Today we’d like to introduce you to Hayden Grove.
Hi Hayden, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Music has been a part of me for as long as I can remember. I’ve been singing since I was a little boy in preschool, but I started taking lessons by the time I reached the third grade. I sang in talent shows throughout middle school and into high school, as well as school musicals and other competitions. It was pretty early on that I discovered the Great American Songbook, the music of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Bobby Darin, and more, and I instantaneously fell in love. My hunger for the music was insatiable, learning every song I could listen to, leaning into every note. Michael Buble provided me an incredible role model, a younger man keeping the music alive and fresh and, in watching his every move, I had a foundation for my entrance into the genre. The middle school talent show in the sixth grade at Pine Crest School in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, is where I first showcased my love for this music, singing Bobby Darin’s “Mack the Knife,” and I haven’t stopped since. I joined the jazz band in high school as a vocalist, where I honed my craft enough to where I was accepted to the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music as a jazz vocal major. Unfortunately, my time at Miami was marred by mental health issues, so my focused shifted towards my love of sports. I thereby transferred to my dream school– The Ohio State University– and studied sports journalism, putting music on the back burner. Upon graduation in 2015, I moved to Cleveland to begin my career in the field, interning at various sports websites before landing a job with cleveland.com in 2016, covering sports through social media. It was always my desire to live in Cleveland, a place I fell deeply in love with as a kid, due in large part to the fact that my mom was a native and most of her family still resides in the area. Upon settling in Cleveland, I was introduced to a pianist named Mike Petrone, who reignited my passion for music. He kickstarted my professional music career, and I’ve been slowly building towards a full-time career as a singer. In 2023, I played 158 shows across America, most of which were in Cleveland. 2024 is already looking to eclipse that number. d
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As mentioned, it has been anything but a smooth road. Mental health struggles plagued me, specifically through my senior year of high school and even into my senior year of college. Luckily, I’ve been supported and loved through my challenges and have been lucky enough– with plenty of help– to manage my challenges very well over the last ten years.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
While I mentioned most of what I do earlier, I can certainly dive in. As a performer, I sing the music I love. I try to be as versatile as possible while staying true to that fact. If I don’t love the song I’m singing, it loses all meaning. For me, that’s music from Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Bobby Darin, Harry Connick Jr., Michael Buble, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, Nat King Cole, MoTown, and all kinds of different artists, most from yesteryear. The authenticity of the music is unmatched. It’s raw, it’s real, it has feeling. It’s what hits me in the heartstrings and keeps me going through the hundreds of shows I play per year. As a 31-year-old man, it’s very different from what most kids my age are doing, but I tend to stay true to myself and to what I love. That love and that passion shines through to the audience, I hope.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
People can support me by following my social media accounts, all of which are @h_grove. They can find my music on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and wherever else music is streamed. They can watch live performances of mine on YouTube and TikTok. They can come to my live performances, which can be found at haydenfrankgrove.com/events.
In terms of collaboration, they can email my manager, Carli Kane, at haydengrovemusic@gmail.com. I love working with other artitsts!
Contact Info:
- Website: haydenfrankgrove.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/h_grove/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clevelandcom/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/H_Grove
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGUIW1ZQI4wfimNbEaoAD6A
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@h_grove
Image Credits
Howard Washington
Lauren Ashley Studios
