Personal Life

Vassar was born in Lynchburg, Virginia on May 28, 1962. He is the son of Eva Silverman (nee) Kass and Phil Vassar Sr. Vassar graduated from Lynbrook High School in 1982 and attended James Madison University. He graduated from JMU in 1986 with a Bachelor’s degree in English. After college, Vassar moved to Nashville, Tennessee to pursue a career in country music.

Vassar married Julie Wood On March 26, 2002. The couple has two daughters: Presley and Haley. Vassar and Wood divorced in 2007.

Career

Vassar’s first big break came in 1992 when he was hired as a staff writer for EMI Publishing. His songs were recorded by some of country music’s biggest stars, including Alan Jackson, Jo Dee Messina, Tim McGraw, and Collin Raye. Vassar signed a recording contract with Arista Nashville in 1999 and released his debut album, Phil Vassar, in the next year. The album’s first single, “Carlene,” became a top-ten hit on the Billboard country charts.

On August 6, 2002, Vassar released his second album, American Child. The album debuted at number one on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart and produced three singles: “American Child”, “This Is God”, and “Ultimate Love”. All three singles peaked in the top ten of Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart.

Vassar’s third album, Shaken Not Stirred, was released on September 28, 2004. The album produced three singles: “In a Real Love” which peaked at number one on the Hot Country Songs chart, and “I’ll Take That as a Yes (The Hot Tub Song)”, which peaked at number 17.

On May 2, 2006, Vassar released his greatest hits album, Greatest Hits Vol. 1. The album includes all of Vassar’s singles up to that point, as well as three new tracks. The album’s first single, “In a Real Love,” was co-written by Vassar with Craig Wiseman, and became his ninth No. 1 hit on the country charts.

On April 22, 2008, Vassar released his fourth studio album, Prayer of a Common Man. The album debuted at number three on the Billboard Country charts. The first single from the album, “This Is My Life” peaked at number 35 on the Country charts. The album’s second single, “Love Is a Beautiful Thing” peaked at number two.

On December 15, 2009, Vassar released his fifth album, Traveling Circus. The album debuted at number 29 on the Billboard Country charts. This album included the singles “Bobbi with an I”, “Everywhere I Go” and “Life”.

Noel is the sixth studio album Noel album by American country music artist Phil Vassar. It was released on November 22, 2011, via Rodeowave Entertainment. The Hits Live On Broadway is a live album by American country music artist Phil Vassar. It was released on November 22, 2011, via Rodeowave Entertainment. The album includes fourteen tracks, all of which were written or co-written by Vassar himself. American Soul is the seventh studio album by American country music artist Phil Vassar. It was released on December 2, 2016, via The Orchard. The album includes twelve tracks, all of which were written or co-written by Vassar himself.

Discography

• Phil Vassar (2000)
• American Child (2002)
• Shaken Not Stirred (2004)
• Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 (2006)
• Prayer of a Common Man (2008)
• Traveling Circus (2009)
• Noel (2011)
• The Hits Live On Broadway (2011)
• American Soul (2016)
• Stripped Down (2020)