Born and raised in Columbus, OH, Gary LeVox (b. July 10, 1970) made a name for himself as the lead singer in the multi-platinum-selling country-pop group Rascal Flatts. He loved music from an early age and frequently participated in family jam sessions alongside his second cousin Jay DeMarcus. After graduating from Ohio State University, LeVox took a job working at the Ohio Department of Mental Retardation. However, he was eventually convinced by DeMarcus to pack it up and join him down in Nashville to pursue his musical dreams. They began gigging together at a club in town, while DeMarcus also played in country star Chely Wright's backing band. One night, the two cousins needed a guitarist to sit in on a show, so DeMarcus asked Joe Don Rooney, who was playing with him in Wright's band. The three had an immediate musical connection, and Rascal Flatts were born. LeVox married in 1999, the year before the group's debut self-titled album appeared via Lyric Street Records, a label owned by the Walt Disney Company. He has two daughters with his wife.