly that the move to America would have to be permanent and headed to Nashville for good. Once there, with his Australian bandmate Peter Clarke, a drummer, he formed the three-piece band The Ranch. Their original bass player soon returned to Australia, but West Virginian Jerry Flowers quickly fit in as their new bass player.

Impressed by Rollings' knowledge of Nashville's session players, Urban asked him to produce his next record, another solo album. His tour in support of that album included opening for such major acts as Dwight Yoakam, Faith Hill, and Tim McGraw, as well as headlining his own shows.

All his records -- Keith Urban (2000), Golden Road (2002) and Be Here (2004) -- have sold in the millions, he's had seven No. 1 singles and dozens of nominations and awards.

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