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CALGARY — Stanley Cup champion and best-selling author Theo Fleury is trying his hand at country music.

The former NHL star has been working on an album with his band the Death Valley Rebels, and just released his debut single “My Life’s Been a Country Song” two weeks ago.

“We’ve had almost 35,000 hits on SoundCloud,” said Fleury. “It’s been really well received.”

Fleury said his transition to a country music artist has been a natural one, as he’s been listening to the genre his whole life.

“Some of my fondest memories as a child are sitting beside my grandfather, listening to him play the fiddle,” said Fleury.

“I just didn’t wake up one day and say ‘I’m going to be a country music star.’” Tweet This

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“This is like a six year project,” he added. “I’ve been taking vocal lessons and performance lessons for six years.”

Fleury said he and his bandmates wrote about 30 songs, which they whittled down to ten to make the album – and called the songwriting process “extremely cathartic.”

BELOW: Listen to “My Life’s Been a Country Song” by Theo Fleury

“I Am Who I Am” by Theo Fleury and the Death Valley Rebels will be released on October 23.

Fleury is hosting a CD release concert at the Symons Valley Ranch at 7 p.m. on Friday, September 25.