Mark Wills - Musical Career

Musical Career

Wills's self-titled debut album was released in 1996 under the production of Carson Chamberlain and Keith Stegall. Its lead-off single, "Jacob's Ladder", went to number 6 on the country charts. "High Low and In Between," the B-side to "Jacob's Ladder," was the next single, reaching number 33. Finishing off the single releases was the number five "Places I've Never Been." Despite the success of its first and third singles, the album did not sell well, and it reached 38 on the country albums charts.

Wish You Were Here was the title of Wills's second album. This was his most commercially successful album, earning a platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America. The lead-off single "I Do (Cherish You)" and its followup, "Don't Laugh at Me", both reached No. 2 on the country charts, with the former bringing him to the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time. Following the pair of No. 2-peaking songs was the album's title track. Co-written by Bill Anderson, Skip Ewing and Debbie Moore, it became Wills's first Number One hit in 1999. Later that year, the boy band 98 Degrees covered "I Do (Cherish You)" on their album 98 Degrees and Rising. Following "Wish You Were Here" was "She's in Love", the final single from Wish You Were Here, which peaked at No. 7. Also in 1999, Wills received an Academy of Country Music award for Top New Male Vocalist.