Tyler James Hilton is an American singer-songwriter and actor. Hilton
began his professional career in music in 2000. Rolling Stone magazine compared
him to his contemporary, Howie Day, while others have compared Hilton to
Elton John, both vocally and instrumentally. Since the release of his
debut album, Hilton has ventured into acting, guest starring on The CW's One
Tree Hill as the talented but somewhat arrogant Chris Keller, and playing the
role of Elvis Presley in the Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line. He also appeared
in Taylor Swift's music video "Teardrops on My Guitar" and Gloriana's music video
"(Kissed You) Good Night". Early years and personal life
Hilton was born in Palm Springs, California, the son of Kristy and Robert
George Hilton. Raised in Bermuda Dunes, California, Hilton grew up around music
and began teaching himself Elvis Presley songs at an early age. After a brief
stint in Northern California, his family moved back to the Palm Springs area,
where he wrote his first song about a girl named Rhian with whom he attended
school. Hilton's family made another move back to Coachella Valley for high
school, where, at La Quinta High School, he started a band with some of his
classmates. The band did not go anywhere, so Hilton began to enter open
mic nights and went to local coffee shops to play his own music.
Hilton lives in Los Angeles. He got engaged to actress Megan Park, whom he
met on the set of Charlie Bartlett, in December 2013; the couple wed in October
2015. Music career
Hilton heard a local radio station was giving away Jonny Lang concert tickets
and called into The Mark & Brian radio show on KLOS in Los Angeles at the age
of 16. While on the phone, he sang an a cappella version of Jonny Lang’s song
"Breakin' Me". Mark & Brian were so impressed with Hilton's performance that
they gave him a spot at the station's Christmas concert. Word of Hilton caught
the ear of Maverick Records, who signed him up with a record deal when he was
18. Hilton released a self-titled EP on April 6, 2004. All four songs were
included on his first album The Tracks of Tyler Hilton released on September
28, 2004. After the release of his album, Hilton joined the likes of Avril
Lavigne, Jet, 50 Cent, and Josh Groban as an artist chosen by AOL Breaker for
his star potential. In addition to his own albums, Hilton
has also appeared on each of the three different One Tree Hill soundtrack
albums, some with formerly unreleased material that cannot be found anywhere
else. Most notably, the cover of the Ryan Adams song "When the Stars Go
Blue", which was arranged into a duet with One Tree Hill star Bethany Joy Lenz
for the show; also, a cover of "Missing You" by John Waite and the original
track "You'll Ask For Me". In 2005, he was part of a 23-city concert tour along
with Lenz, The Wreckers and Gavin Degraw. During the summer of that year,
he opened for Hilary Duff on her "Still Most Wanted Tour".
His EP, Better on Beachwood, which features three songs was released in May
2009. Ladies & Gentlemen, another EP followed in April 2010 and features five
songs. Both EPs are available on iTunes. For five years, Hilton worked on an
album called The Storms We Share. The album, containing some songs of Ladies &
Gentlemen, was planned to be released in the late summer of 2010. However, when
the direction changed at Warner Bros. Records, Hilton left the label resulting
in the material not being released. On June 27, 2011, Tyler Hilton's song
"Faithful" was released on the soundtrack of Larry Crowne.
On January 11, 2012, Hilton released a free song called "Loaded Gun" from his
upcoming album Forget the Storm on his website and was featured in the season 9
premiere episode of One Tree Hill following his return as Chris Keller.
Hilton also debuted two songs from the album called "Kicking My Heels" and
"Prince of Nothing Charming" on the show. On February 14, 2012, "Prince of
Nothing Charming", the first single from Hilton's upcoming album Forget the
Storm, was made available on iTunes. On March 7, 2012, Hilton revealed via
Twitter that Forget The Storm, his first full-length LP since 2004, would be
released on April 3, 2012. The album was produced by David Hodges among others
and released through Hilton's own label, Hooptie Tune Records. He chose to title
it "Forget the Storm" as a reference to his unreleased album, "The Storms We
Share," and described it as "a little more rock and roll." Hilton began a tour
in the United States with Dion Roy and "Dakota and Will" in March 2012 which
ended mid June of 2012. He also toured with Boyce Avenue in the UK and Ireland
in June 2012 until July 2012 and will return late October 2012 on his own
headlining tour after more US shows, wrapping up the year with shows back in
the US. Acting
After his stint as Chris Keller on One Tree Hill, Hilton went on to appear in
the Academy Award-winning film Walk the Line as a young version of Elvis
Presley. For the part, Hilton was given the opportunity to cover two Elvis songs
for the film, "Milk Cow Blues" and "That's All Right". Both songs are
featured on the film's award-winning soundtrack.
