He started singing in his brother's band, singing Country music, and performed at any local gathering he could. After he graduated high school, Shelton started performing in area clubs and also worked a series of jobs. In 1984, Bettye Witt, his girlfriend at the time (and, since August 4, 1986, wife) found a job in Nashville, Tennessee (the Country music capital), and Shelton went along with her.Down in Nashville, Shelton tried to make it big in the Country music business, trying to land a deal with a recording contract. He made it by at this time, by working in nightclubs around the area. Eventually, one of his friends, who was a newspaper columnist by the name of Jerry Thompson heard one of Shelton's demos, and arranged an audition with Columbia Records, and he soon found himself with a recording contract under CBS in 1986, with Jerry Thompson as his manager. In 1986, Shelton was soon recording for his new-upcoming album, Wild-Eyed Dream. The title track was released as a single in 1986, and reached 24 on the Country charts that year.