His rise has been as improbable as it has been impressive. After dropping out of college and taking on work as a carpenter in Chicago, he got his musical start by providing CDs for his fans to pass along to their friends. This led to a string of sold out shows and a record deal with Nashville indie Lightning Rod Records. (Jason Isbell, Billy Joe Shaver). The following years would have him on the road for over four hundred shows, including stops at Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, and Newport Folk Festival.