Hilton played in 2007 the love interest in country music artist Taylor Swift's
music video for her song "Teardrops on My Guitar" and appeared in the 2008 film
Charlie Bartlett. He was with Charlie Bartlett co-star and girlfriend Megan
Park in the music video for the band Gloriana's song "(Kissed You) Good
Night" released in January 2012. Hilton also performed in a Season 4
episode of My Super Sweet Sixteen during a young girl's sweet 16 party. He also
appeared on Vh1's Single Ladies. After a five-year break from One Tree
Hill, Hilton returned as a regular for its ninth and final season.
Filmography Discography
= Albums= Tyler Hilton US Heatseekers Albums #12
"Not Getting Your Name" 5:01 "Nora Marie" 6:15
"I Believe We Can Do It" 4:49 "Someone Like You" 4:05
"Up Late Again" 2:08 "It's Always the Same" 5:12
"Shy Girl" 4:29 "It's Only Love" 2:37
"If I'm Not Right" 3:52 "New York Can Wait" 3:07
"Last Promise" 3:53 "Don't Blame Me" 3:39
"Meant Something to Me" 2:50 The Tracks Of US Heatseekers Albums #15
When It Comes 3:45 The Letter Song 3:28
Glad 3:32 Rolling Home 4:24
Pink and Black 3:31 Our Time 3:45
Kiss On 3:22 Slide 3:40
You, My Love 6:19 Insomnia 4:21
Picture Perfect 3:07 Forget The Storm US #189; US Heatseekers
Albums #2 Kicking My Heels 4:17
Prince of Nothing Charming 3:58 Loaded Gun 3:40
You'll Ask for Me 4:02 Jenny feat. Elizabeth Huett 3:52
Can't Stop Now 4:05 Ain't No Fooling Me 3:47
Leave Him 4:36 I Belong 3:54
Hey Jesus 2:25 Live in Atlanta
Kicking My Heels 4.51 Jenny 4.11
Missing You 3.54 California 2.40
Glad 5.00 Hey Jesus 3.15
Can't Stop Now 4.35 You'll Ask For Me 6.13
Ain't No Foolin Me 3.46 Prince Of Nothing Charming 4.14
Loaded Gun 4.07 Forget the Storm - Deluxe edition
Kicking my heels 4:17 Prince of Nothing Charming 3:58
Loaded Gun 3:40 You'll Ask for Me 4:02
Jenny feat. Elizabeth Huett 3:52 Can't Stop Now 4:05
Ain't No Fooling Me 3:47 Leave Him 4:36
I Belong 3:54 Hey Jesus 2:25
Aint't No Fooling Me 3:45 Jenny 4:05
Loaded Gun 3:07 Prince of Nothing Charming 3:58
Next to you 4:13 Indian Summer
One More Song 4:18 That Kind of Night 3:19
Indian Summer 3:48 This Is Where My Heart Breaks 3:34
I Want To Be In Love So Bad 4:10 Studio Chatter 1 0:11
Give Me That Summer 4:05 California 2:54
Time's A Wastin' 2:27 Just Might Be Tonight 3:38
Only Ones Left In The World 3:24 Studio Chatter 2 1:01
I See Home 4:38 = EPs=
Better on Beachwood "Tore the Line" 3:31
"Don't Forget All Your Clothes" 5:04 "I Believe in You" 4:09
Ladies & Gentlemen "Sunset Blvd" 3:44
"I Believe in You" 4:12 "This World Will Turn Your Way" 4:06
"Keep On" 3:21 "June" 3:33
= Music videos= References
External links Official website
Tyler Hilton at the Internet Movie Database
Tyler Hilton collection at the Internet Archive's live music archive