Zach Bryan Reveals Why He Gives His Former Navy Commanding Officer a Cut of Every Song He Releases

Zach Bryan says he gives former Navy commanding officer Leo Alba a share of the royalties from every song he releases. Bryan credits Alba with encouraging him to record his music, making the officer’s early support a lasting part of his career.

Bryan recalled that Alba helped him record the songs for his 2019 album *DeAnn*, despite their limited funds and uncertainty about the process. They bought equipment, turned a rental house into a makeshift studio and recorded for two days; Bryan later added “Sweet DeAnn” and uploaded the album himself. He said it reached number one on iTunes Music and changed his life. Alba has since left the Navy and lives in Texas.