At age 12, young Casey Lee Hurt was handed a pawnshop guitar by his father, a gospel preacher, and told to go make a joyful noise. You could find him on a street corner, coffee shop or local pub doing just that….a boy, a guitar, and a dream. Today, wherever an ear is listening or a spirit needs lifting, Casey is right there singing, all soul and bones, with a guitar, piano, or any other instrument he can get his hands on. He calls it “Pawnshop Gospel.”On October 30th, 2012, listeners can bring Casey home with them on his latest CD “Half as Much as Love.” It captures the magic of the live performances that have made Casey a highly sought-after act on the west coast of the US and even in Europe (where he is currently touring the UK, France and Ireland). “Half as Much as Love” features him at his very best, surrounded by accomplished music professionals: producer Eric Schultz, Grammy-winning engineer Michael Rosen (Carlos Santana, Michelle Branch), and musicians Michael Urbano (Sheryl Crow, Cracker, Smashmouth), Davey Faragher (Elvis Costello, John Hiatt) and Adele Stein (Sting, Rush, Bruno Mars).Listeners will hear strains of Casey's influences on the new disc like Van Morrison, Ryan Adams, John Mayer, and even some Tom Waits and Tracy Chapman. His music is undeniably raw and passionate, as opposed to being auto-tuned or synthetic, and described by a reviewer at Sonicbids as “black-coffee honest.” His voice simply penetrates the soul. “Half as Much as Love” includes more of the heartfelt music that landed his song “Sunday Mornings” on the popular television show “One Tree Hill.”“Half As Much As Love” is about the “idea that love can be beautiful and terrifying at the exact same time,” says Casey. The CD, which clearly captures Casey’s concept of “Pawnshop Gospel,” features tracks that vary from Folk to Rock, including “Family” and “Mary, Mary” respectively, and the gutsy Blues-influenced “Back for Me,” which is one of several tracks slated for an upcoming music video. “It's about two close friends of mine whose relationship fell apart, and I was right there in the middle of it all. I think it really captures the emotion and honesty of that situation.”Casey takes his new music on the open road this fall with a tour that starts (by fan demand) in Europe followed by appearances in several American cities.“Half as Much as Love” can be purchased through iTunes, or go to Casey's website, caseyhurt.com